Montage Eigenstyne

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtnTs90knro
https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-a-montage-
definition/
What Is a Director?
A director is a person who determines the creative vision of a feature
film, television show, play, short film, or other production. They have
complete artistic control of a project. In addition to having a strong
grasp of technical knowledge taught in directing classes, they must
also have a personal or emotional connection to the material.

Even though they may not appear in front of the camera, the director
is one of the most important people on a film set. They do more than
shout “action” and “cut” behind the scenes—they’re the person who
determines the creative vision and makes all of the film’s biggest
decisions. Learn more about what a director does during every step
of the production process and get tips on how to break into the
business if you’re an aspiring director.

What Does a Director Do During Pre-production?

 Assemble a team. The first people you’ll need are a line producer, production
designer, location manager, cinematographer, and assistant director.
 Create your vision for the film and communicate it to your crew. Establish a
visual language for your film by creating a lookbook. Fill it with reference
images to help you articulate your ideal color palette, locations, and framing. It
helps to reference other films that inspire you.
 Discuss your vision with each key crew member individually. Your vision affects
every department differently. For example, if you say, “I want it to feel like the
character is isolated,” that affects lens choice, lighting, and music. Learn to
speak the language of every department so you can successfully communicate
what you need from them.
 Make casting choices. You can change many of your decisions along the way,
but casting is the least flexible in terms of making last-minute changes. Before
you cast an actor, it’s important that they understand the story you’re telling.
They should be someone you trust to prepare the role to the best of their ability
and who is willing to be flexible and collaborate with you.

What Does a Director Do During Production?

 Guide the actors through scenes. It’s your job to help inform and shape their
performances, so give the actors positive but specific (and short) praise and/or
notes after every take. Make sure you’re on the same page about who the
characters are and what they want in each scene.
  Ensure every department is doing its job. You’re the person who is most familiar
with every part of the production. You must make sure every department is
doing its job and working together to bring the film to life.
 Communicate with everyone as much as possible. Directing is a collaborative
process. Having open communication with every team is vital to making the
best film possible so everyone feels comfortable speaking up and knows
exactly what they need to be doing.
 Keep your artistic vision alive. Continue to check in with every department, from
the producers to the actors to the crew, about what you need from them in
order to translate your creative vision to the screen.

What Does a Director Do During Post-production?

 Give notes to the editor. Review the editor’s cuts, break down the footage, and
find the shots, angles, and takes that add the most meaning.
 Check in with post-production teams. Work with the sound design team,
the music supervisor, and the visual effects team to ensure every
postproduction decision is in line with your overall vision.
 Give final signoff. You have complete creative control, and it’s up to you to
determine when a project is finished.

How Do You Become a Director?

Directing students study the art form in undergraduate programs, graduate programs,
conservatory programs, and directing workshops. Many Hollywood directors have a
directing degree from an accredited directing program in New York City or Los
Angeles, such as:

 Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Filmmaking

 Master of Arts (MA) in Film and Media Production
 Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Filmmaking
 Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) in Filmmaking

Having a directing degree is important, but to get paid jobs as a director, you need to
actually gain experience directing projects. After your work gains attention and praise,
you can land an agent to help you find bigger opportunities.

Many directors get their start by working on a film set as an intern or a PA while
directing their projects on the side. As you work your way through the ranks, you’ll
learn how sets are run, gain experience, and make connections that may help you get
a job in the future.

Some directors come to the craft after working on film and/or television sets as writers
or actors. When a film industry professional transitions to directing, the learning curve
is less steep because they learned what makes a good director from working closely
with and observing them for many years.

10 Tips on Directing Actors

Directing actors is a collaborative process from prep to wrap. Keep these things in
mind when working with them on set:

1. Know who you’re working with. If you’ve never worked with an actor before,
research them on your own. You can also call other directors they’ve worked
with and ask about their processes and how they like to work.
2. Include them in your process. If they’re open to it, ask them if they’d like to look
at your shot list, lookbook, storyboard, or whatever else you’ve done in
preparation. This allows them to better serve your vision.
3. Create a calm and respectful environment. Reassure your actors that you’re
there for them every step of the way. Try not to yell or raise your voice on set,
as it creates unnecessary tension that isn’t conducive to creativity.
4. Be prepared and be flexible. Have a succinct Plan A for how you want each
scene to go, but be able to be spontaneous with different takes within that
preparation.
5. Give them space to work. Communicate your ideas in pre-production, talk
through things before a scene starts, and give notes afterward. But when the
camera is rolling, the actor is in control, and it’s best to let them do a complete
take before speaking up.
6. Don’t make them wait. If they’re called at a certain time, do everything in your
power to get them to set at that time. If you’re unable to do so, check in with
them as soon as possible so they know what’s going on.
7. Be direct. If you want an actor to do something differently, tell them. Don’t be
precious and try to sugar coat anything. Be kind, but be blunt and honest about
what you want.
8. Avoid results-oriented direction. For example, don’t tell an actor you’d like them
to cry at the end of a scene or say things like “I want the audience to feel ___ .”
If an actor is only thinking about a result, this may block them from being able to
emote and perform in an organic way.
9. Be aware of their needs. Sometimes you need to lighten the mood a bit, or the
actor needs to step away from the character momentarily. Be conscious and
thoughtful of their process so they can give the best performance possible.
10.Listen to their instincts. If a part of the writing isn’t making sense and the actor
is having trouble getting it, consider a rewrite.
What does a film director do?

