What should a director be able to do? Profession: director

The names and surnames of the world's and country's leading directors are on everyone's lips. However, few people know how to get this profession, where to study and how to get a job. Find out by reading our detailed review.

Demand

Payability

Competition

Entry barrier

Prospects

A director is a person who manages all creative processes in theatre, cinema or television. He has a fairly wide range of responsibilities, the competent implementation of which will allow him to create a real masterpiece. The first directors appeared simultaneously with theatrical productions. They are first mentioned in Dahl's dictionary as people who control the performance of actors and the creation of a performance. But the very concept of directing arose only at the end of the 19th century. It was used as an ensemble or the subordination of all processes in the theater to one concept. This idea originated simultaneously in Paris and Berlin. In the 20th century, directing began to develop rapidly in cinema. But it should be remembered that the origins of this art remain in the theater, from where the director’s experience was transferred.

Description

Nowadays, directing has undergone tremendous development. Now this is not one person, but a whole range of specialists who report to the production director. Depending on the type of work, the essence of the profession is determined. There are such directions of directing:

The essence of the director's profession is the management of filming processes. He sees the big picture and clearly understands what each character should be like. The director is the interpreter of the script, who conveys the author's idea to the actors and monitors its implementation.

What specialties to study?

In order to get a chance to get a job as a director, you should choose one of the following specialties:

• Theater directing.
• Directing feature films.
• Directing non-fiction films.
• Directing an animated film.
• Filmmaking.
• Directing non-fiction film and television films.
• Directing theatrical performances and celebrations.
• Directing shows.
• Stage direction.
• Circus directing.
• Directing.

All of the above specialties will allow you to work as a director. You should choose based on the area in which you would like to show your talent: cinema, theater, television, circus, pop, etc.

Where to study

There are not so many higher educational institutions where directing is taught in our country, but the most prestigious are:

• Russian University of Theater Arts (GITIS).
• All-Russian State University of Cinematography named after S.A. Gerasimova (VGIK).
• Moscow State University of Culture and Arts (MGUKI).
• St. Petersburg Humanitarian University of Trade Unions.
• Theater Institute named after. B. Shchukina.

These universities are not the only ones, but they are recognized as the most prestigious. If you managed to enter one of them and successfully graduate, you will definitely not be left without a job.

What do you have to do at work and specializations?

Each director performs a whole range of management responsibilities:

The director, in the full range of his responsibilities, acts as a link between all components of the filming process. Good direction is a guarantee of the success of any film or show.

Who is this profession suitable for?

This profession is suitable for strong and strong-willed people. The director must be a born leader and be able to manage a huge number of personnel at the same time. He must be a professional in his field and have enormous creative potential. The director is impartial and does not play favorites - this is important in a creative team. This specialist must be well-read, artistic and intellectually developed. A broad outlook is the director's best assistant.

Demand

This profession is not in great demand. Few people dare to invest in young, unknown directors.

How much do people working in this profession earn?

The director's fees depend on where he is employed. If these are not very profitable small theaters or a circus, then the salary is about 15-30 thousand per month. Large-scale performances in large, famous theaters and filming are completely different numbers. The amounts are not disclosed.

Is it easy to get a job?

If you are a famous director, then projects will find you on their own. It's difficult for beginners. Investors usually look for eminent professionals, not university graduates. Directing is available to those who have connections and solid sponsors. They are the decisive factor and help to reach people.

How does one usually build a career?

The beginning of his career is the position of assistant director. You will carry out small assignments and gain the most important thing - practice and experience. After all, by watching a professional work, you will very quickly learn from his accumulated experience over the years.

The director is the next stage of development. If you are not working on a very large project, this is the top. In large-scale events, you are an assistant director. You control the supporting processes and get the opportunity to show your directorial qualities. Your work is checked and corrected by the production director. It is he who corrects shortcomings and teaches you the most significant subtleties of this work.

A stage director is the pinnacle of a career. You get all the power and assistants who will take care of secondary processes. Now you are in charge of the creative areas of work. This position is given only to the most experienced and well-established directors.

