Directors are skilled professionals who are in charge of the overall process of filming, editing, and presenting. Their job role is to give directions or code of conduct to the team involved. Directors primarily are responsible for visualizing and making the visualization a reality via filming and guiding the film crew, designing team, and all the creative aspects of filmmaking.
To be a professional Filmmaker or Director, one must hold a degree in Filmmaking Courses such as BA, Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), or BSc. A Certification or A Diploma in Filmmaking may also work in some cases, but that must compensate for the amount of experience you have in the field supporting the outstanding exposure to the field.
Top Filmmaking Colleges in India that offer courses to become a Director are Jadavpur University, Loyola College Chennai, Amity University Noida, MAHE Manipal and many more. The average course fee ranges from INR 1,800 to INR 2,00,000. Film Industry is one of the highest paying Industries in India. Directors being one of the foremost work profiles are paid really high. The income they earn can vary from project-to-project. According to Glassdoor, Directors earn an average salary of INR 1,50,000 per month.
Table of Content
2.1 Stage Director
2.2 Film Director (Motion Pictures)
2.4 Radio Director
4.1 Certification in Filmmaking
- How to Become a Director Abroad
- Benefits of Career as a Director
- Skills Required
- Salary of a Director in India
8.2 Experience Wise
How to Become a Director: Quick Facts
| Industry | Film & Entertainment Industry |
| Eligibility | Anyone who has enough knowledge and experience in the field. |
| Average Initial Salary | INR 1,50,000 per annum |
| Job Opportunities | Bollywood, Hollywood, Tollywood, etc. |
Types of Directors
A career as a Director is very exploratory with respect to thoughts, feelings, and people and places as well. A professional Director is a person who has a Certification, Diploma, or a Degree in Filmmaking along with experience and exposure for the same.
The following are some types or platforms for Directors:
Stage Director
- Theatre has always been an essential part of our society.
- When even writing was not a concept, all the epics were performed in front of the people of the society, and that was a form of story-telling.
- The person who directs these stage plays is known as a Stage Director or a theatre Director.
- These plays include Opera, Dance, Drama, Musical theatre performances, etc.
- In this case, the Director ensures the quality of the play and the flow of his vision via the play.
- They provide the relevant instructions and code of conduct to the whole crew, including actors.
- The Stage Director in India has an average income of INR 20,06,648 per annum.
Check: Career as a Filmmaker
Film Director (Motion Pictures)
- Motion pictures are also called films or movies. This is a popular form of entertainment in today’s world.
- A film or a movie is supposed to be well directed and filmed by a good camera, and this responsibility primarily depends on the Director.
- A Film Director offers his artistic visualization and dramatic aspect to the film, which ensures the quality and impact of the film.
- In this case, they may also cast members & actors and are in charge of giving a code of conduct to all the crew.
- This field of direction needs a lot of experience and a good network in the film industry as a beginner.
- The motion pictures include short films, Video making, Documentary making, etc.
- The Film Directors earn an average salary of INR 5,00,00,000 per annum.
Check: Film Direction Courses
Television Director
- A Television Director is an in-charge of the content which is broadcasted, post-recording or Live via a device named Television.
- This includes Soap opera, News channels, Reality TV shows, Informative/ Educational Channels, etc.
- The Director is the creative lead in case of content like this. Usually, this field of direction also needs a lot of experience in the TV itself, in order to understand the perspective of the watcher. In the case of TV, the Directors are also responsible to ensure that the producer’s vision is also delivered.
- The Television Directors earn around INR 6,10,000 per annum.
Check: Diploma in Acting
Radio Director
- Radio has been a primary source of entertainment in the early industrial-revolution era.
- In order to supervise all the broadcasting stations and radio-related tasks, a radio Director is assigned at every station.
- A Radio Director is responsible for organizing the audio content via radio, mobile phones, and the internet.
- A Radio Director is paid around INR 4,90,309 per annum.
