beginning director — FILM EDUCATION

FILM EDUCATION

Directing Fundamentals. Without a strong vision behind a story, a film will lose its focus. A film director needs to have an understanding of how each department contributes to the making of a film and how to best utilize the talents of all team members. The following 100 LEVEL blogs cover the role and responsibilities of a director in script development, pre-production, production, and post production. Read along to learn how to tell a story cinematically, use the camera as a tool, prepare a script analysis and engage in the casting and rehearsal process with actors.

Be kind. Be generous. Be specific.

In the book, 21st Century Film Student PRIMER, all students are encouraged to take an acting course or acting workshop so they can better understand what actors do. Why? Because you’ll be a better director.

Memorizing lines, keeping it fresh, staying ‘in the moment,’ and taking direction are tall orders for most people. Once you’ve walked in the actor’s shoes, you can better relate to the process of acting and being directed.

The craft of directing is an ongoing learning experience.

Embrace continuity and be a better director

When you’re crewing up for camera, lighting, sound, makeup, etc., the role of script continuity can be an afterthought.

I recommend finding someone who wants to do script continuity on every film. It’s an important role in longer form television and feature productions. When you get onto a professional set, they will be beside you for every shot.

Value the support they provide, and you will be a better director.

Synergy is the goal

Bringing a film to life – and making it good – relies heavily on the script and the director. But the director is not working alone. There are many creative partners who align with the director, and two are of critical importance in pre-production and principle photography – the director of photographer and the production designer.

Working alongside the director, these two creative keys are responsible for crafting the visual images.

Thumbnails lead to better films

‘Thumbnail’ is the term for a simple storyboard frame. It’s a small, quick sketch that shouldn’t take longer than 10 or 15 seconds to create. Thumbnails are an important part of the director’s visual planning process.

Thumbnails illustrate the size of the shot and the character position in the frame. This helps the different departments understand the director's goal for the camera set-up.

FILM EDUCATION

Film Directing 120: The Director-Actor Relationship

Be kind. Be generous. Be specific.

Film Directing 118: The Director and Continuity

Embrace continuity and be a better director

Film Directing 114: The Director's Creative Partnerships

Synergy is the goal

Film Directing 108: Thumbnails for the beginning director

Thumbnails lead to better films