Routes into feature

film direction

Philip Askins
g7122754
 Introduction
Identifying the main routes
into directing for feature
films

Advertising and Commercials

Producing Short films

Advancing in a company

Attending recognised institutions
 Advertising and
Commercials
Ridley Scott

MA in Graphic Design, Royal College of
Art

Trainee set designer for BBC

Made his debut feature with
The Duellists

Joseph Kosinski

Degree in Architecture

Used his skills in 3D CAD to make short
visualisation films

Did some ads for Nike and Microsoft

Directing the upcoming feature
Tron Legacy
 Advancing in a
company
Pete Doctor

Attended CalArts

Hired by Pixar right after graduation

Started out with smaller roles before
working his way up and eventually
being asked to direct Monsters Inc.
 Advancing in a
company
Nick Park

Attended NFTS

Hired by Aardman in 1985

Directed commercial work early on,
then various short films

Was eventually signed on to direct
Chicken Run, Aardman's first feature
 Directing short
films
Richard Fenwick

Secured funding from various institutions

Onedotzero

Digital City

David Yates

Attended NFTS

Secured work at the BBC directing shorts,
most famously The Girl in the Cafe

Directed/directing the last three Harry
Potter films
 Attending
recognised
institutions
NFTS

British Based Film School

Highly competitive

Cal Arts

American based Art School

Offer highly prestigious animation course
 Attending
recognised
institutions
Is it worth it?
Pros

Industry connections

Learning the craft

One to one mentoring and tuition

History and theory

Credibility

Time for projects

Staying the course

A smoother way into the industry
 Attending
recognised
institutions
Is it worth it?
Cons

Expensive

Equipment is cheap to own now

Learn by doing

You either have it or you don't

Teaches how to make films, but doesn't
teach what to say
 Conclusion


Practical experience – very important

Directors can come from anywhere

Institutions look good on CV, but doesn't
guarantee director's role

Luck, opportunity, contacts