Film Director
Comprehensive Sites
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Actors, Producers, and DirectorsA host of information is available at this page, provided by the U.S. Department of Labor. You can connect directly to details on the nature of the work of a director or producer or find out information on job outlook and projections for the future. If you would like to know more about related occupations, you can click on those links or connect to a variety of related theatrical resources.
CareerOneStop: Producers and DirectorsYou can select related content for any state you choose and view an occupation description, wages for the area or nationally, employment trends, and tools and technology needed. A career video is available directly from this page which describes the varied types of jobs available, abilities needed, and general work activities for each.
Princeton Review: Film DirectorFind out the important qualities a person needs to become a film director at this discussion or access information on the quality of life you can expect after two, five, or 10 years in the profession. You will also find links to important college majors for this profession, graduate programs nationwide, possible internships, and a career search engine.
Occupational Titles
Director, Film
Director
Film Director
Movie Director
Accredited Academic Programs
CareerInfoNet: Producers and DirectorsThe list at this site displays more than 60 institutions that offer programs for students wishing to pursue directing and producing across television and film. You can change the state selection and obtain a printer-friendly version of the list.
FilmSchools.comA film school directory lets you choose your state and brings you directly to a list of academies, institutes, and academic programs in film.
Salary Levels
PayScale: Producer-DirectorMedian salary by school name is listed at this page, which will also instantly connect you to salary charts organized by city, employer type, industry, years of experience, age, and major or degree earned.
Professional Organizations
American Film InstituteThis organization provides resources for leadership in the education of filmmakers and includes an educational center, film conservatory, and directing workshops. Podcasts offer interesting presentations of art in cinema events that you can download and experience directly.
Association of Independent Video and FilmmakersIndependent filmmakers gather at this internet spot, which provides discussion of documentaries, film festivals, film financing, legal, and marketing issues. You can watch trailers from independent filmmakers, learn about screenwriting and film distribution, or benefit from a free online account to participate in e-forums.
Directors’ Guild of AmericaRecognizing directorial achievement, this organization offers websites for its members; a variety of sample contracts, forms, and agreements; news from the industry; and multimedia galleries. Publications, exclusive to the art of directing, are available, including in-depth articles and profiles of members and their projects.
Motion Picture Association of AmericaThe latest news and issues are addressed at the Motion Picture Association of America site, where you will find film ratings, research, and information about local government and law around the world related to the film industry. Separate sites on film piracy and other special issues are presented here, as well as copyright laws and a U.S. theatrical snapshot, which presents a summary of the domestic box office.
Society of Motion Picture and Television EngineersAdvancing the development of motion picture imaging, this site offers you the opportunity to participate in educational programs and communicate with a network of like-minded people. Live interactive educational webcasts can be viewed from the education connection for members of the organization. The student membership link brings you to information on discounted student rates, as well as information on subscriptions you would receive as a member, participation in student chapters, and opportunities for scholarships and awards.
Job Opportunity Sources
FilmSchools.com: Film Career GuidanceThe links at this site include information on careers, jobs, and salaries in film, as well as opportunities for selecting a film school, degrees you can earn, and other resources for film students.
ShowBizJobs.comA professional network of entertainment employers, this site maintains a list for job seekers that can be searched by keyword, job type, and salary. Simply select “production” or other job category and browse by company, posting date, and specific theatre sub-industry. You can also post your resume for potential employers to view.
Publications
Entertainment WeeklySpecial coverage at this page includes links to popular film festivals, award shows, and the industry “A-list.” You can view exclusive photo galleries at this site, connect to video interviews, or access one of nine major headline departments in movies and new media. Complete film coverage allows you to view film festival exclusives.
Hollywood ReporterThe industry of film is comprehensively covered at the The Hollywood Reporter, which covers the award seasons and has a department specifically for film. The movie link connects to a news index, the box office, reviews, production listings, features, a release schedule, and information on script sales.
VarietyNews, film reviews, videos, and blogs are all available at this online magazine, which highlights top stories in the film industry. Film writer coverage, a database of more than 10 million people and products in the movie industry, a media job listing, and comprehensive information on studios and production companies are available.
Online Forums & Blogs
Filmmaking ForumFilmmaker forum is for novices to established filmmakers interested in joining an online discussion community. Virtual discussion rooms include calls for entries in film festivals, independent films, film financing, and a classified board.
Independent: InteractAfter a free registration, you can gain access to e-mail and print subscriptions of Independent’s blogs, created for those interested in independent filmmaking. Use the search features at the site to find archived and current articles and blog entries by topic, location, or date. Books, toolkits, and free databases are available, as well as the ability to post free classifieds.
Career Videos
Careers in Filmmaking: Segment OneCareers in filmmaking and digital media are presented at this video by an organization which encourages video storytelling of filmmaking and production tools. The video is the first in a series of five and interviews a group of directors and producers in a local film industry. The related videos in the series can be viewed by clicking on the selections in the list.
Careers in Filmmaking: Segment ThreeBackground and education needed for breaking into the film industry are discussed in this segment of panelist interviews. You can listen to each person describe individual background and history that led to work in feature films.
Careers in Filmmaking: Segment TwoAccess this second in a series of videos on directing in the film industry and hear from the panelists on why they chose their careers.
CollegeGrad.com: Producers and DirectorsFrom producer, to director, to actor, an overview of show business is presented in this video. Learn how directors interpret plays, scripts, and direct the work of the cast and crew, as well as how they exercise control of the total finished product.
