Film Directing

The Occupation of Motion Picture Directing

      I suppose I consider myself lucky. While many people my age are trying to figure out what career to choose when they grow up, I already know. Since I was in the sixth grade, I've been interested in video production. I've pursued it for four years now, and know that I will one day be in the film business. The challenge was deciding which field of film I wanted to be in, but soon came to the conclusion that directing was what intrigued me the most. In directing one can see their own work show in the way the film feels and looks. They can choose the emotion and significance of the shots, and see their own vision come out on to the big screen.
      I have been told many times that being a woman director would not be easy. But, always being up for a challenge, I gladly took it. I've never been one to give up because others say it can't be done. I'd just as well figure it out on my own. And maybe that's what directing is to me, a challenge; to myself, about doing my life the way I intend it.
What I know about film or motion picture directing is a bit limited. I know what one does in the business, but what I needed to learn was how to start out.
      In the field of directors you can run across any personality. There are some that are uptight and very serious about their job, while others are loose and friendly about things. "Directors have their own styles of extracting accurate emotion and performance from cast members, but they must be dedicated to this goal" ("Film and Television Directors" 37).
      Although no college education is actually required to be a film director, it is recommended. Lily Mariye, a successful director/actress, graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in Theater Arts. During a personal interview with her she stated, "I attended the film school of being on a set for most of my life and paying attention. Film school is a good way to learn the basics. They can teach you how to start, but the only way to really learn how to do it is by the doing."
      There is no standard training guide to being a director. At the very least a high school diploma is needed. Successful director, Woody Allen, took few film courses in his life. He worked as a magician, jazz clarinet player, joke writer, and stand-up comedian before ever directing films ("Film and Television Directors" 38).
      There are more than five hundred film schools located in the United States. Of these are the most acclaimed: American Film Institute in Los Angeles, Columbia University in New York City, New York University (NYU), University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), and University of Southern California (USC). These programs, though they offer things others can't, tend to be more expensive than others offered elsewhere ("Film and Television Directors" 39)
      Traveling is always a major part of Directing. One may work inside, outside, and where ever it's necessary to be located while the filming is in progress.
      There are movies filmed all over the world, thus there are demands for directors wherever that may be. "In television, opportunities are concentrated in the network centers of New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta" ("Actors, Directors, and Producers" 1). Those, of course, are only a few of the many recognized locations for the occupation. Other locations may not even be in the major motion picture business and could be producing independent motion pictures (ones with smaller budgets) making far less money (usually).
      The pay for film directors varies greatly depending upon what job they are currently working on. Most Hollywood film directors are members of the Directors Guild of America, and the union usually negotiates salaries. Generally one gets paid according to how large the film budget is. If the Budget is over $1.5 million, the salary per week is about $8,000. But, its important to remember that-that it takes time to get respected in Hollywood to the level of directing high budget films. Also, directors are freelancers, which means they are paid by each job they do. So, there can be long periods of time where no pay comes in ("Film and Television Directors" 37).
      Not every one that sets out to be a film director is in just for the fame and high pay. Not all directors make a lot of money, and not all directors want to. Some are perfectly content only making low budget films that are good and will make them proud. It may not seem so, but directing is a type of art. Although many artists are good and famous, there are definitely artists out there who are only in it because they simply love it.
      Directors plan and direct the artistic efforts of the staff. They determine the angles of the camera shot and often have many takes on a single scene. The director's job usually begins with a script, interpreting it and getting the message they think it is intended for. ("Film and Video Makers" 2)
      The life of a director is not easy and comes with many hours with out rest. " 'Nine to five' definitely does not describe a day in the life of a director; 16-hour days (and more) are not uncommon" ("Film and Television Directors" 40). Directors have the ultimate responsibly and are involved with the production from the beginning to the final cut.
      Directors, though the title seems big, may not always have the final say in what the project looks like when the audience sees it. The film's producers may cut certain clips to give it a look they want. One's stature as a director (along with terms of contract) determines how much say they would have in the final cut that is released to the public.
      Occasionally, the director will be at argument about the final cut and decide that they do not want to take credit for the film. When this happens, Alan Smithee steps in to take the credit. Let it be known that Alan Smithee is not a real person, but an alias used as a substitute when a director refuses to be linked to the film ("Cinema, The Directors Vision" 2).
      A typical day for a director is never typical. One has to always expect the unexpected and be prepared if something goes wrong. Lily Mariye explains:
       "Some days, cables break and filming is shut down for an hour and a half while a harried production assistant runs around town on a Sunday looking for a replacement cable. Sometimes the children that you have that are only allowed to work for 6 hours a day (Screen Actors Guild rules) get antsy and you only have 15 minutes left to get the three shots you desperately need. Sometimes one of your lead actors has a nervous breakdown and the set shuts down while you try to calm him down enough so he'll show up the next day. But nothing is unsolvable."
      According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, motion picture production is expected to increase 17 percent over the 1998-2008 period. There will be an increased employment opportunity for jobs such as actors, directors, and producers. However, the competition will continue highly because of the great number of jobseekers ("Motion Picture Production and Distribution" 1).
      Motion pictures have always been part of rising technology. It has shaped film since the beginning. Today, there is even more technology coming about. Digital projection, streaming video online, and large format is changing the experience of a movie. There's no doubt that in 20 years from now, films will be made very differently. Most likely every thing will be done just using computers and data chips. But, many are looking forward to the changes of technology to greatly increase the quality of films in many ways (Hindman).
      This paper took many hours of research and writing to finish, but with it complete, I am only glad. I knew what I wanted to do, and learning about film directing and how to pursue it was very satisfying.
After all I have learned and researched, directing has become even more appealing to me. It excites me to have an inside take on what, as of this time, I hope to do with the rest of my life. It's frightening to think about going out into the real world, and it would be even more so doing it without the knowledge I now have.
      I don't know how I will approach film directing, but what I do know is that I'm going to college. California schools intrigue me, and perhaps I will go to UCLA. The American Film Institute offers a trainee program for women directors, and that seems a definite possibility for me to enroll in one day. Even if I do not one day become a film director, I'll be somewhere out there in the film business. It's where I feel I belong, and I would be just as content if I'm not racking in the big money and become someone famous. It is my hobby and my love, and I will continue to pursue it for many years to come.