I was enjoying RB's recent Coffee & Content blog post (https://www.stage32.com/blog/Coffee-and-Content-How-to-Light-a-Film-Stud...), and it got me thinking - what all do you consider to be within the "director's skill set"?
I was thinking about this specifically because the short video on the basic cuts an editor needs to know about very much informs the kind of shots a cinematographer needs to know to capture. Furthermore, the other video about lighting a studio space very much points to how a gaffer and cinematographer must know about their location/surrounding just as much as they should know about their subject in front of the camera being lit. And all of those roles? Being lead by a director who has to take all of those things into account.
What have you learned as a filmmaker from these other technical roles?
I would love to get some filmmakers to respond to this post - I'm curious of their thoughts.
This is a really interesting question Karen "Kay" Ross! The director really has to know a little something about all the departments. As an actor, I really enjoyed this article from Director Bobby Roth (PRISON BREAK, AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.) about working with/directing actors https://www.stage32.com/blog/TV-Directing-Tips
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I think for me, as a director, the 2 of the most important skills tie together in an interesting way.
The 1st is to know your vision and how it flows between all the different departments its important for the director to know exactly what the "feeling" is invoked by the production design, by the music, by the sound design, by the lighting, by the performances
and 2nd to know how to listen to the input of those around you. To hear the suggestions. and to see something from another point of view.
I think the most important part to all of this, however is to know how to balance between what you want in the immediate moment, and when to take in other perspectives. To know when you're going to put your foot down on a specific concept and when you want to let go of your idea and opt for someone else's. To know that balance, for me, is key.
That's a fantastic answer, Garrett Adams. I really appreciate that you put the importance on listening just as much as having a vision. I feel like the egotistical version of "what a director does" is myopic and tends to focus on the vision above all.
Enjoyed your perspective Garrett Adams, thanks for sharing.
There are two forms of auteurs: the writer-director, the other type who takes another's script and brings it to screen. In either case, the director must first & foremost be a visionary with creative interpretation for both visuals and performance. Obviously a basic knowledge of all of the production aspects is needed in order to recognize when & where problems may arise. The Director must be organized to make sure everything and everyone is in the right place, doing the right thing at the right time. A director must be diplomatic with the cast and crew about how to get them to perform their very best. Its the Director's job to make everybody else look great. And lastly, humility is required to make it all work.
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Please think about what is being said in these videos. Does the technique being shown make sense for the stated artistic goal? Is it the best way of doing things? Is it repeatable? Is it even effective? Use your eyes, your brain, your experience, and your imagination to evaluate what is being said. Don’t just believe somebody saying this is how to get some specific result, that they then say was achieved. Use your eyes; is the result you see what you are being repeatedly told it is? Did the methodology actually make sense in terms of what the desired outcome was, the ease of doing it, and the accuracy achieved? Does the internet renaming a method somehow make it better? Content versus presentation. Please think.
I always expect Directors to know enough to make decisions that are correct for their vision of the producers story. All of the associated creative contributors on a picture will have suggestions but the Director needs to decide if they fit the vision and do that in a timely fashion. That decision can only come quickly IF the Director KNOWS the story and the approach they will take and is sure of their choices. There should be no egos involved when making suggestions, as contributors we offer up options and the reasons they may help. The Director has to make the decisions. Any other acquired first hand knowledge in any specific areas that the Director brings to the project is all a bonus for everybody on the project. The Director understanding the problems to be solved by everyone is really helpful.
Scariest statement I’ve heard from a Director in the last decade was on a big multi-camera shoot. We hadn’t really had a chance to talk until the set-up day. As I went through the look and options, what I was told was “I can’t imagine what it will look like, I have to see it”. That shoot had over 100 fixtures and 7 cameras. We were scheduled to start shooting 5 hours after arriving, If the Director didn’t like what I created, there would be no time to change it. And of course, it would be my fault if it was not what was wanted. No imagination working in a creative industry… made for yet another glamour filled industry moment.
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The #1 skill an effective director should have is Leadership. Leadership requires excellent communication, both in terms of listening and speaking (emphasis on the former). It requires empathy, flexibility, and providing different elements to people with different needs.
I like to equate a director to the conductor of an orchestra. They set the pace, the mood, the volume, delegating certain tasks to the concert master (first chair violin), and ensuring that everyone plays together in harmony. The director doesn't play an instrument, but ultimately they are responsible for the final success or failure of the performance.
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I love that, @Jeremy! I had an instance when I was invited to direct and took that leadership role very seriously, including when to stop and celebrate to ensure there was time to reflect and bond. It's a beautiful thing when you're given the opportunity to help others be their best!
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Don't you LOVE evergreen posts? Bumping this to see if any newcomers have some fresh perspectives. HOLLA!