Directing: Career Paths (DP, AD, etc)

[Peter Hodgins]

The real question is, what do I do for money before becoming a director that will best prepare me for the job once I get there? As they say, Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity, so I want to be as prepared as possible.

Just do it, get a script, advertise in Craigslist for a DoP, cast some actors, re-hearse ... then start Directing ... shoot the Short (5 minutes max). Then get an editor ... then put it up on youtube. Do this in the next 90 days! Get back to us and tell us what you learned. Now get cracking!

 

[Michael Hastings]

Just do it, get a script, advertise in Craigslist for a DoP, cast some actors, re-hearse ... then start Directing ... shoot the Short (5 minutes max). Then get an editor ... then put it up on youtube. Do this in the next 90 days! Get back to us and tell us what you learned. Now get cracking!

Probably the best advice!

 

[Liam Hall]

Grow a beard...

 

[Brandon Kraemer]

Grow a beard...

LOL!!! Yes, that helps... also develop some kind of idiosyncratic behavior, like demanding your lattes are served at 98.6 degrees and in a black porcelain cup, and wear obscure vintage baseball hats from minor league teams.

 

[M Most]

LOL!!! Yes, that helps... also develop some kind of idiosyncratic behavior, like demanding your lattes are served at 98.6 degrees and in a black porcelain cup, and wear obscure vintage baseball hats from minor league teams.

A **real** director wears a baseball cap from an aircraft carrier, not a baseball team.

 

[M Most]

First and foremost, a director is a story teller.

Listen to Joel. He's done this for a long time, not to mention that is also a writer (I know, I also worked on Falcon Crest for a short time......:001_smile.

His points about collaboration are particularly notable. As are his comments about being well prepared, yet open to ideas and inspiration, regardless of where it may come from.

 

[Joe G.]

"Do this in the next 90 days! Get back to us and tell us what you learned. Now get cracking! "

It is true that I learned a hell of a lot from making shorts, editing, color correcting, etc.

You learn that continuity is a serious matter, from every shot! Half the stuff I shot couldn't be used because of changes between angles, the place actors were looking (eye lines), and little errors that stood out later.

Start simple. Put everything you have into a one location shoot. See what you can do to make it look like a professional shot it. Easier said than done.

Then you've got sound!

 

[Craig W. Bickerstaff]

Just do it, get a script

Thats easier said then done, these things don't just pop out of the ground.

Grow a beard...

Done and done, and mine is naturally multicolored too!

 

[Peter Hodgins]

Thats easier said then done, these things don't just pop out of the ground.

Advertise on craigslist, try NYC, LA, Toronto, London etc. etc. .... say you want to produce a short film for free....explain it is for Directorial practice .... many scripts should be offered. Tell your screenwriter acquaintances that you will produce their short, again many scripts will come forth. Likewise advertise for DoP and Actors and makeup Artists, etc. etc. It's 2009 ... we have the internet ..... what used to take years ... now takes minutes ....

here's a scenario .... from a joke on the internet ... Direct and put this on Video .... (this idea came up after a one minute search on the internet) not original, but OK for personal Practice video production

************************************* joke below (not for Democrats .... Democrat version replace Obama with Bush and Democrat with Republican etc. etc.) *******************************


Little Mary Pat had a box of very small kittens that she was trying to give away, so she had them out on the street corner with a sign "FREE KITTENS" next to them.

Suddenly a big line of big black cars came up with a policeman on a motorcycle in front. The cars all stopped and a tall man stepped out from the biggest car. Senator Obama stepped out of one black car and approached the girl.

"Hi, little girl, what do you have there in the box?" he asked.

"Kittens" Little Mary Pat said. "They're so small, their eyes are not even open yet."

"What kind of kittens are they?" he asked.

"Democrats" says Little Mary Pat.

The tall man smiled, returned to his car and they drove away. Sensing a good photo opportunity, Senator Obama called his campaign manager and told him about the little girl and the kittens.

It was planned that they would return the next day, have all the media there and tell everyone about these great kittens.

The next day, Little Mary Pat was standing out on the corner with her box of kittens and the "FREE KITTENS" sign as a big motorcade of black cars pulled up with all the vans and trucks from ABC, NBC, CBS, BET and CNN (but no FOX for some reason).

Everyone had their cameras ready and rolling; Senator Obama got out of his limo and walked up to Little Mary Pat.

"Now, don't be frightened," he said, "I just want you to tell all these nice news people just what kind of kittens you're giving away today."

"Yes sir," Mary Pat said, "They are all REPUBLICAN kittens."

Taken by surprise, Senator Obama said, "But yesterday, Mary Pat, you told me that they were DEMOCRATS."

Little Mary Pat said, "Yes, I know. But today, they have their eyes open."



************************************* zero budget version below ********************************


so here's what you do .... ditch the cars and the motorcycles .....
just have a Politician walking with his entourage ... door to door

ditch the kittens .... no one has to see inside the box ...

the next day for the reporters just have some other film students with their cameras.

........ Oh ya, one more thing ...

should be shot with RED ONE at 4K

 

[Roberto Lequeux]

Personally, I'd say learn to become a screenwriter because the main reason a director gets a shot at directing a feature is because they are attached to a script with commercial possibilities that people want to see get made.

I think David's advice is as always filled with wisdom. As a Director your main job is to have a vision, and to hopefully have that vision be worth watching. Filmmaking is ultimately storytelling, so if you want to direct your main concern should be storytelling. Of course knowing how to handle a set (AD) or how to manifest a vision into a two dimensional image (DP) can only help you be a better filmmaker. Don't forget about sound though, or you will have forgotten about 50% of your medium. Still, most importantly I think you need to know how to write, because that forces you to know how to tell a story effectively. Just my 0.0002 on the matter.

 

[jon erwin]

It's different for everyone. I started as a camera operator as a teenager for ESPN. Freelanced most weekends. Then my brother and I bought some gear and started doing local TV commercials. THat led to music videos. Directed a TON of those over the years. Meanwhile I learned to write and... wrote... wrote... wrote.... First couple of scripts went on the shelf. They were awful. But I got better at writing. We got better at directing. Ect.

this past wear we got into TV. Wrote and directed a dramatic three episode deal for a national network. Now FINALLY! a feature that we've written is getting off the ground at a studio... But MAN... It takes forever!!