Prospects for the profession

The main prospect of the profession is participation in famous film projects. As a result, you will be able to gain popularity and love from the public and investors. They are the ones who will provide you with further work and substantial fees. High-quality films that are admired by critics are a passport to the world of foreign cinema. This is a completely different level and an opportunity to earn substantial amounts.

“It’s not difficult for a young director to find a job, it’s difficult to be a director”

Ivetta Urozhaeva graduated from St. Petersburg State University of Cinematography and Theater this year with a degree in directing and already has several successful projects under her belt. Together with other young directors, the girl created the “Not Weak Cinema” project, within the framework of which she presented her short film “Two-Two” to the public. And in the fall of this year, having merged with the Miniature Theater, a completely new program “Cinema + Theater = Theater + Cinema” was created, combining short films and theatrical miniatures.

Ivetta Urozhaeva told us about how she came into the profession and the opportunities that are now opening up for young directors.

Why did you choose the profession of director?

For me, this is a profession where I can be as honest as possible with myself. In 9th grade, my friend and I made short fiction films. They filmed, edited, and wrote the scripts themselves. Upon admission, there was always a feeling that this profession would allow you to constantly feel the breath of time, constantly discover new things and expand the boundaries of today.

How did you choose the university and how did you prepare for admission?

I prepared thoroughly for admission. The applicant's brochure said that it would be necessary to perform a fable, a poem and sing. Immediately I rushed to vocal courses to improve my voice. As it turned out later, this was not necessary at all.

I entered documentary film in parallel with feature films at St. Petersburg State University of Cinematography and Television, and also at Kulek (as St. Petersburg State University of Culture and Arts is called in St. Petersburg - St. Petersburg University of Culture and Arts - author's note) for feature films, but at the last moment the scales tipped towards feature films, especially thanks to the master of the course - S. M. Ovcharov. To this day I don’t regret it at all.

And the competition consisted of writing a creative work, an acting competition, a creative colloquium, an interview with a master and an essay on literature. Only those who passed the creative pre-competition were allowed to take the exam - they handed in a folder with scripts, photographs, biography - already at the level of admission to the exam they had to prove themselves.

How did your parents react to your choice of profession? Are they directors too?

My parents are not from the world of cinema, but they fully supported me, although the choice of profession surprised them and seems to continue to surprise them to this day. They didn't expect me to start achieving small victories in this big profession.

How can a young man understand that he needs to be a director?

How was your internship at the university and what did it give you?

The practice consists of shooting short films - where each student goes through the school of life. Here you are a builder, and a painter - you have to create your own scenery in the pavilion, and a make-up artist, and a costume designer, and a decorator, and a cook, and an administrator, and you also really want to have time to work with the actors and do your own thing - directing, but since everything Since the team consists only of the same students and one or two professional actors who have squeezed in, it is necessary not to hang your nose and set an example for your team - to be the first everywhere and everywhere, not to be afraid of anything and to overcome all difficulties with a smile. In essence, cinema is a practice; no theory will give such a vivid idea of ​​directing as the practice itself.

Are there many girls studying at the directing department?

There were four female directors in our course; of course, the majority of directors were men. Not every creative girl is ready to endure the physical and mental stress of filming a film and organizing this entire process from start to finish.

What is the director's job on a film?

The director needs to live the film at all stages of its production - from the moment of birth, the idea and until the moment when the projector is turned on for the first time and the first frames of your film appear on the white screen. The director has a certain plan, an idea, sometimes everything is based only on the image, and the director asks the question - what does he want to make a movie about? You need to formulate it specifically, because if you yourself don’t know what it’s about, the team will actively begin to “help.” And suggest, introducing your own amendments and ideas, and this destroys your plan in the bud.

The director lives with the screenwriter for several months and the script keeps being rewritten and rewritten, at the same time the director begins to meet with other authors of his film - cameraman, composer, sound engineer, production designer, makeup artist, costume designer and with each one finds a common language, dedicates it to into its own plan, and in all this a team of people creates its own world. The work is very painstaking and detailed, because the better the preparation, the better the quality of the shooting itself.

