High School

At the very least, a high school diploma, while not technically required if you wish to become a director, will still probably be indispensable to you in terms of the background and education it signifies. As is true of all artists, especially those in a medium as widely disseminated as film, you will need to have rich and varied experience in order to create works that are intelligently crafted and speak to people of many different backgrounds. In high school, courses in English, art, theater, and history will give you a good foundation. Further, a high school diploma will be necessary if you decide to go on to film school. Be active in school and community drama productions, whether as performer, set designer, or cue-card holder. 

Postsecondary Training

In college and afterward, take film classes and volunteer to work on other students films. Dedication, talent, and experience have always been indispensable to a director. No doubt it is beneficial to become aware of ones passion for film as early as possible. Woody Allen, for example, recognized early in his life the importance motion pictures held for him, but he worked as a magician, jazz clarinet player, joke writer, and stand-up comic before ever directing films. Allen took few film courses in his life.

On the other hand, many successful directors such as Francis Ford Coppola, Kathryn Bigelow, and Martha Coolidge have taken the formal film school route. There are more than 500 film studies programs offered by schools of higher education throughout the United States, including those considered to be the five most reputable: those of the American Film Institute in Los Angeles,Columbia University in New York City, New York University, the University of California at Los Angeles, and the University of Southern California. These schools have film professionals on their faculties and provide a very visible stage for student talent, being located in the two film-business hot spots, California and New York. (The tuition for film programs offered elsewhere, however, tends to be much less expensive than at these schools.)

Film school offers overall formal training, providing an education in fundamental directing skills by working with student productions. Such education is rigorous, but in addition to teaching skills, it provides aspiring directors with peer groups and a network of contacts with students, faculty, and guest speakers that can be of help after graduation. The debate continues on what is more influential in a directing career: film school or personal experience. Some say that it is possible for creative people to land directing jobs without having gone through a formal program. Competition is so pervasive in the industry that even film school graduates find jobs scarce.

Other Education or Training

The American Film Institute offers a Directing Workshop for women, in which participants are required to complete a short film or series by the conclusion of the program. Women in Film offers master classes, where members and nonmembers can learn valuable filmmaking skills from industry professionals. Contact these organizations for more information.

Certification or Licensing

There is no certification or licensing available for film and television directors.

Aspiring directors should gain as much experience making movies as possible. It also helps to try out all the different roles associated with making a movie or television show—such as actor, producer, and editor—to get a better understanding of what it takes to make a successful film or show. 

Konstantin Stanislavsky had a passion for his directorial work in the theater, believing that it was an art of immense social importance. Todays motion picture directors must have similar inspiration and possibly even greater creative strength, because of the many more responsibilities involved in directing modern film. Other important traits include good organizational skills, the ability to communicate with and manage others, a passion for filmmaking, and a creative vision that allows you to inspire others to help you create an entertaining and successful film.