How to Become a Movie Director

Directing movies is exciting and artistically fulfilling--and it can be a big headache. You direct every step of a movie: auditioning and rehearsing actors, supervising the crew and having the final say on scenery and music. You have to stay on schedule, stay within your budget and stay sane when the cast and crew are melting down. If you can handle temper tantrums and typhoons, you may be the next George Lucas or Steven Spielberg.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Go to college and major in filmmaking (see 149 Decide Which College Is Right for You). According to the Filmmaking Web site (see Resources), the most respected U.S. film schools include the University of California at Los Angeles, the University of Southern California, the American Film Institute and New York University.

2. Move to Los Angeles or New York to get close to the action.

3. Get your foot in the door as an intern or assistant producer on a movie set (see 161 Set Up an Internship). You may not get paid, but you'll gain valuable skills, experience and contacts.

4. Develop your craft, gain as much experience as possible, learn like crazy and work your way up to film editor. When you have some clips to your name and start pulling down a salary, you can begin showing your work to people in the industry.

5. Enroll in a training program for assistant directors, run by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and the Directors Guild of America. (Click on "Training Program" at the Directors Guild Web site, see Resources). You'll get experience handling extras, transporting equipment and making arrangements for food and accommodations. Some companies allow you to shadow a director, which gives you valuable on-the-job training as well.

6. Think small at first. Directing music videos, educational films or commercials is a good way to get experience.

7. Raise money to make an independent film. It's much cheaper than it used to be, thanks to advances in digital technology. Enter your film in festivals and pray you get discovered.

8. Become a well-known actor and step behind the camera to direct your own movies.

9. Become a stage director and make the movie version of your latest hit.

Tips & Warnings

• Study other people's styles but don't copy them. You have to make your own name.
• Deal with people respectfully and fairly. People will remember your reputation far longer than they'll remember some of your films.
• The job is so multifaceted that directors have to delegate. Hire the most talented, dependable people you can.
• Directors' salaries vary widely according to how many jobs they get each year and how successful their work is. You can always dream about Peter Jackson's $20 million plus a percentage of the gross for a single film.
• Don't go into directing for the big bucks--or even for a consistent income. You might strike it rich one year but then barely make ends meet the next.

[candicesc]

on 7/2/2009 Hi! My name is Candice. I am 16 and wanted to be a movie director since I was 7. I live in South Africa and want to make movies for a South African audience. I don't know where to start. Can anyone help me with this? e-mail me at: [e-mail]

[0604530]

on 6/19/2009 gee

[nicknack117]

on 4/22/2009 Hi my name is Nico. im 16 years old and have wanted to be a director for as long as i remember. i didn't have alot of choice for directing in my school,the closest thing i have to it is drama. I don't know if any1 can hep me out because i live in Scotland but if anyone has any advide please help me.should i use my idea of going to university and studying the skills or should i work my way up?if anyone can help please do so i will be gratefulalso you can email me by [e-mail]

[cassiethedevil]

on 4/12/2009 I agree with Fayruza. You don't have to go through all these steps. Just go out and do it and get noticed. But there is one thing i don't agree on. You can make movies anywhere. You don't have to move to all this big shot movie places. It's not all about the money. Its about making a movie that everyone will enjoy. People seem to have forgotten that. I have loved watching movies ever since i was a little girl. But i got to admit that movies now days have lost their touch. Its all about coming out with fresh ideas. They all just seem to similar to me and nothing new has really came out. And if you think that you have to go to these big shot places to get a chance to make a movie. I'll show you that it doesn't matter where you are. There's talent anywhere that you can use. You just have to look around you.

[rounakpatil]

on 4/11/2009 Hello sir, My name is Rounak living in Nagpur and I am 18yrs Old. I have just given the exams of 12th. I wanna to become a movie director. Can you please help me? I wanna to know the complete step by step instructions that how to become a movie/ad director. From which colleges in india, the courses are to be done for such field. Also, if you can tell me that such courses are also to be done in Nagpur then its is good for me. How much qualification required for such field. If you can help me in getting some internship or assistant producer or any normal works on film sets, then it is also good for me. Please reply me on my email Id. which is [e-mail]