On each project, the process itself is slightly different, but the main one is script writing, preparatory period, filming, post-production - dubbing, noise, film sound design, music writing, color correction, titles, special effects - and there must be a director everywhere. As they say, the director is Columbus, who wants to discover America, and his team wants to go home. The director must keep the fire of enthusiasm alive in everyone and keep the flow of creativity flowing - after all, when the team works as a well-coordinated mechanism, then no one wastes time solving unnecessary problems, and there is more time for creativity.

You have received a higher education as a director, what opportunities are open to you?

Yes, I have in my hands a certificate of higher education, which, by and large, does not give anything. You can go to university for 5 years without missing a single lecture, and you will turn out to be a good film theorist, most likely a good film critic. But the people who trust you to make films will not care how many hours you have listened to on the subject of directing, they will only be interested in your experience, experience and more experience, your knowledge of the craft.

During our training, we studied the specifics of documentary film and television, so I believe that we could also shoot documentaries and television projects if necessary.

The main thing is to understand what you want (money - then everything is simple). Our masters told us that already in the 3rd year we could start filming TV series; we had already been taught everything we needed. We devoted the remaining time to finding our own style, to understanding deeper things related to directing. If before the 3rd year we studied directing as a craft, then after the 3rd year we studied directing as an art.

When do students start working in their profession? Is it difficult to find a job for a young director and can this profession be called paid and promising?

Many students start working while studying, but this is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, by working, you already gain irreplaceable practice and experience, but on the other hand, if this work takes up all your time, and you cannot attend the master’s classes, cannot concentrate on your projects, then all this harms you and your teaching . Many students, having learned the basics of the profession, immediately rush into commerce, getting stuck in it up to their ears. Because of this, a person stops at a certain middle interval, which he considers to be the maximum. And in the future, in his work he only hones his craft skills, and his creative development stops. In fact, this is a great temptation and few people like to think that an artist should be hungry, so many give up studying to earn their bread and butter. It’s not difficult for a young director to find a job; it’s difficult to be a director, because no one will let you direct a full-length film right away. Again, if we talk about money, then you can earn money always and everywhere, the only thing you have to understand is what you are exchanging yourself for, that’s all.

DIRECTOR

director in cinema, a film director who leads the creative and production work on its creation. The director determines, on the basis of the script, the ideological and artistic concept of the film and brings it to a holistic embodiment, directing the joint work of the actors, cameraman, artist, composer and other participants in the production.

The most important moment in the initial stage of a director’s work on a film is choosing a script or participating in its writing. The director's plan can completely predetermine the creation of the script's plot, so some major directors constantly (for example, C. Chaplin, A. P. Dovzhenko, R. Kler, I. Bergman) or, when necessary, act as the authors of the scripts for their films. Many masters of directing art prefer to collaborate primarily with one screenwriter (V. I. Pudovkin with N. A. Zarkhi, Yu. Ya. Raizman and S. I. Yutkevich with E. I. Gabrilovich, J. Ford with D. Nichols, V. . De Sica with C. Zavattini). In cases where the director accepts a ready-made script for production, he either interprets it from the point of view of the general direction of his work, his capabilities and aspirations, or uses it as a basis for working on a new theme and style.

After working with the screenwriter, including a detailed clarification of the concept, necessary amendments and finalization of scenes, the period of writing the director's script begins.

Despite the fact that various clarifications may arise during the production process, and much will be decided by the method of improvisation, it is the director’s script that largely determines the artistic quality of the film. As a rule, the director creates this script with the participation of the cameraman and the artist, since they, therefore, contribute to the extent that the specific embodiment of the plot on the screen is predicted and “seen” in advance. The director's script is also called an "editing script", because it prescribes the editing structure of the entire film and the editing developments for each scene. The director's script also outlines the footage of the episodes and all individual frames, the nature of the lighting of various scenes, the necessary elements of the setting, the location of the filming camera, etc.

