What is a director?

A film director is a person who directs the making of a fim. Generally, a film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects, and visualizes the script while guiding the technical crew and actors in the fulfillment of that vision. It is the director's sense of drama, along with the creative visualization of the script, that transforms a screenplay into a well-made motion picture.

Methods of film directing (from Wikipedia)

How much control a director exerts over a film varies greatly. Many directors are under the control of the studio and producer. This was true from the 1930s through the 1950s , when studios had many directors, actors and writers under contract.

Meanwhile, other directors have far more control and bring their artistic vision to the pictures they make. Their methods range from those who:

• Outline a general plotline and let the actors improvise dialogue.
• Control every aspect, and demand that the actors and crew follow instructions precisely.
• Write their own scripts (such as Quentin Tarantino , Hayao Miyazaki or Robert Rodriguez ).
• Collaborate on screenplays with long-standing writing partners.
• Act as their own cinematographers and editors .
• Star (often in leading roles) in their films, such as Orson Wells , Woody Allen or even Ed Wood, Jr.

Directors work closely with film producers, who are usually responsible for the non-artistic elements of the film, such as financing , contract negotiation and marketing . Some directors will often take on some of the responsibilities of the producer for their films. Steven Spielberg is known for doing precisely that, and the early silent film director Alice Guy Blaché not only produced her own pictures but actually created her own highly successful studio.

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Getting started out in LA or from where you are:

There are many ways to get your career as a director started. Whatever you do be sure that you go through the Free 5 Minute Film School linked here.

• Direct something- a student film, a commercial for your mom's bakery, a music video for your brother's band.
• Go to Film School
• Get a job as a PA (production asstiant) and work your way up.

(For a great detailed article on the pros and cons of these options check out this UK website by clicking here.)

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Resources

Links

Directors Guild of America	dga.org	This site should be every directors favorite list. Bursting at the seems with informtion and resources. Be warned, it's a weird site to navagiate and the top nav buttons are down on the bottom...
5 Minute Film School	click here	You must go through the Free 5 min film school!
MediaLawyer.com	MediaLawyer.com	Has a great article about the ins and outs of how a director gets paid.
	A zaka.dk	This site has an amazing list of interviews with notable directors.
Directors Guild of Canada	dgc.ca
FreeFilmSchool.Org	FreeFilmSchool.org	Has detailed articles on how to be an independent film director
The Directors Chair	industrycentral.net	Another great site
Hollywood creative Guide
	The Producers Guild of America
Independent Feature Project	IFP.org

Industry Directories

Agency Guide: Official Guide to Talent Agencies in L.A.
Agents& Managers 411,
Animals 411: Working Animals Guide
Arizona Film & Video Production Directory-Arizona Production Association
AV Marketplace: The Complete Business Directory of Products and Services for the Audio/Video Industry
Casting Director Directory
Creative Industry Handbook
DGA Directory of Members
Digital 411: Animation/Visual FX/Internet/Post
Hollywood Foreign Press Association Membership Directory
Los Angeles 411-Production Resource Directory
Motion Picture, TV 7 Theatre Directory: For Products and Services
NY 411-Professional Reference Guide for Film, TV & Video Production
Parker Directory of California Attorneys
Pennsylvania Film Production Guide
Play 411
Producers 411
The Hollywood Connection Kit
The Industry Flip Book: The Definitive Los Angeles Film & Video Production Directory & Source Book
Themed Entertainment 411: Hotels, Theme Parks
The Producers Master Guide: International Production Manual for MP, TV, Commercials, Cable Industries
The Source Book for Professionals in Entertainment Industries

Legal Resources

Agreements: Sample Contract Forms-6 binders full of contracts, mostly for television, from hiring talent to acquiring rights to location releases
A Primer on Cyber Torts & Remedies
CA State Senate Select Committee on Regulation of Talent Agencies
DVD Copy Control Assoc. v. Andrew Bunmer
Entertainment Law Reporter Issues
Form Books 1-6
Internet Dispute Law & Practice Vol. 1-3
Moral Rights & The Motion Picture Industry: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Administration on Justice of the Committee on the Judiciary House of Representatives
Napster v. A&M Records-Summary
Television Syndication: A Practical Guide to Business & Legal Issues by Vance Van Petten
Television for Tomorrow-Part of the Vic Netterville Memorial Lectures, USC Entertainment Law
1995 WGA Theatrical & TV Basic Agreement

Books

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind-by Chuck Barris
Effective Negotiating: Strategies, Tactics & Countermeasures on 11 Audio Tape Cassettes-by Chester L. Karrass
From Concept to Screen: An Overview of Film & Television Production-by Robert Benedetti
Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement without Giving In-by Robert Fischer & William Ury
Give and Take: The Complete Guide to Negotiating Strategies and Tactics-by Chester L. Karrass
Independent Film Producers' Survivors Guide-Business & Legal Source Guide
Making Your Film for Less Outside the US -by Mark De Wayne
Robert's Rules of Order-by Gen. Henry M. Robert, US ARMY
The Employee Handbook for Organizational Change-by Price Pritchett & Ron Pound
The Genius of the System: Hollywood Filmmaking in the Studio Era-by Thomas Schatz
The Negotiating Game-by Chester L. Karrass
The Rock Pack: History Of Rock & Roll-by James Henke & Ron Van Der Meer
The Wisdom of Teams: Creating the High Performance Organization-by Jon R. Katzenback & Douglas K. Smith
Vintage Posters-Collection of Superior Galleries
You Can Negotiate Anything-by Herb Cohen

PGA Publications AAP Networker-Celebrating & Remembering the AAP
AAP Roster of Members
Golden Laurel Awards Programs

DIRECTORS ON DIRECTING
Steven Spielberg: 'Wear comfortable shoes'.
Ingmar Bergman: 'A director should listen and keep his mouth shut... listen with your ears - and your heart.'
John Cassavetes: 'Don't be afraid of anything.'
John Landis: 'If you can drive a car, you can direct a movie.'
Louis Malle: 'It takes a long time to learn simplicity.'
Alan Parker: 'Have a go. Anybody can do it.'
John Huston: 'Concentrate on the story, leave the details to others - and sit whenever you can.'

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Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: How do directors get paid?

A: This article on Medialawyer.com will help you out.