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Job Description: Film
directors, with the help of their support staff of producers
and assistants, are responsible for all aspects of a
production, including creative, technical, visual, and
financial concerns. Film directors are matched with
projects based on their unique style and/or interest
in the subject matter. The director is the most authoritative
person on the project, and has final authority over
everything that happens during the production run. Directors
may also be producers, which gives them further creative
control and a larger stake in the production.
Salary Range: Filmmakers
can earn as much as $88,000 annually, according to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics. Directors who have made
names for themselves through past work can make considerably
more, conversely, many directors have been known to
finance film productions with their own money, due to
their passion for the subject matter.
Education: Degrees in
film studies, filmmaking, business, or visual communications
will teach fledgling directors to view the world with
a critical eye. Coursework in design, communications,
and media production will ensure that directors understand
the limits and aims of filmmaking, as well as how to
manage and communicate effectively. Exposure to video
editing software, camera equipment, and sound equipment
will ensure that directors have an understanding of
the capabilities of the technology that they will be
working with in the future. Becoming a film director
requires years of interning, assisting, and working
one’s way up.
Outlook: The US Department
of Labor predicts 18% growth in this industry between
2002 and 2012. The film industry continues to flourish
as emerging technologies create new opportunities. As
the major studios become increasingly choosy about the
films they choose to produce, many veteran actors and
actresses (Halle Berry, Mel Gibson, Sandra Bullock,
etc) are encouraged to produce and direct films using
their own resources.
Personality Traits: The
role of the director is to oversee and control all aspects
of the production, from the camera angles, to the way
the actors deliver their lines, to the tone of the film.
Directors must manage the producers, assistants, and
ancillary staff in order to ensure that the original
artistic goals are met. Directors must be active listeners
with a superior problem-solving ability, as well as
the ability to think creatively and work through problems
and setbacks.
Career Path: Assistant
Director > Producer> Executive Producer > Director
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