By: Gerald Wu, Instructor

I will discuss the 5 professional tips that I believe could make you a better director and get the results you need on set. The director, who is responsible for everything that goes on while in the preproduction, shooting and post-production stages should follow a strict set of guidelines. This will ensure that the crew members see the process as concise, understandable and simple to execute.

TIP #1 - CLEAR COMMUNICATION
Clear communication has to be number on the list. The director must make sure that what is said matches what is needed. The communication, whether it be verbally, written, charts, graphs, or in photos should be clear and simple enough for the crew member to comprehend. This will guarantee that the task or information is communicated correctly to the appropriate departments.

TIP #2 - SHARE YOUR VISION
Tell a story, but using pictures as the words. Use different camera angles to make these words come alive. Share this vision with the cast and crew. It is easier to make a point they will understand if they know where it is coming from. Giving them some backstory information might make it easier to understand. Create those powerful emotions within the crew members and it will entrench them into the story. Make it so powerful they cannot turn away. This will make the crew work harder for you and a better product will result. This is the mark of a true director. The creative process is the same throughout the production, regardless of what is there to use or not. Find the necessary tools to get what you need and nothing more. It will save time and allow you to concentrate more on working with the actors instead of fighting within your own self-doubt. Be confident and use the preproduction time to plan this all out.

TIP #3 - KNOW WHAT YOU WANT AND LEARN TO MOVE ONE
You must have the film edited in your head or on paper. You need to know what shots you need exactly before shooting. This will give you the necessary tools to get what you need and nothing more. It will save time and allow you to concentrate more on working with the actors instead of fighting within your own self-doubt. Be confident with your preproduction time and use it to plan it all out. Always spend the time on the money shots. You could always skip the shots that are not so important or will get cut out. It is critical you get the shots you need to tell the story.

TIP #4 - RESPECT YOUR TEAM
This is a key characteristic that all directors should possess. The better you treat the cast and crew, the more successful a shoot will become. It surprises me the attitudes of such novice directors like they know everything before working in the professional field. They should be a little humble and try to learn from the veterans of the film industry first. The crew will always try to help each other out on set because they are all working toward the same goal, creating a finished product everyone can be proud of. There will be some verbal arguments, but as long as both parties have a valid point, it is good to seek the best means to get the shot done. Granted, in the end, the director does have the final say. This is a two-way street, all the crew members and cast should always show respect for each other regardless of any differences among them. In the professional world, this is happening everyday and on all shoots. The director is the leader and this should be evident every day on the project.

TIP #5 - FIND YOUR PASSION
Passion for the project is important to keep you motivated at all times. There will be setbacks, red flags and road blocks along the way. The best way to keep going is to find a subject, concept or idea which has your interest in mind. This internal motivation will lead you to feel more confident about the subject matter and will help you to focus more deeply in its content. Make this short script simple and easy to shoot considering your low or no budget productions. Concentrate more on the script, story and the look of the film. Having the prep work is always good, but always be ready for issues and red flags coming up. The way you deal with them is the key to a successful shoot. You must make wise decisions and not be too hasty.​ There is always some time available to make a decision that will benefit the production instead of hinder it later on. Take all of the discussions away from the talent, so they can stay focused and keep their mind only on the performance. They do not need to know about any technical issues or problems. leave that up to the director and the crew

AND TO SUM IT UP...
You should have a clear understanding of what needs to be shot while being the director. Follow the script and look at each scene visually from the verbal text. What photos would you like to show the audience to make them understand the script and your story. Include insert shots to highly emphasize a certain aspect of a point being made. Use cutaway shots to show transition of time to change the subject or location. Also, the setting or location must be a complement to the scene. This location is a non-verbal character in the film or show and gives the viewer information about what the scene holds. Let the location or backgrounds tell the story from the director to the audience.