Film Directing 118: The Director and Continuity

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Film Directing 118: The Director and Continuity

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.

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Film Directing 112: The Director's Frame

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Film Directing 112: The Director's Frame

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.'

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Film Directing 108: Thumbnails for the beginning director

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Film Directing 108: Thumbnails for the beginning director

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.

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Film Directing 107: Introduction to Shotlists

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Film Directing 107: Introduction to Shotlists

Shotlists help you plan your film

As the production moves from pre-production into principle photography, the shotlist is tremendously helpful. It shapes the schedule, clarifies the equipment that is needed, and many other important details that contribute to managing a smooth-running show.

Every director has their own process for pre-visualizing their story, but creating a written plan helps build confidence in the decision-making that happens on set.

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Film Directing 101: The Language of Film

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Film Directing 101: The Language of Film

The director must know how to communicate

Like any profession, there are specific words, terms, and references that you need to know in order to effectively communicate in the day-to-day activities of a working film director.

This is an expansive area and your knowledge will grow and evolve as you read screenplays, study films, and make films. Like learning any new language, becoming fluent takes time.

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Film Directing 100: LEVEL 100 Introduction

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Film Directing 100: LEVEL 100 Introduction

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 the director’s prep, pre-production, and 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.

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