Job Research

Director 

Directors are the creative lead of production and are hired by the producer(s). They work closely with the vast majority of the crew and can often take up other roles such as being an actor, screenwriters and script editors as well others. It is the job of a director to imagine the script in a visual form. They then work with producers and casting directors to select the actors and with the director of photography to develop the filming style for the production. Some directors will also work with the casting director to make sure the right person is picked for the right character as well as help the actors to understand their characters more and make sure they work the blocking of each scene including the positioning and dialogue flow. While working with the actors, directors must also work and direct the rest of the crew on set including both the technical side (sound tech, lighting, camera op, etc) and the practical side (hair & makeup, set design, wardrobe, etc) to make sure each shot goes as smoothly as possible to bring out the best final product. Once production is finished directors will also lead the editing and produce a director cut of the film (which is often a lot longer than the final product)

Directors must have leadership skills as they have to manage the entire set on each day of production and inspire people to do their best work each day so no one loses their motivation. They must also have knowledge of everything on set and have a strong imagination to be able to bring their ideas to life and be able to visualise what things will look like after editing for the final product. Along with strong leadership skills, they need to be organised and be able to stay calm under pressure as they have to keep track of everything done on set and all of the crew they need which can raise high levels of stress even when done correctly.

There are multiple routes to becoming a director including multiple routes through school, college and university:

- OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma/Extended Diploma in Performing Arts

- BTEC National Diploma/Extended Diploma in Performing Arts

- BTEC National Extended Diploma in Creative Digital Media Production

- Aim Awards Diploma in Creative and Digital Media

- OCR Technical Diploma in Digital Media (Moving Image and Audio Production)

- BTEC National Diploma in Film and Television Production

- BTEC National Diploma in Film and Television Visual Effects

- RSL Diploma/Extended Diploma in Creative and Performing Arts

- UAL Diploma/Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production and Technology

- UAL Diploma/Extended Diploma in Performing and Production Arts

You can also build up a portfolio to show to employers through freelance work to help build up your reputation as degrees aren't a necessity to becoming a director and you can even work on smaller productions for short films and personal productions to help build your knowledge and portfolio. Networking is also a beneficial way of sharing your talent as you get to exchange contacts with people who can spread your name and work to larger companies and help you get more experience in the industry and build up a collection of people who may be able to help you with your own projects if you ever need more members of a crew.

Director of Photography 

Directors of Photography (DoP) are responsible for the recording and photographic heart of production. They work closely with the director and read over the screenplay to help discuss and produce the best product they can to match the director's vision of the production. They often research and use the best lighting, framing, and camera movement and create the best end product by looking through the right kit and crew to achieve the director's goal. 

DoPs are typically the first people on set to make sure everything is set up correctly and ready for the shoot for the day. They discuss any special camera moves or lighting requirements with the camera operator, gaffer and grip, and each shot is marked up for focus and framing by the focus puller while the DoP oversees the lighting of the set for the first take. They also work with the director, the DoPs do blocking for the actors and how the scene is going to play out. 

It’s the job of DoPs to make sure every shot is usable and flag them when they’re not. They view the rushes (raw footage) with the director and work closely with the colourist in post-production. On smaller productions and sometimes closed sets directors of photography will sometimes shoot as well.

DoPs must have an eye for photography and be able to understand how and when to use the correct camera and lighting techniques to tell the story through the shot as best they can. They also need to have an in-depth understanding of all motion equipment such as cameras, lens', monitors and lights as well as knowledge of editing and a good eye for colour in the editing process. DoPs need to be able to work well under pressure and be able to make quick decisions as well as be organised and have good communication with other members of the crew. This includes being able to let others know how long a shoot will be as well as getting the right kit, managing a budget and thinking about both the logistical and artistic sides of a shot.

