Music Video Directors and Producers
Overview
Introduction
"Lights! Camera! Action!" aptly summarizes the major responsibilities of the music video director. Directors are well known for their part in guiding actors, but they are involved in much more—casting, costuming, cinematography, lighting, editing, and sound recording. Music video directors must have insight into the many tasks that go into the creation of a music video, and they must have a broad vision of how each part will contribute to the final product.
Music video producers often work with the music video direct...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Music video directors earn approximately 10 percent of a videos operating budget before production fees and insurance costs are factored into the budget. Budgets can range from as little as a few thousand dollars to millions of dollars for the creation of a video for a top artist. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that directors and producers earned median annual salaries of $71,680 in May 2...
Work Environment
The work of the music video director can be glamorous and prestigious. But directors work under great stress, meeting deadlines, staying within budgets, and resolving problems among staff members. "Nine-to-five" definitely does not describe a day in the life of a music video director; 16-hour days (and more) are not uncommon. Because directors are ultimately responsible for every aspect of a vi...
Outlook
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment of producers and directors is projected to grow 5 percent through 2028, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Though opportunities will increase with the expansion of cable and satellite television, the growth of sites such as YouTube, and an increased overseas demand for American-made music videos and films, competi...