The director's script is a kind of film score. Carrying out to a certain extent the functions of the production and technical “project” of the film, it is at the same time important as an expression of the creative concept, which foretells the theme and style, atmosphere and rhythm, precise emotional sound and specific meaning of the future film.

Many prominent directors define the meaning of a director's script differently. Some (L.V. Kuleshov and Claire) tend to ensure that the film in all its details is completely and finally predicted “on paper”; others (F. Fellini) allow significant changes in the script data that arise through improvisation during filming.

The preparatory period occupies a significant place and time in the production of a film. At this time, actors are approved for main and secondary roles, locations for location shooting are determined, sketches of sets and costumes are developed, cost estimates for film production, etc. This also includes preliminary rehearsals with actors (practised by some directors).

The filming process includes filming on stage and on location, which are the most labor-intensive for the director, as they sometimes involve complex expeditions, depend on climatic and weather conditions, etc. As a rule, each frame is shot with takes (that is, more than once), and sometimes in different versions so that the director can choose the best shots that most closely correspond to the original plan and tasks assigned to the actors.

Before the end of filming, the editing period begins: while viewing the filmed material, the director comes to the final determination of the structure of the film and all its constituent elements. Together with the editor, the director finds the exact duration, sequence and rhythmic relationship of various shots and episodes, in some cases even coming to a new solution for the composition of films as a whole. The editing period, which is completely completed upon completion of filming, includes shading (that is, scoring) of the film: sound recording of dialogues and noises, for one reason or another, not recorded or poorly recorded during filming, as well as music composed for this film by the composer or selected director from one source or another. This work ends at the re-recording stage, when the entire necessary composition of sounds is brought together by the director and sound engineer, in precise combination and correlation.

The production of the film ends with the creation of a so-called reference copy, the artistic and technical quality of which satisfies the plans of the director, cameraman, and sound engineer.

The director's profession and the amount of director's work in developed film production require a division of functions between: 1) the production director, 2) the so-called second directors, to whom the director can transfer management of certain areas of the production (for example, working with actors) or the filming of certain scenes, based on the general concept, 3) assistant directors, providing the necessary assistance to the director in his various creative functions. See also .

Cinema: Encyclopedic Dictionary. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia. Ch. ed. S. I. Yutkevich; Editorial team: Yu. S. Afanasyev, V. E. Baskakov, I. V. Weisfeld and others.. 1987 .

See what “DIRECTOR” is in other dictionaries:

director- director … Russian word stress

director- director, and... Russian spelling dictionary

director- director … Dictionary of the use of the letter E

director- director/ … Morphemic-spelling dictionary

Director- at work (Cecile de Mille) Director (French régisseur, from Latin ... Wikipedia

director- director, directors, director, directors, director, directors, director, directors, director, directors, director, directors (Source: “Full accentuated paradigm according to A. A. Zaliznyak”) ... Forms of words

DIRECTOR- DIRECTOR, director, husband. (French régisseur). The artistic director of a theatrical or cinematic production, who combines all the work on preparing the performance. Director of the play. I believe that to grow a role organically you need... ... Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

DIRECTOR- DIRECTOR, ah, husband. Creative worker, artistic organizer, director of theater, film or television productions, and entertainment programs in general. R. director. | adj. director's, oh, oh. A new director's decision for the play. Intelligent... ... Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary

director- A; m. [French] régisseur from Lat. rego manage] Artistic director of a play, film, radio broadcast, etc.; director R. performance. R. came to the first rehearsal with a ready-made production plan. ◁ Director's, oh, oh. Roy talent... encyclopedic Dictionary

DIRECTOR-R- M. French manager of actors, acting, performances, assigning what to give or stage, distributing roles, etc. Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary. IN AND. Dahl. 1863 1866 … Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary

The head of the creative team works on the production of a film, play or show.

Wage

50,000–90,000 rub. (rabota.yandex.ru)

Place of work

Can work in cinema, television, theater, circus, etc.

