Film Directing 100: LEVEL 100 Introduction

Directing Fundamentals

LEVEL 100 blogs are for film students and first-time directors taking on the directing role for a short film. The series is designed to help and guide new filmmakers through the director’s prep duties, pre-production activities, and principle photography dynamics.

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Without a strong vision behind a story, a film will lose its focus. 

To provide that vision, the film director needs to have a clear understanding of their responsibilities. Knowing how each department contributes to the making of the film and how to best utilize the talents of all team members is key. 

Developing the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to build collaborative relationships is an ongoing learning experience.

Directorial duties, such as analyzing a script, creating shotlists, schematics, storyboards, etc., are necessary for learning how to pre-visualize the story and are critical in working with the cast and crew.

Gaining proficiency with the director’s tools and understanding the leadership responsibilities that are inherent to the position are vital for success in the director’s position.

The 100 LEVEL content covers:

• 101: The Language of Film

• 102: The Role of the Director

• 103: Script Analysis

• 104: Script Analysis for the Writer/Director

• 105: Blocking the Scene

• 106: Introduction to Schematics

• 107: Introduction to Shotlists

• 108: Thumbnails for the Beginning Director

• 109: The Director’s Eye

• 110: The Director’s Camera

• 111: The Director’s Camera Angle

• 112: The Director’s Frame

• 113: The Director’s Focus

• 114: The Director’s Creative Partnerships

• 115: The Director in Casting

• 116: The Director’s Assistant Director

• 117: The Director’s Schedule

• 118: The Director and Continuity

• 119: The Director and Sound Mixer

• 120: The Director-Actor Relationship

• 121: The Director in Rehearsal

• 122: The Director’s Locations

• 123: Show and Tell Meetings

• 124: The Director’s Tech Survey

• 125: The Production Meeting

The following books are excellent resources for the learning director and are strongly recommended for any student who is serious about the craft of directing:

• Film Directing Fundamentals - by Nicholas T. Proferes

• Directing Actors - by Judith Weston

Film is an extremely competitive and professional business. Anyone working on a film set must adhere to industry-level standards of behaviour and execution of their roles and duties. Students who hope to work in film and television need to know the following:

• Be on time. It’s better to be early. Tardiness is not tolerated.

• Turn off your cellphones, laptops, or tablets when you step on set. Distractions and interruptions on a working set are not tolerated.

• Inappropriate conduct, disrespectful language, and disruptive behaviour is not tolerated. Most productions provide policies and instructions for crew members

• Safety on set is a priority. Most productions require certification that crew members have completed industry courses on safety and best practices.

Film Schools have handbooks on the specific policies that must be followed in the classroom and workshops, as well as on sets and locations.

Understanding the rules for your film program, the acceptable activities for the campus, classrooms, and workshops - as well as the dynamics of working on student sets is important.