character — 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.

Directors need a strong idea for what they’re looking for in every scene

After all the planning, preparation, meetings, auditions, rehearsals, location scouts, etc. – the first day of principle photography is what all the work has been about.

Your script analysis, thumbnail frames, shotlist, schematics, and meetings with your creative keys have helped build the plan for the production.

Pre-thinking performance notes and details are a vital part of the playbook.

Cast well and 90% of your job is done

The casting process is crucial. Actors can make or break the success of your film and your filmmaking experience. Give it the time it deserves, and give it your all.

Remember this: the audition is the first date in the actor-director relationship. It sets the tone for the creative partnership.

Setting a consistent high bar for each actor’s audition is the best way to tackle this critical juncture. Rule #1: Respect the actors! Respect them as you go through every stage of the process!

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.

Blocking fundamentals for the beginning director

“Blocking’s up!” is the announcement you hear on set when the director, director of photography, and actors gather to walk through the dynamics of a scene and how it’s going to be shot. Blocking is essentially the choreography between the actor(s) and the camera.

There can be many moving parts to the blocking puzzle. Everyone who contributes to the shot needs to know what’s in the frame, what’s happening – and when it’s happening.

Script analysis fundamentals for the beginning director

As a director you receive a script written in a screenplay format. This is the whole story with all of the scenes and characters. Your job is to turn that into a film.

In order to have a powerful and unique visual interpretation of the screenplay you need to know the story inside out; the characters, the dialogue, the subtext, the conflict, the story arc, the genre — and a thousand more details.

It can be exhausting. That’s why they’re gonna pay you the big bucks!

FILM EDUCATION

Film Directing 126: The Director's Playbook

Directors need a strong idea for what they’re looking for in every scene

Film Directing 115: The Director in Casting

Cast well and 90% of your job is done

Film Directing 114: The Director's Creative Partnerships

Synergy is the goal

Film Directing 105: Blocking the Scene

Blocking fundamentals for the beginning director

Film Directing 103: Script Analysis

Script analysis fundamentals for the beginning director