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Film and Television Directors


Overview

Film and Television Directors

Introduction

"Lights! Camera! Action!" aptly summarizes the major responsibilities of the film and television director. In ultimate control of the decisions that shape a film or television production, the director is an artist who coordinates the elements of a film or television show and is responsible for its overall style and quality.

Directors are well known for their part in guiding actors, but they are involved in much more—casting, costuming, cinematography, editing, and sound recording. Directors must have insight into the many tas...

Quick Facts


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Median Salary

$71,680

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Employment Prospects

Fair

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Minimum Education Level

High School Diploma
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Experience

Film school
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Skills

Leadership
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Personality Traits

Artistic
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Earnings

Directors' salaries vary greatly. Those just starting out in the industry might earn less than $10,000 a year, while big-name Hollywood directors can earn tens of millions of dollars annually. Most Hollywood film directors are members of the Directors Guild of America (DGA), and salaries (as well as hours of work and other employment conditions) are usually negotiated by this union. Generally, ...

Work Environment

The work of the director is considered glamorous and prestigious, and of course directors have been known to become quite famous. But directors work under great stress, meeting deadlines, staying within budgets, and resolving problems among staff. "Nine-to-five" definitely does not describe a day in the life of a director; 16-hour days (and more) are not uncommon. Because directors are ultimate...

Outlook

Employment for motion picture and television directors is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all careers through 2028, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Job growth will occur as a result of the increasing global demand for films and television programming made in the United States, and the development of other delivery methods for films and TV shows, such as the Internet...