Are You a Film Director in the Making?

The Role of a Film Director

• A film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects, visualizes the screenplay, and guides the film crew and actors to fulfill that vision.
• They play a vital role in choosing the cast, production design, and all the creative aspects of filmmaking, and they give direction to the cast and crew to create an overall vision for the film.
• Directors must have excellent communication and conflict resolution skills to ensure that all individuals involved in the film production are working towards the same vision.
• The role of a director differs from producers who typically manage logistics and business operations of the production, whereas the director is tasked with making creative decisions.
• Directors are involved in every stage of film production, from pre-production to post-production, and are considered the "author" or one of the authors of a film.
• Many film directors have attended film schools to obtain a bachelor's degree, and film students generally study the basic skills used in making a film.
• Film directors are usually self-employed and hired per project based on recommendations and industry reputation.
• The average salary for directors varies by country, with Hollywood directors making from $133.3 million to $257.95 million in 2011, and the average US film director and producer making $89,840 in 2018.
• UNESCO reports that the film industry has a disproportionately higher number of male directors compared to female directors, with only 20% of films directed by women in Europe.
• There are many different awards for film directing, including the Academy Award for Best Director and Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Director.