Check: Radio Jockey Courses
Steps to Follow to Become a Director
There is not a perfect path or step to becoming a successful Director. The journey to becoming a Director is different for different people, it takes a lot of patience and hard work to receive the desired success in the field.
Check: Video Editing Courses
The following steps are the basic steps one might require to take in order to become a Director:
Decision Making
One must decide to be a Director to take the relevant steps towards becoming one. It takes a lot of determination and hard work to become a Director. The first step towards achieving a goal is deciding.
Education
In order to become a Director, one must have enough knowledge about the field, about the equipment and tools, about the psychology of the characters, and many other things. Learning all the aspects of directing in filmmaking is an essential step.
Select a Course or Apply for Film School
There are various courses available like Certification, Diploma, or even a degree. One must apply and successfully complete one of these courses to increase the knowledge and technical education in the field. There are various Filmmaking institutes in every state in India. One can also take a course abroad depending on their choices and eligibility.
Initiate and Indulge
One must initiate and get indulged in a project like a short-film, or even theatre for that matter. But it is important to collect experience in this field. This enhances your perspective and ensures getting bigger projects in the future. It also helps you create a network with the established people in the industry.
Check: Fine Arts Courses
Film Making Courses
To become a successful Director, one can pursue numerous courses at Certificate, Diploma, UG and PG level. Below we have given a detailed description of such courses along with the admission process and minimum eligibility requirements.
Check: Visual Arts Courses
Certification in Filmmaking
- After finishing 10th Board exam or 10+2 studies, or even during the school years, a candidate can choose to take a Certificate course in Filmmaking. It could be a 6-months or 1 or a 2-year program.
- Taking this course ensures that the student receives a foundation in the field.
- The certification course, in some cases, also provides a project opportunity and more.
- One must start looking for such courses beforehand and apply to them as soon as the applications are released as in some cases the seats are limited and hence, they are provided on a ‘first-come-first-served’ basis.
Admission Process
- Firstly, find a good course for yourself on the basis of its modules and facilities and reviews.
- After this, it is important to apply as soon as the application forms are released.
- Usually, candidates are selected on the basis of ‘first-come-first-serve’, but in some cases, a good 10th board score or 10+2 score can go handy.
Eligibility Criteria
- In order to pursue a Certification course, in India, the candidates are expected to complete their 10th board or 10+2.
- In some cases, candidates can take certification courses without any eligibility as such.
Check: List of Certificate Courses
Diploma in Filmmaking
- A Diploma course in Filmmaking is the same as certification but is a bit more advanced.
- It has a duration of 1-2 years.
- It has more of a practical approach than a certification course.
Admission Process
- One must find any of the diploma courses online or offline and then apply to these courses within the given time span.
- Usually, candidates are selected on their application and 10th board exam or 12th board exam marks.
Eligibility Criteria
- The candidate must have successfully completed 10+2/ Graduate/ Post-graduate.
- In some cases, candidates who have finished their 10th board exams successfully are also eligible to apply.
Check: Diploma in Performing Arts
Bachelors in Filmmaking
- A Bachelor’s degree in Filmmaking is a 3 to 4 year degree course.
- The specialization in Filmmaking through the degrees like Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Science also could be an option.
- Every Film school in India offers this course.
- This course ensures the candidate will be a professional.
Admission Process
- Like any other course, one must first apply to the program.
- The admission to this program is based on the merit of the student in their previous classes.
Eligibility Criteria
- The candidate must have completed their 10+2 from any of three disciplines.
- They must have scored the minimum percentage in their boards, that is, 50%.
Check: Bachelor in Visual Arts
Masters in Filmmaking
- This is a 2-year Postgraduate degree in Filmmaking.
- This degree may be a Master's in Arts with Filmmaking or Film & TV production as a specialization.
Admission Process
- The meritorious students will be selected for this course.
- The students must apply within the last date of application for the college of their desire.
Eligibility Criteria
- The students who have completed their bachelor’s degree with filmmaking as their specialization with a minimum of 50% are eligible to apply for the Master’s program.