Responsibilities

A production director is, first of all, a creative leader! He is responsible for the artistic component of a project in cinema, television or theater. Actors, cameramen, sound engineers, production designers and others work under the direction of the production director.

The production director himself may be the author of the literary basis (script or play), or he may take into account the works of other authors. The main thing is that it is he who is ultimately responsible for what the viewer sees. Success or failure will forever be associated with the name of the director.

Specializations: feature films or documentaries, theatrical performances, circus programs, musical shows, public events. The production director selects the actors, works with them on their roles, together with the sound engineer and stage designer thinks through the design of the performance, etc.

Important qualities

The profession requires artistry, charisma, imaginative thinking, a high level of intelligence, a broad outlook, imagination, self-discipline and high ability to work.

Reviews about the profession

“The director not only has to stage the event, but also come up with it himself, and in order to write this very script, you need to find an idea, a concept. And here the ability to observe is important; firstly, all ideas should be taken from life. You can take an idea from life through observation. After all, if you look closely, you can find many topics. But how can you become observant? Don’t worry, over time it will come to you.”

Editor of the citykey.net portal.

Stereotypes, humor

Dear, what should I give you on March 8? Choose what you want - a diamond necklace, a mink coat, a villa on the French Riviera?.. - Darling, give me only tonight and your love. - Removed! - the director announced.

Education

To work as a stage director, you must obtain a higher specialized education.

Studying in St. Petersburg: St. Petersburg State University, Russian State Pedagogical University named after A. I. Herzen, St. Petersburg State University of Film and Television.

Studying in Moscow: Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov, Moscow City Psychological and Pedagogical University, Theater Institute named after Boris Shchukin at the State Academic Theater named after Evgeniy Vakhtangov.

Stage director(fr. regisseur, from lat. rego manage) - the head of a creative team working on the creation of a film, play or show. The profession is suitable for those who are interested in world artistic culture (see choosing a profession based on your interest in school subjects).

Features of the profession

The production director is responsible for the artistic component of the work. Actors, cameramen, a sound engineer, a production designer, a movement director, etc. work under his leadership. The literary basis is a script or a play, and the production director is not always their author. But in the end, it is he who is responsible for what the viewer sees. The success or failure of the project will be associated with his name.

A production director can specialize in staging feature films or documentaries, theatrical performances, circus programs, musical shows, and public events.

Usually the production director is simply called the director, because and without a clarifying “trailer” it is clear that he is responsible for the production. This applies to any production director, regardless of specialization.

Let us describe some options for this profession.

In the theatre the director manages the creative team involved in the production: he selects actors, works with them on roles, together with the sound engineer and stage designer thinks through the design of the performance, etc. At the same time, he reports to the creative director of the theater (if he is not one himself), and they jointly select the plays for the production. The assistant director helps him solve organizational issues during rehearsals and during the performance. He interacts with technical services, actors, and makes sure that everything happens without a hitch during the performance.

Circus art radically different from the theatrical. Just as a circus troupe differs from a theater troupe: circus performers work in dynasties, practicing their routines for years. They often involve a risk to life. In addition, the circus troupe is not only people, but also trained animals. The circus works to entertain the public, and the main task of the circus director is to make each act as bright and spectacular as possible. All this brings its own specifics to the work of a circus director. However, the principles of his work are similar to the work of a theater director. He thinks through the intrigue of the performance, works with the actors, production designer, design engineers, prop makers, lighting engineers, sound engineer and other participants in the circus show.

Movie- This is a complex production process. (Like television.) A film director has a whole team of assistants: a second director, a director for working with actors, an assistant director (an assistant director who keeps track of the footage), consultants, etc.

Although at least two of this crew are designated by the word "director", they perform other tasks. For example, the second director (in Western cinema - First Assistant Director) helps the production director in developing the director's script, formulates information for makeup artists, costume artists, acting assistants, etc., and plans the filming process. And he makes sure that the entire production process goes smoothly, that the set is ready for work every time, that the actors and costume designers are in their places, etc. This is a very large amount of work, and usually a film director has two second directors. The acting director (also known as acting assistant or casting director) looks for suitable performers for roles and organizes their photo and screen tests.

