Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/Film&Directing - General

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Expert: - 4/3/2011


Question
Hello, I'm a year 11 student doing an integrated learning project on film and directing. It would really help if you could answer these questions :)

What are the best aspects about being a director?
On average, how long does it take to produce a movie?
What are some qualities all directors should have?

Answer
Thoa,

Thanks for writing. Here are your answers:

What are the best aspects about being a director?
You get paid well, you work with interesting people, you get to see and visit places that most people don't and every day is a different day - you never know what you'll face unlike people who work a desk job doing the same thing every day.

On average, how long does it take to produce a movie?
Depends on the script. Films can take anywhere from half a year to two or three years to complete from start of photography to finish on the big screen. It can, however, take even longer from the time the script is written until the time pre-production work on the film begins.


What are some qualities all directors should have?
A keen sense of storytelling, a visual eye, and eye for talent, an ability to speak to actors in a way that they will listen and trust you, and the ability to inspire others around you to want to do their best and work hard for you.

Hope this helps.

Phil  

Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing

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Phil Nemy

Expertise

I am a motion picture and television producer with over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry. I am also the author of the book GET A REEL JOB: Finding Your First Job In The Motion Picture Industry In Los Angeles. I can answers questions on a variety of subjects about careers in film from acting to directing to crew work, getting into the unions, successful strategies for networking, etc.

Experience

Former VP, Production for The Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group Supervised production on such films as ARMAGEDDON, THE PRINCESS DIARIES, REMEMBER THE TITANS, PEARL HARBOR, CON AIR, ENEMY OF THE STATE, THE ROCK, CRIMSON TIDE, COYOTE UGLY, A CIVIL ACTION, ROMY & MICHELE'S HIGH SCHOOL REUNION, NOTHING TO LOSE, EDDIE and others. Worked as an actor, stage manager, director on broadway and regional theater as well as L.A.' Equity-waiver scene. Former Associate Artistic Director of Los Angeles Equity-Waiver theater.

Organizations
Director's Guild of America, Screen Actors Guild, Actor's Equity Association

Education/Credentials
BFA in Acting/Directing from Carnegie Mellon University.

Past/Present Clients
I've worked with such filmmakers as Jerry Bruckheimer, Tony Scott, Steve Zaillian, Scott Rudin, Garry Marshall, Frank Marshall, Michael Bay, etc.

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