In short: A director is the creative lead on a film or TV drama. They shape the performances, plan the look with the director of photography and lead the edit to a final cut that the producers approve. Granary lists a director from £750 a day plus VAT as an indicative rate.
A director is the creative lead on a film or drama, responsible for how the story reaches the screen, from the script to the final cut. They are usually hired by a producer or executive producer, and they run the creative side of the production through the heads of each department.
What a director does on a shoot day
The shoot day is where the director's plans meet the cast and crew. Most of the big decisions were made before the day began, so on set the work is about steering:
- Guide the actors towards strong performances.
- Direct the crew, especially the lighting, wardrobe and make-up supervisors.
- Make sure the technical side is ready so a scene can be captured properly.
- Make creative decisions quickly when the plan changes.
Before the shoot, the director works with producers to appoint the heads of department, such as the director of photography, the 1st AD and the production designer. With producers and casting directors they choose the actors. With the director of photography they plan the filming style, the camera shots and any script changes. Some directors rehearse with the cast, and every director decides where actors stand, move and deliver their lines.
After the shoot, the director leads the edit and produces a director's cut. Producers and financiers review that cut before the final version is signed off.
Who they work with
Directors work with every department head. ScreenSkills names producers and casting directors before the shoot, the director of photography and the 1st AD on set, and editors afterwards. The director of photography owns the look, and the 1st AD owns the time, so the director's plan has to fit both.
For the people on the camera side, see what a director of photography does and what a 1st AD does.
Kit and skills
A director's tools are a script they can break down, a shot list and a clear way of talking to actors and crew. Judgement and attention count for more than hardware. The skills that matter most are:
- Reading a script and picturing the scene before anyone shoots it.
- Working with actors, including with different ways of rehearsing.
- Clear communication with the director of photography, the 1st AD and the crew.
- A sense of the edit, because the cut is part of the director's job.
How to become a director
ScreenSkills lists several starting points: theatre, screenwriting, the assistant director track or the camera department. Working as a runner on set or in a production office is another. Study at school or college in drama, English, film or media studies helps, and so do Level 3 vocational diplomas and the T-Level in Media, Broadcast and Production. A degree in filmmaking is not required, though it can give a broad understanding of the industry.
The practical steps are these:
- Make things. Direct and edit a short film, even one shot on a smartphone, and build a portfolio from it.
- Direct amateur productions. Local groups give you a cast, a crew and room to make mistakes.
- Use the free resources. ScreenSkills offers free e-learning, careers material and skills checklists, and its Trainee Finder scheme builds contacts.
- Check crew databases carefully. Sign up to free crew databases before paying an agency, and think hard before paying a site that does not specialise in your area.
- Join Bectu. Bectu, the union for people working in the creative industries, offers freelancers advice and career support as members.
Expect to build a portfolio and a network before the first paid job.
Do you need one on a small shoot?
- A talking head or podcast: the producer or presenter often makes the directing calls. A single-camera interview needs a clear plan more than a separate director.
- A corporate film or brand short: a director helps when the message has to be shaped and the cast need guiding.
- A drama, music video or story film: yes. Someone has to hold the creative vision across the shoot.
Granary lists a director from £750 a day plus VAT, indicative. The film crew hire page explains how crew is booked alongside the studio.
Related roles
Sources
- ScreenSkills, Director (also known as filmmaker), film and TV drama job profile, read 5 November 2026
- ScreenSkills, Trainee Finder scheme, read 5 November 2026
- Bectu, home page, read 5 November 2026
Related guides
Questions we get asked
What does a film director do day to day?
On set, a director guides the actors, directs the crew and makes creative decisions when the plan changes. Before the shoot they appoint department heads, cast with the producers and plan the look with the director of photography.
How do you become a film director in the UK?
There is no single route. ScreenSkills lists theatre, screenwriting, the assistant director track, the camera department and runner work as starting points. Making short films and building a portfolio matter as much as any qualification.
Do you need a director for a talking-head video?
Someone has to make the directing decisions, even if the producer does it. A single-camera interview needs a clear plan more than a separate director, but a drama, a music video or a story film needs one.
granary.digital · 01243 884993 · studio@granary.digital · The Old Grainstore, Adsdean, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 9DN · Prices exclude VAT unless marked inc VAT