Check: Master’s in Performing Arts
How to Become a Director Abroad
There are many institutions abroad that provide a course in the field of filmmaking. The filmmakers abroad usually work for the Hollywood film industry.
How to Become a Director in Australia
- Admission process in Australia is done on the basis of the score of the candidate in IELTS.
- The candidate must score at least a 7 in the IELTS.
- The candidate must have obtained at least 70% in the last examination/ program.
Top Colleges in Australia
| University/College Name | Average Course Fee |
|---|---|
| Australian Film, Television & Radio School | INR 25,64,711 |
| Sydney Film School | INR 10,96,030 |
| Griffith Film School | INR 46,03,000 |
How to Become a Director in the UK
- Admission to the Filmmaking programs in the UK is done on the basis of IELTS score, which is supposed to be more than 6.
- A candidate must have obtained at least 70% score in the previous program.
Top Colleges in the UK
| University/College Name | Average Course Fee |
|---|---|
| The London Film School | INR 28,23,055 |
| Leeds Beckett University | INR 11,41,981 |
| MetFilm School | INR 17,12,972 |
| University of The Arts, London | INR 9,85,617 |
| University of Edinburgh | INR 25,03,574 |
How to Become a Director in the USA
- The candidate must have an IELTS score of 6.5 along with a good GRE score.
- The candidate must have scored at least 70% in the previous program to get admission in Filmmaking courses in the USA.
Top Colleges in the USA
| University/College Name | Average Course Fee |
|---|---|
| University of South California | INR 33,25,710 |
| New York University | INR 4,32,21,701 |
| American Film Institute | INR 45,56,098 |
| University of California, LA | INR 30,17,520 |
| Columbia University | INR 45,08,552 |
How to Become a Director in Canada
- The candidate must have scored a 6 in the IELTS examination.
- The candidate must have scored at least 60% in their previous program to get admission in a Filmmaking Course in Canada.
Top Colleges in Canada
| University/College Name | Average Course Fee |
|---|---|
| Vancouver Film School | INR 20,70,773 |
| Cinema Studies Institute at the University of Toronto | INR 10,35,387 |
| Capilano University (School of Motion Picture Arts) | INR 16,71,469 |
| York University | INR 15,95,501 |
| Queen’s University | INR 16,27,805 |
Benefits of Career as a Director
A Film Director is someone who takes a script from a paper to a screen. The filmmakers around the globe have the following universal benefits:
Check: Film Production Courses
Travel
- As the filming process has many locations on which the scenes must be shot.
- The Directors get to travel to all these locations, may it be abroad or in India itself. This adds a cherry to the cake of a Director's career.
Good Income
- A Director earns a good amount of money anywhere in the world.
- On an average with an experience of more than 5 years, the average annual income of a Director can go as high as INR 36,00,000 per annum.
Creative Edge
- A Director gains a perspective of many characters, locations, audiences, and scenarios.
- They always have a creative edge over normal people.
Learning New Things
- Every film has its own story and these stories teach a lot.
- The process of creating these stories teaches a lot as well.
Fame
- All the successful Directors get fame with single or multiple successful projects.
- This helps them to get recognized by people across the nation.
- And, if you are getting fame for almost all of your Directions, then you might get approached by some top productions to work with them.
