Film and Television Directors
Overview
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
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
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, c...
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 directors in the motion picture and video industries is expected to grow much faster than the average for all careers from 2023 through 2033, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Faster-than-average employment growth is expected for directors who work for media streaming distribution services, social networks, and other media networks and content providers.
Job growt...