What Does it Take to Be a Director?
Job Description: Interpret script, conduct rehearsals, and direct activities of cast and technical crew for stage, motion pictures, television, or radio programs.
What Do Directors Do On a Daily Basis?
- Confer with stage managers to arrange schedules for rehearsals, costume fittings, and sound or light development.
- Supervise and coordinate the work of camera, lighting, design, and sound crew members.
- Hold auditions for parts or negotiate contracts with actors determined suitable for specific roles, working in conjunction with producers.
- Collaborate with film and sound editors during the post-production process as films are edited and soundtracks are added.
- Confer with technical directors, managers, crew members, and writers to discuss details of production, such as photography, script, music, sets, and costumes.
- Communicate to actors the approach, characterization, and movement needed for each scene in such a way that rehearsals and takes are minimized.
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Skills Needed to be a Director
When polled, Directors say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Related Job Titles
- Creative Director
- Newscast Director
- Art Framing Manager
- Stage Manager
- Stage Director
Director Employment Estimates
There were about 134,700 jobs for Director in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 12.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 16,500 new jobs for Director by 2026. The BLS estimates 14,100 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Director are Utah, Georgia, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Maine, or Kansas. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Directors Salary
The typical yearly salary for Directors is somewhere between $34,450 and $163,540.
Directors who work in California, New York, or District of Columbia, make the highest salaries.
How much do Directors make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $57,040 |
| Alaska | $61,280 |
| Arizona | $62,760 |
| Arkansas | $58,750 |
| California | $115,080 |
| Colorado | $68,290 |
| Connecticut | $84,900 |
| Delaware | $59,680 |
| District of Columbia | $89,390 |
| Florida | $70,630 |
| Georgia | $84,570 |
| Hawaii | $73,200 |
| Idaho | $55,600 |
| Illinois | $77,960 |
| Indiana | $48,300 |
| Iowa | $46,610 |
| Kansas | $56,680 |
| Kentucky | $60,530 |
| Louisiana | $56,290 |
| Maine | $51,310 |
| Maryland | $78,760 |
| Massachusetts | $70,480 |
| Michigan | $65,910 |
| Minnesota | $73,110 |
| Mississippi | $44,310 |
| Missouri | $65,560 |
| Montana | $51,920 |
| Nebraska | $51,620 |
| Nevada | $67,190 |
| New Hampshire | $59,830 |
| New Jersey | $92,180 |
| New Mexico | $75,110 |
| New York | $115,610 |
| North Carolina | $73,980 |
| North Dakota | $42,570 |
| Ohio | $60,590 |
| Oklahoma | $55,670 |
| Oregon | $68,280 |
| Pennsylvania | $76,050 |
| Rhode Island | $65,660 |
| South Carolina | $57,200 |
| South Dakota | $55,930 |
| Tennessee | $65,040 |
| Texas | $69,280 |
| Utah | $67,800 |
| Vermont | $58,760 |
| Virginia | $69,750 |
| Washington | $71,430 |
| Wisconsin | $57,110 |
| Wyoming | $45,930 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Directors
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Directors:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Hypertext markup language HTML
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Extensible markup language XML
- YouTube
- Apple Final Cut Pro
- Adobe Systems Adobe After Effects
- Adobe Systems Adobe Audition
- Avid Technology Pro Tools
- Avid Technology Media Composer
- Graphics creation software
- Content management systems CMS
- Avid Technology iNEWS
- Broadcast Electronics AudioVAULT FleX
Becoming a Director
Are there Directors education requirements?
What work experience do I need to become a Director?
Where do Directors Work?
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Related Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Director might also be interested in the following careers:
Career changers with experience as a Director sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
Image Credit: Donald Judge via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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