A film director manages the creative aspects of the production. They

direct the making of a film by visualizing the script while guiding the
actors and technical crew to capture the vision for the screen. They
control the film’s dramatic and artistic aspects.
WHAT DOES A DIRECTOR DO FROM START TO FINISH?

Interpret scripts
Set the tone of film
Work with department heads
Work with casting directors to find talent
Direct actors and the camera
Work with editors to assemble the film
Work with sound and music departments

Although the film director is involved in all stages of filmmaking,

sometimes their role in each of those stages can be misconstrued.

The development stage, for instance, is often confused with the pre-

production stage. Typically, development is taken care of by the
writers and producers, and directors enter the picture in pre-
production.

This isn't always true (especially when the director also happens to

have written the script). The director usually makes comments,
tweaks, or changes to the script during development. Still, it’s really in
pre-production where the film director plays a major role. 

Although the film director is involved in all stages of filmmaking,

sometimes their role in each of those stages can be misconstrued.

The development stage, for instance, is often confused with the pre-

production stage. Typically, development is taken care of by the
writers and producers, and directors enter the picture in pre-
production.

This isn't always true (especially when the director also happens to

have written the script). The director usually makes comments,
tweaks, or changes to the script during development. Still, it’s really in
pre-production where the film director plays a major role. 

A DIRECTOR'S PRE-PRODUCTION TASKS

Working with department heads

A film's tone should be thoroughly considered and discussed before

the first shot is taken. The film director has the final say on this and
it’s up to them to execute it. 

How? By communicating with every department head, from

cinematographer to the production designer. The entire crew must be
on the same page to be able to execute their vision.

Episode Two of Making It navigates the nitty gritty of hiring

department heads. Watch how Lannom and Wilkins hone in on crew
members ideally suited for their project.
Storyboarding and shot listing

Storyboards and shot lists help to plot out your vision beat by beat. To
communicate the desired look and feel to the cinematographer and
production designer, the director will probably want to share their
storyboards. That way, the department heads can make changes or
leave comments in real time.

Take this storyboard from Mental Mistakes, for example, which we've

uploaded to StudioBinder's storyboarding software. Each panel
includes information on camera shot framing, camera angles,
and camera movement that the cinematographer can use to plan shots
well in advance. 
Planning to create boards of your own? You'll need to know the
fundamentals first. A good place to start: Consult a step-by-step
breakdown of how to create storyboards.

If you're working with a small budget, like the crew of Mental

Mistakes, you won't be able to pay a location scout. That's where shot
lists are especially helpful: They'll help the director and producer
conduct the scouting process themselves. Making It to see how well-
planned shot lists allowed him/her to pin down perfect indoor
locations.
Auditioning and casting actors

To cast actors that best suit the characters in the script, the director
and producer will hone in on some "selects" — the standouts among
those who answer their initial casting call. 

From there, auditions can begin. Follow Mental Mistakes' casting

process to learn the key ingredients of a successful audition.

Eventually, some auditioning actors will nail their readings of the sides
provided to them. Once the director gives the final say on who is best
for each role, casting is complete.
Gearing up for the shoot

In the final stretch of pre-production, the director and producer will

need to make sure that the production is insured, work with the
cinematographer to procure filming equipment, and work with the 1st
AD to create a shooting schedule.

Each crew member shares responsibility for getting these things done.
But as Lannom stresses in the Making It episode below, the film
director will ultimately take the blame if anything goes wrong:

After checking these things off the pre-production list, the cast and
crew will at last be prepared for production. In the next section, we'll
look at the director's role during production — which is actually fairly
straight-forward now that all the prep is complete.
Directing actors and the camera

This is perhaps the most subjective and creative part any film director
job description. It’s up to the director to discover how the actors like to
work and adjust accordingly to bring out the best performance.
Working with editors

In post-production, the director may provide notes to editors and is

often an active participant in this process. They also work with the
editor to produce a director’s cut. The director also has to consult with
the producer before final cut is complete.

The match cut is just one of many editing techniques and something
that is usually planned ahead of time but can also be "found" in the
edit. Here's a rundown of how match cuts work and how they can
enhance your storytelling.

There are many ways to approach film editing and this process will

often take weeks or months to complete. At this point, decisions need
to be made — whether to obey or break the rules of continuity editing,
which of the many editing transitions to use, and how to control
pacing and rhythm in the edit.
Working with the sound department

Once the final edit of the film is locked, the project moves to sound
design. Sound design is created and mixed with the film director
sitting in on the sessions and providing feedback.

Don't underestimate the power of sound in filmmaking — storytelling

on the soundtrack is just as important as it is in the image. Here's a
look at how Tarantino uses sound to balance and inform violence. 

Blending both diegetic sound with non-diegetic sound, adding sound

effects, this is all a major effort to create the overall illusion for the
audience. For more, here's a breakdown of the difference
between sound mixing vs. sound editing.
Working with composers

Directors also work with the composer to incorporate an original score

or soundtrack into the final cut.

While the scoring process can be complex, the director's process of

choosing a soundtrack is straightforward. The best movie
soundtracks use an insertion of popular music to affect a scene is
what's known as a "needle drop."

Our video essay on this technique includes examples of how it's used
in iconic cinema and we also have a list of the best needle drops ever.