Expert: Wanda Reinholdt - 1/28/2009

Question
Hi, I'm 18years of age, and I'm looking into the Responsibilities of a director and how they it get handled on a day-to-day basis.? I would also like to know what education and qualifications i would need to pursue directing as i am currently in the UK in college studying and looking to take my skills further into university.? what is the pay-role, i take being a director its salary, if so what are the ranges? Also if i was to take my qualifications and knowledge, how would i go about getting into directing itself, where would be the best place to peruse this, maybe the USA? what are the commitments of a director,? what are the hours like? how long does it roughly take to film a movie? to you have to be creative and bold? is it a stressful job??

I would be ever so grateful if you could get back to me very quickly as i have to choose universities very soon and i want to make sure I'm making the right choice.

Best Regards
Andrea Williams

Answer
Hi Andrea...Thanks for writing and asking great questions.

It sounds like you are interested in film work.  Is that right?  I will try to answer with film work in mind as it is different from stage work.  

A Director is a person who spends their time reading stories and looking for opportunities to tell the ones he loves.  He partners with Producers who are interested in the works he is interested in and then works with them to put up a show.  Much of the time, if a Producer knows you and your work, the probability of you getting work is larger.  

Some Directors have experience as their education.  Many Directors worked in other areas of the industry first before becoming a Director.  I would say that working in the industry first as something other than a Director is the best way to learn.  However, going to a college and taking film studies is a very profitable and recommended way to get into film.  

For pay in the UK, I am not sure what the pay for a film director in the UK is.  I would google that as well as the pay in the USA and Canada for those figures.  That's how I keep track of the pay scale for many things in theatre and film.  

If you can find an internationally acclaimed film school or a film school that is well recognized at least in your country, I would consider going to one close to your home to begin with.  And if you are really interested in brachnig out once you are in the college, I would only then consider moving.  

Does that help you?  

Once you find a school, I would recommend asking them for information on film directing that they might have.  

Wanda