Film and Television Directors

High School

At the very least, a high school diploma, while not technically required if you wish to become a director, will still probably be indispensable to you in terms of the background and education it signifies. As is true of all artists, especially those in a medium as widely disseminated as film, you will need to have rich and varied experience in order to create works that are intelligently crafted and speak to people of many different backgrounds. In high school, courses in English, art, theater, and history will give you a good foundation. Further, a high school diploma will be necessary if you decide to go on to film school. Be active in school and community drama productions, whether as performer, set designer, or cue-card holder.

Postsecondary Training

In college and afterward, take film classes and volunteer to work on other students' films. Dedication, talent, and experience have always been indispensable to a director. No doubt it is beneficial to become aware of one's passion for film as early as possible. Woody Allen, for example, recognized early in his life the importance motion pictures held for him, but he worked as a magician, jazz clarinet player, joke writer, and stand-up comic before ever directing films. Allen took few film courses in his life.

On the other hand, many successful directors such as Francis Ford Coppola, Kathryn Bigelow, and Martha Coolidge have taken the formal film school route. There are more than 500 film studies programs offered by schools of higher education throughout the United States, including those considered to be the five most reputable: those of the American Film Institute in Los Angeles, Columbia University in New York City, New York University, the University of California at Los Angeles, and the University of Southern California. These schools have film professionals on their faculties and provide a very visible stage for student talent, being located in the two film-business hot spots, California and New York. (The tuition for film programs offered elsewhere, however, tends to be much less expensive than at these schools.)

Film school offers overall formal training, providing an education in fundamental directing skills by working with student productions. Such education is rigorous, but in addition to teaching skills, it provides aspiring directors with peer groups and a network of contacts with students, faculty, and guest speakers that can be of help after graduation. The debate continues on what is more influential in a directing career: film school or personal experience. Some say that it is possible for creative people to land directing jobs without having gone through a formal program. Competition is so pervasive in the industry that even film school graduates find jobs scarce.

Certification

Some colleges and universities offer undergraduate and graduate certificate programs in film and television directing and related areas. These programs typically last six months to a year and are available in online, in-person, and hybrid formats. One example is the directing certificate program that is offered by the University of California, Los Angeles. Some of the required classes in the program include The Language of Filmmaking; The Craft of the Director; Directing Workshop I: Composition and Movement; Directing Workshop II: Storytelling; and Directing Actors for the Screen. Visit https://www.uclaextension.edu/entertainment/film-tv/certificate/directing for more information, and contact schools in your area to learn more about available programs.

Other Education or Training

The American Film Institute offers a Directing Workshop for Women (https://conservatory.afi.com/dww), in which participants are required to complete a short film or series by the conclusion of the program. Women in Film (https://womeninfilm.org) offers master classes, where members and nonmembers can learn valuable filmmaking skills from industry professionals. Contact these organizations for more information.