There are multiple routes to becoming a director including multiple routes through school, college and university:

- BTEC National Diploma/Extended Diploma in Art and Design

- BTEC National Extended Diploma in Creative Digital Media Production

- NCFE Applied General Certificate in Art and Design

- UAL Applied General Diploma/Extended Diploma in Art and Design

- BTEC National Diploma in Film and Television Production

- BTEC National Diploma in Photography OCR Technical Diploma in Digital Media (Moving Image and Audio Production)

- UAL Diploma/Extended Diploma in Art and Design

- UAL Diploma/Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production and Technology

You can also build up a portfolio to show to employers through freelance work to help build up your reputation as degrees aren't a necessity to becoming a DoP and you can even work on smaller productions for short films and personal productions to help build your knowledge and portfolio. Networking is also a beneficial way of sharing your talent as you get to exchange contacts with people who can spread your name and work to larger companies and help you get more experience in the industry and build up a collection of people who may be able to help you with your own projects if you ever need more members of a crew. You can also get an apprenticeship to help both teach you and give you a temporary (sometimes permanent) job, however, it is often difficult to find ones that are directly linked to being a director of photography.

Editor 

Editors put together the rushes as they come in from the shoots of that day. Films tend not to be shot in the order in which the story unfolds, so editors might be working on scenes from the end of the film before the beginning. Their job is to take scenes in non-story order and edit them bit by bit into a whole.

In pre-production, editors work closely with the director to decide how to make the most of the script. Once filming starts, they look at the rushes each day, checking technical standards and the emerging sense of the story edit it into a series of scenes. By the time the film wraps editors will have spent hours reworking scenes and cutting them together to create a rough assembly. This may sometimes lead to having more than one rough cut including different takes of the same scene to see which works best.

During post-production, the editor and director will work closely to refine the assembly edit into a director’s cut (usually a lot longer than the final product), which must be shortened and approved by producers, until they achieve picture lock (known as final cut).  After that, the music and sound are added to the mix, a process that editors will oversee as well as any special effects needed in certain scenes.

Editors must be good at storytelling and know understand how to use pictures, rhythm, pace and tension to tell a tale as well as have good visual awareness and know what look fits the style of the film being made. They must have an in-depth understanding of editing softwares and be adept with tools like Avid Media Composer, Adobe Premier, Final Cut and Lightworks as well as have good attention to detail and good attention skills. Along with all roles in the industry, editors must be able to communicate effectively as editing scenes needs to be done precisely and effectively.

There are multiple routes to becoming an editor including multiple routes through school, college and university:

- NCFE Level 3 Applied General Certificate in Art and Design

- BTEC National Diploma/Extended Diploma in Art and Design

- BTEC National Extended Diploma in Creative Digital Media Production

- UAL Applied General Diploma/Extended Diploma in Art and Design

- Aim Awards Diploma in Creative and Digital Media

- OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma in Art and Design (3D Design)

- OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma in Art and Design (Graphic Design)

- OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma in Art and Design (Photography)

- OCR Technical Diploma in Digital Media (Moving Image and Audio Production)

- BTEC National Diploma in Film and Television Production

- BTEC National Diploma in Film and Television Visual Effects

- BTEC National Diploma in Photography

- UAL Diploma/Extended Diploma in Art and Design

- UAL Diploma/Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production and Technology

You can also build up a portfolio to show to employers through freelance work to help build up your reputation as degrees aren't a necessity to becoming an editor and you can even work on smaller productions for short films, personal productions and even youtube videos to help build your knowledge and portfolio. Networking is also a beneficial way of sharing your talent as you get to exchange contacts with people who can spread your name and work to larger companies and help you get more experience in the industry and build up a collection of people who may be able to help you with your own projects if you ever need more members of a crew. You can also get an apprenticeship to help both teach you and give you a temporary (sometimes permanent) job with studios across the country.

Overall, I believe that the role of a director is the most fitting for me as not only does it require a large range of skills, but it also lets you oversee almost the entire project and also lets you show people your style of filming and lets you bring your vision of the script to life.