A Career in Motion Picture Directing

Motion Picture directors are some of the most intriguing, and influential artists of our time. Directors are talented individuals, who create movies in efforts to entertain as well as influence the audiences who watch them. It is their job to take a written script, and interpret it into a visual representation on film through the use of actors, cameras, and they’re ever developing catalytic minds. The allure of becoming a director illustrates the opportunity to create films that will leave ever-lasting impressions on ones life. While doing so, you get to work with an abundance of dedicated people, exchanging ideas, in efforts to create a meaningful, captivating motion picture. In addition, being a director allows you to put your own touch into a movie, define your style and hopefully create a name for yourself in the industry of filmmaking.

Directors have many tasks and rely on numerous types of skills that will ultimately create a successful film. “ Introduction to Film,” written by Robert S. Withers, describes a directors job, as well as their responsibilities while working on a film. Directors have complete control over each scene, which enables them to decide the angles of scenes shot, the actors staging and behavior, and the overall editing of the scene when it is done being filmed. He develops the “mise- en-scen”(188), which is all the elements filmed by the camera: the setting, props, costumes, make-up and the actor’s dialogue. Directors decide the framing of any given shot, and may put in or take out elements that will help express the meaning of a scene in a movie. The director also works with the casting staff to help decide the best possible actors for the different characters in the movie. (188-189)

Directing a movie also enables the director to incorporate his own style into a movie. Using the same actors, or even the same type of editing to put the scenes together are examples of the styles that directors exercise in every film they help create. Using their unique style makes the film stand out, attracting moviegoers, as well as influencing young directors to try and create their own styles in the industry. (189-190)

In the book, “Introduction to Film,” Withers states, “ The directors influence and control extends to every aspect of a production, enabling him to become the author of a film.” (189) Withers explains the importance and influence that the director has on the production of a quality film.