Skills Required to Become a Director
Filmmaking is an interesting field. It includes perspective, psychology, technique, and many other details, apart from camera handling and directing. One must also have leadership qualities within themselves to lead the team into super-hits. The following table enlists the skills required to become a successful Director:
| Skills | Description |
|---|---|
| Leadership | A Director is in charge of the entire filmmaking process. From Actors to the spot members, all follow the instructions given by the Director. |
| Knowledge of Cinematography | The primary tool in filmmaking is a Camera. The Director must be well-versed with the device and its use. |
| Detail-oriented | A film that has a certain amount of depth to it never fails to amaze the watcher. This depth is acquired via details. Every single shot taken or a scene written needs a perspective, which is provided by the Director. |
| Creative & Innovative | This skill takes a script from paper to the screen quicker. |
| Patience & Determination | Becoming a successful Director is not a piece of cake. It needs a lot of patience to acquire a big project. Determination in this field or any other never fails. |
| Team Player | A Director has a big crew working under them. It is important that they are able to work in and lead the team |
| VFX | VFX stands for Visual effects, it is a creation of on-screen imagery that does not exist in real life. |
| Editing | This skill puts together a bunch of shots into a synchronizing movie. |
Check: BSc Animation and VFX
Salary of a Director in India
On an average, a fresher who has just completed his/her Filmmaking course can earn an average salary of INR 5,00,000 per annum in India. The earnings of a Director increase with the increasing time and experience in the industry. The bigger the project, the bigger is the earning. It is determined by various other factors, like the following:
Specialization Wise Salary
| Specialization | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Stage Director | INR 20,06,648 |
| Motion Pictures Director | INR 5,00,00,000 |
| Television Director | INR 6,10,000 |
| Radio Director | INR 4,90,309 |
Experience Wise Salary
| Years of Experience | Average Salary (per month) |
|---|---|
| 0-5 years | INR 40,000 |
| 6-10 years | INR 2,00,000 |
| 10+ years | INR 6,00,000 |
How to Become a Director: FAQs
Ques. Who is the world’s best Director?
Ans. The world’s best film Director based on the total box-office earnings is Steven Spielberg. He has directed the movie ‘Jurassic Park’ with a net grossing of $1.034 dollars. His net worth is $10,548,456,861 until now.
Ques. Which film school is the best in the world to become a Director?
Ans. According to many reports, AFI i. e. American Film Institute is one of the best film schools in the world. It is located in the heart of the filmmaking world, Hollywood. The institute offers a Masters of Fine arts in various filmmaking-related specializations like Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Production Design & Screenwriting.
Ques. Which film school is the best in India to become a Director?
Ans. There are around 182 film schools in India. Film & Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune is one of the best film institutions in India. It offers many courses around filmmaking.
Ques. What equipment does one need to become a Director?
Ans. A Director must have a perspective and a skill of storytelling. The equipment a Director needs is a storyboard, camera & its tools, Shot lists, a PC, Light meter, Annotated script. This equipment ensures the bare minimum required to make a good quality film.
Ques. How difficult is it to become a film Director?
Ans. Everyone’s journey to becoming a successful Director is different. It can be very easy for some and tough for others. Only one thing ensures success and that is determination. Becoming a good Director is definitely not a piece of cake, it takes a lot to even receive opportunities. Hence, having all the relevant skills, Certifications, experiences are the bare minimum, the real job is networking and keeping at it for several years together.
Ques. How many years does it take to become a film Director?
Ans. It may take a while to get your first official gig. A 4-year degree course in the film school and after that gaining some quality experience may take a while depending on the various circumstances.
Ques. Can you become a film Director without a degree?
Ans. Film Directors are not required to have an educational background. The degree just adds to their training and makes it even easier to get a job or a gig. Many film Directors possess years of experience within the field itself or around it.
Ques. Is there a demand for film Directors?
Ans. There is an increasing demand for film Directors & producers from the year 2019 to 2029 as the expected growth rate is about 10% over the decade. The consumer demand for good TV programs and films has risen over a period of time and the pandemic has boosted it as well.
Ques. What are the disadvantages of becoming a Director?
Ans. The biggest disadvantage of being a film Director is that it has huge competition. It takes a lot of time to get your actual gigs early on. To gain experience & good gigs in this field is next to a miracle. The field of direction is very inconsistent, sometimes they have work, and sometimes they simply don’t.
Ques. Who is the youngest filmmaker in India?
Ans. The youngest filmmaker in India is Krishen Shrikant. He is from Bangalore and he made history in 2005 by featuring in his film ‘care of footpath’.
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