Becoming a TV director requires basic training, people skills, and an understanding of the medium. Directors work with actors, cinematographers, and showrunners to interpret scripts. Starting as an intern or assistant, attending film school, forming relationships with writers, and showcasing short films can help aspiring directors land their first job.
Working as a TV director can be an exciting yet uncertain type of job in the entertainment industry. Unlike the film world, where projects often form around a director’s vision, a TV director often works for hire, interpreting the showrunner’s vision and writing the crew for one or more episodes. Becoming a TV director requires basic director training and a willingness to adapt to many different jobs. While there is no set path to becoming a TV director, there are many steps an aspiring artist can take to adapt their directing career towards television.
A director’s primary job in almost any medium is to work with actors in interpreting a script. On TV, directors also work closely with the cinematographer to choose shots and ensure adequate coverage of each scene. Directors must also serve the showrunner, who is the voice and overall creative vision for a TV show. To become a TV director, people skills are clearly needed to maintain good working relationships and make people want to work together a second or third time.
To get a job as a TV director, it’s important to study the medium. Understanding how television programs are developed, filmed and produced is the first step in becoming a competent professional. Many directors start out as interns or assistants on a television set. By learning the subject up close, an ambitious new professional will have the chance to form valuable relationships and an insider’s knowledge of the job.
Some directors may start their process by attending some form of film school. Many prominent universities have undergraduate and graduate film programs with an emphasis on learning to direct. In a formal school setting, directors will be able to learn from professionals as well as make short films and projects that can be used as a calling card for their style and ability. Film school can also be a wonderful place to make friends and form relationships that can turn into jobs later on.
Forming good relationships with talented writers is one way to try to become a TV director. If a writer sells a pilot script for a TV series, they’ll want someone they can trust to direct the episode. Writers who work with an existing show’s staff can also recommend friends for directing work. Since television is often referred to as a writer’s medium, it is important to establish friendly and positive relationships in order to move forward with the plan of getting a job as a TV director.
Landing that first job can be difficult and may require several years of learning and training. Most professional TV directors have an agent or manager who helps them continue to get jobs, but it can be difficult to get an agent without an established professional career. For this reason, many TV directors take the field by calling attention to a short film, commercial, web series, or even a play they’ve directed. By combining an attention-grabbing short film and a reputation as a team player, a young professional can greatly increase his chances of becoming a TV director.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
