Director
In the future I would love to have the opportunity to direct a large array of films, and long running TV series. In order to be a director I have to firstly know, quite simply, what one is.
“A director is the crucial link between the production, technical and creative teams. They are the driving creative force in a film’s production – visualising and defining the style and structure of the film, then bringing it to life”.
On paper a director is someone who takes a script and creates those words and ideas into a visual masterpiece. To me, a director should also be a motivator, I know it sounds cheesy but let me explain. The director has to take all these ideas and words and create something that people will pay to watch for a couple of hours, if the director is not passionate about what they are creating then why would other people be interested in paying to watch it. The director should be so passionate about their ideas and the script that they are working on that other people working around them feel so inspired and motivated to get their work done to the best of their abilities, resulting in a better quality film that more people would be interested in watching.
If you want to become a director there’s a few things you need to check you can or are willing to do:
Firstly, you need to be creative. When ever I am creating a product I always ask myself what the unique selling point is; what does my product have that another doesn’t. If the director isn’t creative then their product will be very ordinary without any unique selling points.
You also have to be committed. It can take a long time to create a film, therefore if you’re not committed no one will hire you as you will not be trusted to see the project to the end. Director also work very long hours. The most important part of being director is having a creative eye. You must be able to imagine every scene and plan out the whole film in your head, each shot has to mean something. This will portray your creative thinking and show how you’ve thought about each and every shot. As previously mentioned the director should be a motivator, therefore you must be passionate.
Directors are typically strong, confident leaders. This generally helps when telling people what to do. Without being confident towards your team, some members of the team can be led astray as they lose respect for you being their leader. This is similar to how directors have to make quick decisions, if anything goes wrong in a production a director should be able to quickly create a contingency plan, rather than continuing with a ‘failed’ project. Directors have to stay calm when things go wrong, once the director gets frustrated and stressed the whole team will follow meaning nothing will get done.
No formal qualifications are required to become a director, however experience is a must have! Whether you create your own products or get experience from other businesses, you need to have experience in the field you wish to work in.
The best way to get in the industry is from working for free. Work experience can also lead to different jobs, so it’s best to get as much work experience as possible to both help you into the industry and to try and weave your way into a job.
Producer
A producer overlooks the whole film production from start to finish, making sure everything runs smoothly. They generally make sure that the film is profitable, and that an audience will want to watch the film you’re planning on creating. They need to create an environment where the talent and crew can flourish. They are often the first person involved with the project, securing a budget and rights to the screen play if necessary. Producers approve the locations, studio hire and the production schedule, trying to minimise cost and time.
You need many skills including – having a good business sense and understanding finance. The producer is in charge of the budget for the films production and usually raise the budget in the beginning therefore you need to be good at negotiating. Similar to a director the producer needs a creative vision, and you need to be a good motivator as well as being self-motivated. You need to have excellent communication skills, and work well under pressure, along with having the knowledge of the relevant health and safety laws and procedures.
Again, no formal qualifications are required. You can get into the industry through voluntary work as a runner or production assistant.
When applying for a job in the media industry you ideally need a CV and cover letter, similar to any other job. You also need a showreel to portray all the work you have created – this is a good way to showcase your talent. A portfolio is also a good way to portray your talent.
http://creativeskillset.org/creative_industries/film/job_roles/758_director
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles_and_stories/job_roles/757_producer
Kerry Hatfield 