FILM EDUCATION

Directing Fundamentals. Without a strong vision behind a story, a film will lose its focus. A film director needs to have an understanding of how each department contributes to the making of a film and how to best utilize the talents of all team members. The following 100 LEVEL blogs cover the role and responsibilities of a director in script development, pre-production, production, and post production. Read along to learn how to tell a story cinematically, use the camera as a tool, prepare a script analysis and engage in the casting and rehearsal process with actors.

April 22, 2024

Film Directing 114: The Director's Creative Partnerships

April 22, 2024/ john pozer

Synergy is the goal

Bringing a film to life – and making it good – relies heavily on the script and the director. But the director is not working alone. There are many creative partners who align with the director, and two are of critical importance in pre-production and principle photography – the director of photographer and the production designer.

Working alongside the director, these two creative keys are responsible for crafting the visual images.

April 17, 2024

Film Directing 113: The Director's Focus

April 17, 2024/ john pozer

The mind of your audience is the main concern

As a film director, the focus in your shot is either something that you want and can use, or it’s something that you don’t want and can’t use.

Be happy with your shots and takes. Make them the best they can be. Once you’re in post-production, focus issues cannot be resolved.

April 15, 2024

Film Directing 112: The Director's Frame

April 15, 2024/ john pozer

Good films need intentional frames

An engaged audience reacts to the director’s choices in every frame. Focus, light, movement, composition, and shot content are factors for every director to consider when constructing a frame.

Ideas for frames grow and multiply through your director’s prep. The writer, John Steinbeck, said it best — 'Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.'

April 12, 2024

Film Directing 111: The Director's Camera Angle

April 12, 2024/ john pozer

Angles tell the story

Camera angles have conventions and implicit meanings that have been understood by viewers from the early days of moving pictures.

Directors need to know the impact of their decisions when they set up a shot. And they need to understand what their audience will understand from their camera angle choice.

April 12, 2024

Film Directing 110: The Director's Camera

April 12, 2024/ john pozer

The most powerful storytelling tool is the camera

Creating strong images that are carefully designed with intentional storytelling details is the director’s job. The power and effectiveness of the storytelling lies in the director’s camera choices.

The beginning director must have an understanding of how camera placement and movement can convey the narrative purpose of a shot or a scene.

April 08, 2024

Film Directing 109: The Director's Eye

April 08, 2024/ john pozer

Develop an eye for visual possibilities

We know that filmmaking is a collaborative art and that the cast and crew work together to support the best possible storytelling. However, the director is ultimately responsible for building a strong, cinematic story.

Developing your eye as a film director is an ongoing process of understanding, observation, and patience. Every day and every film is full of opportunities to learn.