Film making

Directing

Educate yourself

Filmmaker's Video The balance between art and commerce. (Video courtesy American Express Open Forum.)

The first step to becoming a great director is getting yourself educated.

• Watch as many movies as you can, especially the highly rated, classic films by the great directors.
• Take acting classes and read about acting theory.
• Take film history, theory and appreciation classes and read all you can about filmmaking and great directors.
• Educate yourself about all aspect of the entertainment and industry and related artistic endeavors--theater, music, literature, history, photography, art, etc.
• Take advantage of any opportunities to work with actors. Volunteer with local theater groups.
• Volunteer to work on other filmmaker's productions. Observe what they do wrong and learn.

The filming process

Although a producer many have set the movie production into motion once production begins the director is the general who directs the activities of everyone else. That doesn't mean everyone else just follows directions. On a well-functioning set everyone is making contributions, offering ideas, pointing out errors.