The main organizational burden when creating a film is borne by producers, who deal with issues of budget, distribution, etc. The film producer is also responsible for attracting key participants in the process, including the director, unless, of course, he himself is the initiator of the production. Both the producers and the director report to the management of the film studio. The director's work on the film begins with the script. He can take a ready-made script, or he can write it himself or in collaboration with a professional screenwriter. He can take as a basis a finished literary work or a completely fresh plot. Even if a film director makes a film based on a ready-made script, he finalizes it in his own way: second-by-second and frame-by-frame he describes the shooting plan for each scene. The result is a director's script. He always studies materials related to the theme of the film and turns to specialists who can advise him on some issues. Participates in drawing up estimates and, together with the producer and second director, outlines a work plan. Together with the production designer, chief cinematographer, and sound engineer, he discusses the artistic concept of the film and its design, approves sketches, designs, scenery, etc. Together with the composer and sound engineer, he outlines the explication of the sound (graphic diagram). Selects actors (with the help of a casting assistant), works with each of them on the role, rehearses scenes, etc. Supervises the filming. When the filming process is completed, he selects the necessary takes and manages the editing and dubbing process.

Some directors successfully combine work in theater and cinema. For example, the artistic director of the Lenkom Theater Mark Zakharov became known back in the 1960s as a theater director. Having headed the theater in 1973 (at that time - the Moscow Theater named after Leninsky Komsomol), he very quickly brought it to the ranks of the most popular in Moscow. Each performance by Zakharov is an event in the theatrical life of the capital: “Funeral Prayer”, “Royal Games”, “Barbarian and Heretic”, the legendary “Juno and Avos” and many others. At the same time, he is the author of wonderful films loved by millions: “The Twelve Chairs”, “An Ordinary Miracle”, “That Same Munchausen”, “The House That Swift Built”, “Formula of Love”, “Kill the Dragon”.

Workplace

A production director can work in cinema, television, theater, circus, etc. - depending on his specialization. Although some directors successfully realize themselves in different areas.

Salary

Important qualities

The profession of a production director requires artistry, imaginative thinking, good intelligence, broad outlook, imagination, self-discipline, high ability to work and leadership qualities. And another important quality is a sense of modernity. The director must feel how relevant a particular topic or idea is in the modern world.

Knowledge and skills

The director must master the theory and practice of directing, acting, the basics of stage and musical design, cinematography, and understand the laws of dramaturgy. Knowledge of the history of literature, fine arts, theater, and cinema is very important. Knowledge of classical and modern works of drama and cinema is required. Knowledge of foreign languages ​​is desirable.

Where to study to become a stage director

Drama and musical theater

• Russian University of Theater Arts - GITIS. Directing department. Department of Drama Directing
• St. Petersburg Humanitarian University of Trade Unions. Faculty of Arts. Specialty: Theater Directing
• Theater Institute named after. B. Shchukina. Directing department. Specialty: Theater Directing

And other universities of theatrical art.

Circus, show programs

• Russian University of Theater Arts - GITIS. Directing department. Department of Circus Directing. Specialty: Circus Directing
• Moscow State University of Culture and Arts (MGUKI). Theater and Directing Faculty. Specialty: Theater Directing. Specialization: Variety Directing. Specialty: Directing theatrical performances and celebrations. Specializations: “Directing theatrical performances and celebrations” and “Directing show programs.”
• Russian State University of Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism. Direction of “Directing theatrical performances and celebrations”

Film and television

• All-Russian State University of Cinematography named after S.A. Gerasimova (VGIK). Directing department. Specialties: “Directing feature films”, “Directing non-fiction films”, “Directing animated films”;
• Higher courses of cinema and television at VGIK. Professions: “Film directing”, “Directing non-fiction films and television films”;
• Humanitarian Institute of Television and Radio Broadcasting named after. M.A. Lithuania (GITR). Faculty of TV and Multimedia Directing.