Skills Available For Acquisition and Career Building Strategies in Directing a Film - Case Study Example

Case Study Analysis of Directing Film Introduction I have had great interest in directing the making of a film. The control of a film artist, acting and visualizing the script at the same time guiding the technical crew has been one of my major vision as a film director. I have always imagined of having a key role in choosing the cast members of a film and the production design of the filmmaking (Bangyun, Wenfeng, Xiuqin & Chunqing, 2014, p. 2). Directing a film is a very important aspect in filming because it the action that eventually makes the video realized by people. The directing film gives the direction of the cast including crew on an overall vision and ensures that the film budget is within the boundaries. This study gives attention to potential skills available for acquisition and career building strategies in building a good career in directing film. Career description My career of interest is directing film. Directing film entails different aspects but all the aspects results in an action that make the audience realize that a video is actually out for viewing. Elliott (2010, p. 26) asserts that for a film director to reach his or her prime objective, he or she must have come from a long way just as far as from script cutting room all the way to the climax. There are number pathways how someone can become a film director for example; a person may start as screenwriter, actor or film editor. Film directors are such responsible individuals who need to facilitate the differences in film budget limit and the vision of the career (Heiduschke, 2014, p. 33). There are number of roles expected from a film director. Directing film assume different approach and with regard to this, directors give a general outline for the film and letting the actors to improvise the dialogue. Other directors are in control of every aspect where they demand the crew and actors to follow all their instructions accurately. Other film directors write the screenplay or edit their film and appear in their film as well. I have thought of directing a film at one point or another. I watched a great movie and believed I could do much better in one of my own film. I chose this career because it is my passion career because telling a story as well as learning how to construct a movie has been one of the achievement I have always wanted to attain in visual arts and film studies as a whole (Heiduschke, 2014, p. 35). Trends, issues, Opportunities and challenges Trends Unlike the general trend in film direction, most of new generation directors are young. In addition, unlike in the ancient time, filmmaking is both artistic and commercial venture (Bangyun, Wenfeng, Xiuqin & Chunqing, 2014, p.4) However, the current economic situations in many regions of the world has influenced film industry thereby increasing the production and marketing costs. High cost involved lowers audience turn out in many concerts, theatres or at stage performance. In the event of these shortcomings in the costs, film big studios are willing to invest in film production because the publicity and product of movie industry today are two sides of the same coin. This means that a movie may get worthless reception in the market but does extremely well in ticket sales. Above, digital technologies and globalisation have increased both the publicity and sales of the filmmaking. Today audience can watch movies in the comfort of their rooms, offices and homes without necessarily going for social gatherings. This has changed completely the industry to be a potential venture for business as added by Smith (2015, p. 92). Another issue with film industry is the lower cost in pro-consumer digital equipment. The new online and mobile distribution models have opened the door for artist to enter in the film industry in the past years to many first-time filmmakers. Therefore, with the high use of digital technology, there has been high-rise in independent filmmaking with the trend of personalized storytelling (Smith, 2015, p. 93). Many todays filmmakers employ stylistic choices associated with narrative storytelling and new ways to engage audiences. This increases the publicity of the film industry and hence the sale from the industry. Opportunities Film directors remain responsible for all creative artist work in the production of a movie from commencement stages to the final stages. In the process of exercising their duties, they are answerable to executive producers while they acquire experience to become film directors. They eventually become professionals through acting, editing, staging, writing and event organizing (Elliott, 2010, p. 27). Film directors in the event of controlling their crew, they acquire management and leadership skills, creativity and communication skills. Film directors may direct productions for local and regional televisions studios as an opportunity. In addition, they take part in video production companies; create advertisement, direct small independent movies and working on training films. Film directors may choose to abandon directing to writing, script development, producing, analysing, teaching and reviewing among other professional opportunities. Moreover, film directors may enter business world to develop variety of enterprise such as casting agencies, acting in school and costume supply. Challenges Most film directors started lowly but they have moved from such humble point to attain a high notch in the industry. I think film industry is interesting but when taking about challenges that come with film directing makes afraid. Complacency is probably the biggest hindrances to any creative works (Rhoads, 2005, p. 14). That is what scares me most of all. Complacency determines publicity and eventually the selling of the movie or any work of art. Good reception by the audience will influence greatly on the performance of a film director on whether to continue producing more film or not. Directing film jobs require many responsibilities that most directors may lack (Elliott, 2010, p. 27). This becomes a challenge in them in coping up with what it takes to be a film director. The chief responsibility of a film director is to study a script and determine the most suitable way to interpret the message or the artwork for both education purposes and public entertainment. Directors also faces financial obligations that require them to make informed decisions based on the little capital they have to address an entire budget of the film work to accomplish. Skills and capabilities A film director must have requisite skills in order to carry out all the duties pertaining to filmmaking effectively. A film director should be capable of guiding all his or her crewmembers in each scene to minimise the rehearsal and takes. Director should coordinate and supervise all activities of filmmaking including the work of the camera, sound and lighting crew to ensure every activity takes place as planned (Rhoads, 2005, p. 14). They should be able confer with managers, writers and technical directors on details of production, script, costume, music and photography. As skills required in film directing, he or she should understand how to write a script. This is because screenplay have specific structures and it is important skill in film production. In order for a director to exercise the creative skills he or she possesses, it is important for him to rewrite a script then put a stamp on it. Another skill that a film director should possess is that of visual storytelling. There is need for director to translate the written words in the script into images. Through this, director is capable of telling a story visually. Directing a film may require no specific education qualification but bachelor degree in related field and an equivalence work experience is may provide good skills for the prospective film directors. In addition to academic qualifications, a film