Is it your dream to become a film director? In this article, we will tell you how to become a director. Once you read this article, you’ll know what the requirements are for becoming a film director.
Ever since the invention of movies, people have been fascinated with making movies.
This is my, an amateur’s, guide to becoming a film director looking to find a livelihood in filmmaking. Well, I’ll save the short answer for later. For someone working from the ground up, you need to be a visionary. Educational qualifications are a necessity but having a steady vision for your story and being a great storyteller comes first.
If you think about it, my grandma is also on her way to becoming a film director! It is quite similar to the stereotype that people who argue well are bound to be good lawyers.
Flow Chart to Become a Film Director
Learning from others can also prove helpful. Analysing other people’s work can inspire you or could show you what you do not want in your potential film. When you get into filmmaking, you automatically tend to study the movies you watch out of pure intrigue. You tend to look into the camera work, the dialogues, the acting and everything in between.
It all starts with interest. You can go through movie scripts which are easily accessible online for reference. You can watch round table reads, where you can listen to the tone of the dialogues and how to deliver your emotions through said dialogues. To start, try finding 5-7 mistakes in every film you watch to expand your knowledge.
You can also attempt to act on your interest. You can try your wits and make a short film. The obvious fact social media is growing faster than ever can work in your favour to promote.
Make a script, something you feel that has not been done before, and hire your friends, against their will preferably, to act in the roles. Use Instagram, Facebook or any platform to recruit for and promote your work. As harsh as this may sound, be shameless. Be loud. Be proud.
Step By Step Guide to Become a Film Director in India
Follow these steps to become a Film director in India.
1. Read Screenplay Books
Screenplay books are a great tool for film makers to learn the technicalities of filmmaking. They teach the story, the characters, the plot, the setting, and more. Some of the famous Screen writing playbooks you can read to improve your skill.
- The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers by Chirstopher Vogler
- Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting by Syd Field
- Story: Style, Structure, Substance, and the Principles of Screenwriting by Robert Mckee
- Adventure in the Screen Trade by William Goldman
2. Plan and Write Your Short Film
Before you start planning your short film, you must first decide what your short film will be about. This is important because you can’t direct your film if your film is not clear on what it is. After you have a clear idea of what your Film is about, you can start to start out the story and character development.
You should also create a blueprint of the story. This blueprint will tell you what is the beginning, middle, and end of your film is. It will also help you figure out if your story is linear or non linear, which is important for the way you will approach the film, and this will further improve your skills and knowledge in the sector.
3. Working Under Few Directors
The Film industry is huge and there are a lot of people who want to be a part of it. If you want to be a Film director yourself, you could start by doing something that appeals to the movie industry.
There are many different avenues to move in, but as a first step to becoming a movie director, you should work for a film director.
There are many different types of work that directors do, but if you want to be a director, working for a film director is a great place to Studycamera movement – how to do it, and WHY you would do it.
For example, why one would choose to use a steadicam instead of handheld (or vice versa). When should you push in? When should you dolly? Always cross-reference these to the great films you are watching. When does Hitchcock push in and why? How does it serve the story?
Socialize with every local filmmaker, actor, community theater, etc, in your area. Be cordial to people who aren’t very good and cling to people who have talent and skills.
4. Join Film School
Film school is a great way to get a degree in film and gain experience in the industry. The best part about film school is that it is a flexible program that can be tailored to your needs. You can choose to take classes on filmmaking, directing, screenwriting, acting, or any other skill you are interested in. You can also choose to take classes that are not related to filmmaking, but instead focus on things like language, science fiction, philosophy, or design. Film schools are expensive. That is not a surprise to anyone. They cost around 10 – 15 Lakh Rupees a year.
Some of the Famous film Schools in India are
- Ekta Kapoor’s Film School – Cinematography Institute Delhi
- Cinematography institute Noida – GKFTII @Filmcity Noida
- Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) Kolkata
- Film and Television Institute of India, Pune
- Center For Research In Art Of Film And Television (CRAFT), Delhi
Kalapurnam Institute of Visual effects and Animation MAYA
What is a Director’s role in a movie?
The director and other creatives develop a plan for the movie during preproduction. Both realistic and cultural opinions must be made.
The director, during this phase, considers casting, shot selection, styles, and colour schemes throughout preproduction.
Depending on the compass and cost of the product, they may also be in charge of planning trial and filming schedules and position giving .
When everything is finished, that’s called postproduction. At this point, the director will assume a different directorial position.
Editing, correction of colour, and the addition of sound and visual goods must all be done. This is when the movie takes its definitive form.
The First Assistant Director( announcement), who works as the director’s right-hand man, handles a variety of important logistical considerations so that the director should concentrate on the creative process.
One of the most popular majors are handed by the sodalities that offer courses, film direction is anticipated to come highly competitive in the future.
In the coming ten times, there can be a 10 growth in the number of film directors. The number of film assiduity jobs is expanding snappily.
With new gifts coming in the request every time and laboriously sharing in the field, this rate of growth will guarantee that the competition will stay strong in this sector.
First, Advertisements break campo the script into a shot-by-shot storyboard during production. They unite with the director to decide the firing order and the length of time demanded to shoot each scene.
The total firing schedule is also created( a schedule for the filming period). First will be the responsibility for icing that the shoot adheres to this schedule while the movie is in a product.
The First Assistant Director’s right-hand man is the Alternate Assistant Director. The Alternate announcement’s primary responsibility is to ensure that all of the First AD’s directives are followed.
Under the direction of the First, the seconds prepare and draught the “call distance,” a document that includes diurnal firing schedules and is distributed to cast and crew.
They also supervise all cast movements, making sure that the main actors are slipping makeup, changing into the wardrobe, or staying in line on set at the applicable times.
The Third Assistant Director’s primary responsibility is to support and help the First and Second Assistant Directors in any way that may be needed on the set or position.
While numerous different tasks may be involved, utmost Thirds’ primary liabilities centre on the stir and conduct of background players( extras).
Particularly in sequences with many people, thirds may be demanded to control the action of extras or vehicles that appear in the camera as background rudiments.
On the set or position, thirds also serve as couriers and are constantly assigned with informing cast or crew members of dispatches and information through a radio link.
Educational Qualification to Become a Film Director
Now comes the part that most of us dread, educational qualifications. To start a filmmaking career, you will need a bachelor’s degree in filmmaking, cinema study or anything related to such.
After your bachelor’s, you can opt for a master’s in film studies which of course, would be helpful. While you pursue your education, you can intern at different places, and make short films. While in university, recruiting people for your short films becomes easier. You will most definitely have access to all kinds of people.
Now for the short and easiest way to get into the film industry is, you might have guessed it, nepotism! If you were lucky enough to be born into a family with “influence”, you are well on your way to becoming absolutely whatever you want to be. If you are not as lucky as most people (me), then let us pray that everything else in the fore mentioned helps you through your endeavors.
Let us end on this note. In the wise words of Harry Styles circa 2022,
“The best part about acting in a movie is it feels like a movie. You go to the theatre. Film. Movie.”
Conclusion
First, understand that filmmaking is a very vast and tough subject. It’s like preparing for civil Exams. You have to take out minimum 5 yrs from your life . Having a godfather in the industry is the key to success in this industry. So network with people who are already in the industry. Try to learn as much as possible online. So many directors in interviews stated that the future in the film industry belongs to those who have story writing skills. So become strong in story writing and try to have stories always with you.
In last it is not glamour and attention But Art of Film Making which will eventually make you successful.