Film Director Overview

Required Education and Training To Become a Film Director

Best Schools to become a Film Director in U.S. 2024

New York University

New York, NY

In-State Tuition:$55,384
Out-of-State Tuition:$55,384
Admission Rate:12%
Graduation Rate:87%
Total Enrollment:59,144

Emerson College

Boston, MA

In-State Tuition:$51,552
Out-of-State Tuition:$51,552
Admission Rate:43%
Graduation Rate:77%
Total Enrollment:5,891

American Musical and Dramatic Academy

New York, NY

In-State Tuition:$43,960
Out-of-State Tuition:$43,960
Admission Rate:26%
Graduation Rate:70%
Total Enrollment:1,480

New York Film Academy

Burbank, CA

In-State Tuition:$33,017
Out-of-State Tuition:$33,017
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:68%
Total Enrollment:1,285

Savannah College of Art and Design

Savannah, GA

In-State Tuition:$39,105
Out-of-State Tuition:$39,105
Admission Rate:82%
Graduation Rate:73%
Total Enrollment:16,414

Chapman University

Orange, CA

In-State Tuition:$60,288
Out-of-State Tuition:$60,288
Admission Rate:73%
Graduation Rate:84%
Total Enrollment:10,014
Film Director Job Description:
  • Produce or direct stage, television, radio, video, or film productions for entertainment, information, or instruction.
  • Responsible for creative decisions, such as interpretation of script, choice of actors or guests, set design, sound, special effects, and choreography.

Required Skills and Competencies To Become a Film Director

Job Duties for Film Directors

  • Communicate to actors the approach, characterization, and movement needed for each scene in such a way that rehearsals and takes are minimized.

  • Direct live broadcasts, films and recordings, or non-broadcast programming for public entertainment or education.

  • Plan details such as framing, composition, camera movement, sound, and actor movement for each shot or scene.

Technologies and Skills Used by Film Directors

Music or sound editing software

  • Adobe Audition
  • Magix Vegas Pro

Video creation and editing software

  • TikTok
  • YouTube

Web page creation and editing software

  • Instagram
  • WordPress

Basic Skills

  • Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
  • Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions

People and Technology Systems

  • Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
  • Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one

Problem Solving

  • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Current Job Market and Opportunites for a Film Director

Additional Resources To Help You Become a Film Director

FAQs About Becoming a Film Director