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.

July 28, 2024

Film Directing 126: The Director's Playbook

July 28, 2024/ john pozer

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.

June 19, 2024

Film Directing 123: Show and Tell Meetings

June 19, 2024/ 21 century film/ john pozer

Keep production running smoothly with no surprises

Show and Tell meetings bring together the various elements of the images you plan to create. They also help you avoid unwanted surprises during principle photography.

Everyone on the filmmaking team wants to deliver their best work. Clear, concise communication and decisive leadership from the director is a must. Effective show and tell meetings begin with the director. Vagueness and uncertainty are not helpful and will likely lead to delays and disappointments on set.

Get all your ducks (and seahorses) in a row!

June 04, 2024

Film Directing 122: The Director's Locations

June 04, 2024/ john pozer

Give your locations the kid-glove treatment

The right location can improve the look of your film – but it can also be a production nightmare. Make sure to consider your priorities. Know what you need for your frames to look good and for your shoot to run smoothly.

There are certain amenities and necessities to look for when scouting locations – both interiors and exteriors. If a location looks great but lacks the convenience, space, and facilities – protect the downside. Production slowdowns are one thing. Unhappy coworkers are another.

April 17, 2024

Film Directing 113: The Director's Focus

April 17, 2024/ john pozer

The mind of your audience is the main concern

As a film director, the focus in your shot is either something that you want and can use, or it’s something that you don’t want and can’t use.

Be happy with your shots and takes. Make them the best they can be. Once you’re in post-production, focus issues cannot be resolved.

April 15, 2024

Film Directing 112: The Director's Frame

April 15, 2024/ john pozer

Good films need intentional frames

An engaged audience reacts to the director’s choices in every frame. Focus, light, movement, composition, and shot content are factors for every director to consider when constructing a frame.

Ideas for frames grow and multiply through your director’s prep. The writer, John Steinbeck, said it best — 'Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.'

April 12, 2024

Film Directing 111: The Director's Camera Angle

April 12, 2024/ john pozer

Angles tell the story

Camera angles have conventions and implicit meanings that have been understood by viewers from the early days of moving pictures.

Directors need to know the impact of their decisions when they set up a shot. And they need to understand what their audience will understand from their camera angle choice.

April 12, 2024

Film Directing 110: The Director's Camera

April 12, 2024/ john pozer

The most powerful storytelling tool is the camera

Creating strong images that are carefully designed with intentional storytelling details is the director’s job. The power and effectiveness of the storytelling lies in the director’s camera choices.

The beginning director must have an understanding of how camera placement and movement can convey the narrative purpose of a shot or a scene.

April 08, 2024

Film Directing 109: The Director's Eye

April 08, 2024/ john pozer

Develop an eye for visual possibilities

We know that filmmaking is a collaborative art and that the cast and crew work together to support the best possible storytelling. However, the director is ultimately responsible for building a strong, cinematic story.

Developing your eye as a film director is an ongoing process of understanding, observation, and patience. Every day and every film is full of opportunities to learn.

April 05, 2024

Film Directing 108: Thumbnails for the beginning director

April 05, 2024/ john pozer

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.

April 02, 2024

Film Directing 105: Blocking the Scene

April 02, 2024/ john pozer

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.