By Mary Dowd Updated August 14, 2020
Movie directors lend their creative spin to everything from a new action adventure to a zombie apocalypse sequel. Using their gift of imagination, they make stories come alive on film. Along with the glamorous side of the profession comes hard work, long hours and possible failure. Weighing the pros and cons of being a director can help you decide if the potential rewards are worth the unavoidable risks.
Outlet for Creative Expression
Perhaps the greatest advantage of a director is having an outlet for creative talent and expression of artistic vision. Today anyone with a smartphone can create and globally market their videos with varying degrees of success. That same passion calls aspiring directors to Los Angeles, New York and Seattle. The allure of making an acclaimed film that will be long remembered proves irresistible.
Becoming a director offers unparalleled opportunity to dabble in diverse genres and try your hand at making documentaries, comedies, exposés, war movies, horror flicks, science fiction and much more. You get to select and hire your own dream team of screen writers, actors, set designers, composers, technicians, cinematographers and visual effects artists. You retain control from preproduction to shooting on location to postproduction. Ultimately, you end up with a movie that distinctly reflects your voice, style and approach to filmmaking.
Brutal Competition
A disadvantage of becoming a movie director is the stiff competition you will face from other directors vying for the same jobs and sources of project funding. Producers and investors are bombarded with movie ideas and can have their pick of eager directors. You will need a list of impressive credits and accolades to catch their eye.
Breaking into the business also requires networking, working capital, perseverance, special talent and a thick skin. You will likely start out directing student films, indies and low-budget movies. You will know that you’ve hit the big time when you receive endorsem*nts and a membership invitation to the Director’s Guild of America. Joining the DGA opens doors to directing bigger and better productions. However, first you must pay the initiation fee and be approved by the organization. The initiation fee for feature film directors in 2020-2021, for example, was $13,025.
Eking out a Living
Directors starting out often work for free to gain experience and make reels to pitch to producers. For those who do find paid jobs, entry-level film director salary is more apt to fall on the lower end of the wage continuum. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, one in four directors earn less than $48,170, and the lowest paid 10 percent earn less than $33,730, or $16.22 per hour. Beginner salaries don’t go far in big cities like Los Angeles where the cost of living is much higher than other parts of the country.
Stiff competition for jobs can also result in periods of unemployment, which is a disadvantage of this occupation. You should have a hefty savings account to tide you between jobs. Directors are often self-employed freelancers who pay health insurance premiums out of pocket, so you will need to budget for that, as well.
Years of experience can increase opportunities and earning potential for those who don’t get discouraged and give up. BLS reports that the median annual wage earned by directors and producers is $71,620. Twenty-five percent earn more than $111,270 per year. Famous directors earn millions.
Fame and Critical Acclaim
Becoming a director can one day earn you Academy Awards and Emmys that attest to your brilliance as a filmmaker. If you have the talent and ambition, you could become the next Stephen Spielberg, Alfred Hitchco*ck, Martin Scorsese or Stanley Kubrick. Many legendary directors are self-made and did not study film in college. O*NET OnLine indicates that only 49 percent of directors completed college.
Although a degree is not necessary for many positions, formal education can catapult your career if you’re not already a star or otherwise established in the film industry. Being accepted into a school like AFI Conservatory, for example, offers the advantage of learning your craft from master cinematic storytellers in the film industry.
FAQs
Being a film director allows you to collaborate with a variety of talented individuals. From renowned actors to award-winning cinematographers, you can make movies with impressive colleagues. This can enhance your resume and cover letter since you can say you've made movies with famous actors or producers.
What are the disadvantages of being a movie director? ›
Some major disadvantages of being a film director are irregular income, high production costs, immense pressure to deliver successful films, extremely long work hours impacting work-life balance, facing harsh criticism, ageism and oversaturation in the job market, as well as creative restrictions from studios/producers ...
What are the advantages and disadvantages of directing? ›
Directing offers numerous advantages, including creative control, personal expression, and collaboration. However, it also comes with challenges such as long hours, budget management, and effective communication.
What are the pros and cons of filmmaking? ›
Filmmaking has both advantages and disadvantages. It allows for creative expression, storytelling, educational purposes, preservation of memories, and potential for profit. However, it can also be costly, time-consuming, and involve technological and distribution challenges.
Are directors as rich as actors? ›
Directors and producers work behind the scenes of movies, television and other industries. While not as prominent as actors, they can make a lot of money working in the film industry. While some film directors and producers make six figures with ease, the majority of directors and producers make more modest incomes.
Who Cannot be a director? ›
One must know that only a living person can be appointed as the director of a company. A business entity or a corporate body cannot act as the director of a company.
What are the disadvantages of film? ›
Financial Drawbacks: Higher Production Costs: Film production typically requires expensive equipment, such as film cameras, film stock, and film processing facilities.
What are the disadvantages of movies? ›
2 Often cinema stereotypes various things and creates false notions of people and communities. It is also considered to be a waste of time and money as some movies are pure trash and don't teach something valuable. Most importantly, it also demonstrates sexual and violent content which has a bad impact on young minds.
What is advantages and disadvantages? ›
“Advantages and disadvantages” is a subset of “pros and cons” and describe things that are benefits vs detriments and are usually associated with some sort of result or consequence: “The advantages of dating Jimmy include his ha.
What is directing and its advantage? ›
In management, directing refers to the activity of overseeing and inspiring personnel to accomplish certain goals and objectives. To ensure that everyone is collaborating successfully and efficiently on the shared objectives of the business, clear instructions, expectations setting, and good communication are required.
Disadvantage is an antonym of advantage. As nouns the difference between disadvantage and advantage is that disadvantage is a weakness or undesirable characteristic; a con while advantage is any condition, circ*mstance, opportunity or means, particularly favorable to success, or to any desired end.
What are the advantages of the film industry? ›
The film industry has been a major force in shaping the cultural, social, and economic landscape of many countries around the world. It is a multi-billion dollar industry that creates a wide range of benefits for individuals, communities, and societies as a whole.
What are the disadvantages of making films of real life events? ›
Disadvantages: Real events seldom fit into neat, classically-shaped dramatic arcs, or into two-hour running times. To make the story work as a movie, a screenwriter will almost certainly have to com.
What are the negative effects of the film industry? ›
Film production creates a lot of waste. Whether its copies of hundred-page scripts, unworn costumes, the energy used to light up sets or the flights to remote filming locations, almost every element of film production creates a negative environmental impact.
What are the risks of a director? ›
RISKS FOR DIRECTORS
Risks that directors potentially face include: Actions by outsiders due to wrongful actions of management. Actions by creditors as a result of the company contracting when the company is unable to pay its debts as and when they fall due.
Is it hard being a film director? ›
You make a great living being a Director if you're successful, but getting there is tough, and staying there is tougher. This is a little harder because it isn't like most industries where, if you're talented and hard-working, you can find a path up the ladder.
How stressful is being a director? ›
As a director, the pressures and responsibilities of leadership can often feel overwhelming. Juggling strategic decision-making, financial oversight, and ensuring your organisation's compliance can take a significant toll on your mental and physical well-being.
