Career as a Director in the US (2024)

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Is it your dream to yell "Action!" on a movie set? Do you want to command the show, and execute yourvision for a big screen production? Are you a natural born leader with artistic capabilities? Then a career as adirector might be the job for you. For international students, there are many different ways to go about getting acareer as a director.

How to Become a Director

There is no right way to become a director. No formal education is required, however it does help. There are manybenefits to attending film school at a college or university. Many of the professors are still working in theindustry and are well connected with other professionals in the industry. This opportunity to network could give youyour big break. Professors could know the perfect person to pitch a screenplay or hand over your student film.Another benefit of international students attending a film schools is that you can learn the business. You learn whodoes what in a crew, how to produce a film, how to operate equipment and understand the technical basics oflighting, sound, as well as editing.

Choosing to go to a college or a university in New York City or Los Angeles would be wise. Just getting an entrylevel job or internship in production is getting your foot in the door and giving you the much needed experiencethat will be helpful upon graduation. A possible entry level job or internship can be an assistant director.Assistant directors can then move up the ladder by becoming a second assistant director and then a first assistantdirector.

The Directors Guild in New York City also has a training program to help you become a second assistant director.However, it is only open to candidates who have a bachelor's degree. The program selects a limited number ofstudents and is two years long with up to 350 days of on the job experience.

If you don't have the resources to live in Los Angeles or New York City, finding a school that has a good film majoraround the U.S. isn't hard. For example, Florida State University, across thenation from California has a very good film program. You can also find local production companies in the city ofyour college and university to work for and gain valuable internship experience.

Director Duties

Having a career as a director means you will be doing a lot of different tasks. Often a producer will come to youand ask if you would like to direct a film they believe in. During the pre-production stage, you will consult withthe producer(s) and writer(s) on the vision for the film, locations, crew, casting, storyboarding and revising thescript. But during production is where you play the biggest role. You direct the cameramen on angles and shots youwant, advise the actors and pretty much run the show. The director also decides if a scene needs to be reshot.

Hours and Salary

Any type of job in the film industry is going to have irregular hours. Directors often work long hours for weeks ata time. Since productions are not long term commitments, after the production is finished, directors could bewithout work for months. You have to actively search for other productions to work on.

Median annual wages of directors were $64,430 in 2008 in the U.S. But it varies from country to country and what kindof production you are working on. For example, in the United Kingdom, the average salary is 35,677 euros.

Job Outlook

Competition to have a career as a director is fierce. There are many directors out here with more experience and abetter reputation. However, a career as a director is expected to grow 11 percent during the next decade in theU.S., according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Internationally, the film industry is alive and well too.Film production and movie attendance is up in the European Union. Bollywood outsells Hollywood in ticket sales andalso produces more films than Hollywood does in a year.

Conclusion

A career as a director may seem like a glamorous job. However, it takes a lot of hard work to make it to the top ofHollywood, Bollywood or any other production company and industry throughout the world. Directors work long hoursand international students just out of college will not be a director of a large production starting out. Insteadsearch for entry level jobs such as a second assistant director, in the industry and work your way up. Or, if youare feeling creative, direct your own small film or independent film.