director leads people with different roles hence they should good communication skills (Hirsch, 2006, p. 85). The director need to be organized and good at planning in order to come up with strong decisions that reflect time and budget. Before becoming a film director, one may start from camera or acting work. Someone who wants to become a director in film may take various routes. One should have substantial experience in television or film, a network of contacts in the industry and understanding the production process. Acquire a job as a film director require someone’s commitment in working in the media as posited by Hirsch (2006, p. 89). This is achievable by participating in activities such as community film, student television shows and finding experience in work placements. Another way through which someone can break into film directing is by making one’s own short films. One’s own films also popularly called shorts, helps one to market and enter into film festivals easily. The career pathway of directors of film may commence from film schools they have attended where they have undergone through formal training and education in their craft. The acquire basic skills used in film making such as protocol of handling professional actors, preparation, reading scripts, storyboards and shot list. A film director require an understanding of technical aspects of bringing together a movie in a little condensed form. A film director also require experience of working in studio that writes up movies (Hirsch, 2006, p. 90). Some of the skills and aptitudes that film direction may require include ability to lead and motivate others, good budget and time management, good organization and planning skills, initiative and problem solving ability and awareness of crew health and safety issues among others. A person aspiring to be a film director should possess all or some of these skills in order to become a good film director. My Film directing career and case study profile Originally, I had interest in the movie writing. Over the years, I have undergone through several phases in developing my chosen career. Through the aforementioned process, the idea of a film translated into a kind of artistic angle and practical activities within me. This initial process has influenced me into film direction. Essentially, filmmaking process remains seems truly magical especially in relation to how interesting shots fit together to create the illusion of how things happen. Film festivals attract potential attention for artist work in a great way. Screenwriting contest provide an entry into film industry. Attending festivals organized by producers and directors create motion pictures, live theatres, shows and other performing arts production, which have encouraged me and has developed in me the career of a film director. However, the challenge of working environment where producers and directors work under pressure with stress of finishing the work on time have been a prohibitive for me to get into this venture (Brunton, Driscoll & Gillespie, 2014, p. 694). In addition, the bachelor’s degree educational qualification and the work experience many producers and directors have may make a young aspiring film director to lose hope in filmmaking. Career building Acquiring skills needed in the film-directing career in important in building an experience in the filmmaking. Skills and aptitude is an individual initiative therefore, it require one to be aggressive in order to possess such skills. Some other activities where an individual may acquire skill include internship, volunteer work, studying and short courses. Attending such, activities help one to develop requisite skills needed in the control of a film making activity. I have always considered music production career as an alternative career pathway from filmmaking. This is because music production require almost the same skills in terms of management as well as the art of work involved in both of them. Therefore, music production will provide a good blend and a perfect complement to film direction. Film directing practitioner always maintain portfolio careers. This is because the digital technology have influenced greatly the film industry. Technology have affected the market, publicity how people demand artworks products (Brunton, Driscoll & Gillespie, 2014, p. 696). Therefore, there is need to engage into portfolio career in order to allow artist to balance work and family obligations getting employment in series of short- contract or part-time positions. Film directing as a career require the knowledge of other related discipline such as acting, screen playing, script writing, photographing and editing. As an elective, I will pursue editing and screen play career to help become a good film director. It is important to take some extra-curriculum experiences such as physical education, computer skill and hiking among others in order help in delivering good work in film directing. Burtic and Badulescu (2014, p. 86) propose that film directing career development requires the following five steps: first is figuring out what my actor can do. Before commencing the filming, there is need to figure out what an actor in the fight scene can achieve. Secondly, there is need to share the scene out with my actors. The third step is to get the angles right by working with a diverse group of people. The next step is to build up tension to avoid boring scenes. Finally, is getting professional training by achieving my education in filming. This helps in learning advanced step tips for directing a fight scene. Conclusion Directing film is an important career as commercial venture and artistic work. Commercially, filmmaking has a median annual wage for directors and producers is averagely $ 71350 (Burtic & Badulescu, 2014, p. 89). In addition, the job projection of a film director is to grow with demand in video industry from the public increasing especially in shows, movies shows and foreign audience. This case study has presented the responsibilities of a film director including the skills and aptitude someone may require to direct filmmaking. The case study has also presented the crewmembers that make up the composition of filmmaking. Moreover, it has presented the skills required in building up the career in film directing. Bibliography Bangyun, X, Wenfeng, M, Xiuqin, T, & Chunqing, H., 2014, 'Positron annihilation characteristics in mesostructural silica films with various porosities', Journal Of Applied Physics, 115, 9, pp. 094303-1-094303-6, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 16 May 2015. Brunton, F, Driscoll, K, & Gillespie, T., 2014, 'Culture Digitally: Spam, and the Challenge of Chasing Shadows', Journal Of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 58, 4, pp. 687-697, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 16 May 2015. Burtic, D, & Badulescu, A., 2014, 'New Communication Means And The Economic Challenges Brought In Mass-Media', USV Annals Of Economics & Public Administration, 14, 2, pp. 83-92, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 16 May 201 Elliott, M., 2010, 'Directing Action', Industrial Engineer: IE, 42, 11, pp. 26-27, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 16 May 2015. Heiduschke, S., 2014, 'Inspiring and Educating GDR Women: Iris Gusner, Feminism, and the Film Kaskade Rückwärts', Women In German Yearbook, 30, pp. 23-43, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 16 May 2015. Hirsch, J., 2006, 'Film Gris RECONSIDERED', Journal of Popular Film & Television, 34, 2, pp. 82-93, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 16 May 2015. Rhoads, CF., 2005, 'Hollywood Conservative Proudly Proclaims: There Are More Than Three of Us . . . Really', Human Events, 61, 11, p. 14, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 16 May 2015. Smith, W., 2015, 'The Director Who Named Names', American Scholar, 84, 1, pp. 90-94, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 16 May 2015 Read More