Film and Television Directing Tips

In his book 'Directing Feature Films', Mark Travis says "The prospect of directing a film is overwhelming. Not only is it not very clear or even agreed upon as to what a director does, but there are very few guidelines or programs for the learning director. There is no particular structure or manual that comes along with the job."

If you have ever spent any time on a film or television production, you know how true that statement is!

To be a film director today, you need to know what is expected of you when you begin preproduction; when you step on the set; and when you are in the editing room - and to do this successfully, you need to constantly increase your filmmaking knowledge.

The main goal of the "Film And Television Directing Tips" is to help you discover this knowledge by giving you access to many of the film making resources, tools and techniques required to become a successful, working film and television director.

Enjoy.

Peter D. Marshall

Website - www.actioncutprint.com

Blog - www.filmdirectingtips.com

Squidoo - http://www.squidoo.com/filmtvdirecting

A free monthly Ezine for filmmakers

The Director's Chair is a free monthly ezine published by Peter D. Marshall. It is read by 2400 subscribers in over 100 countries around the world.

Here are a few of the articles that have been written the past 7 years.

• Working with Actors (Personality Traits)
• Working with Actors (The Casting Session)
• Script Breakdown (Script and Scene Analysis)
• Script Breakdown (Character Analysis)
• Blocking a Scene
• Rehearsing a Scene
• Visual Concept and Colours
• Staging and Shooting a Fight Scene
• Staging and Choreography
• The Commercial Director
• Directing Direct Response Television
• The Director's Prep
• The Art of Directing
• Motion Picture Directing
• Directing as a Helping Profession
• Pre-Production Activities
• Directing 101
• 21st Century Black America Filmmakers
• Finding Work in the Film & TV Business
• Television vs Movies
• Movie Industry Analysis
• Making a Living in Video and Film
• The Visual Style of John Woo
• The Craft of Directing
• Buyers and Sellers
• Beginning the Deal
• What is a Director?
• 10 Tips to Market & Promote Your Film
• A Short History of the Horror Film
• The Hollywood Pitch Festival
• What to Avoid in Low Budget Scripts
• The 12 Biggest Mistakes Directors Make
• Don't Let Budget Choose Your Format
• Finding the Right Agent
• Script Analysis Check List
• Finding a Film Job
• MAKING IT in Film Production!
• Introduction to "Directing the Money"
• Translating Ideas Into Money Talk
• Five Good Producer Skills
• Using Music Legally in Your Work
• African Cinema - An Overview
• Music Licensing
• Digital vs Film
• Tips to Make your Movie Sound Real
• Producing Films for the Internet
• INDIE Film Financing
• DVD Replication for Dummies
• Good Inexpensive Production Music
• Producing a Dynamite Demo Reel

Take some time now to check out back issues of The Director's Chair and then sign up for your own free monthly subscription.

10 Day Audio/Email Film Directing Seminar by Peter D.Marshall

Testimonial "It takes 10 days to receive the whole seminar, but it could take months to go through it all and if one were to follow and read every link, it would be an entire year long class!" Sean Delgada - Los Angeles, USA

The Art and Craft of Director 10 Day Audio Seminar is a comprehensive, 10-day audio/email program that will help you gain the knowledge and confidence you need to be a successful film director by providing you with a "road map" to make the path you have chosen less bumpy.

I am very proud of this audio course and I guarantee that if you listen to the entire 10 days, and read all the support material, you will discover many of the tips, techniques and tools a working film director needs to be successful today.

The Art and Craft of Director 10 Day Audio Seminar

Testimonial "Peter offers his years of experience in a clear and comprehensive package that was very enjoyable. I recommend this course for anyone who is already in, or who wants to get into directing." Joe Vautour - Athens, Greece

Working with Visual Effects Most film and TV programs today utilize some form of special visual FX (Green screen, motion control...

MAKING IT in Film Production! MAKING IT in Film Production! by John Gaskin - Whether you are, or want to become, a film director, or...

"Notes on Directing" Notes on Directing (Frank Hauser & Russell Reich) - More than a how-to book, this is a tool for...

"Directing Actors: Creating Memorable Performances for Film & Television" Directing Actors (Judith Weston) - This is essential reading for anyone interested in directing or a...

Working with Actors: Part 2 (The Casting Session)

When a director first gets a script, you read it through several times to get a feel for what the story is about and who the characters are. As you read the script, you will get an impression of the characters. You then have a meeting with the Producer(s) and the Casting Director to share your ideas of the characters... (read more)

The Director's Prep - Episodic Television

The following article is a basic breakdown of what to expect when you are directing an episode of an episodic Television show. Every show works a little differently, but here is a guide to follow...

Script Breakdown - Script and Scene Analysis

The first time a director works with an actor is usually during the casting session. I will talk more about the actual casting process in another article, but today I want to discuss what you need to know before you enter the casting room... (read more)

Staging and Shooting a Fight Scene

Almost every film today has some sort of obligatory fight scene between the good guy and the bad guy. In this article, I will share some tips on how to stage and shoot a simple fight scene between two actors...

Blocking a Scene

Blocking is the first, and most crucial, aspect of a 4-part sequence. When you first start directing, blocking a scene can be one of the hardest - and most embarrassing - parts of your job. Get it wrong here, and you could waste valuable shooting time trying to get out of the mess you created... (read more)

Links to over 1500 Online Filmmaking Resources

Links to over 500 Film Schools Around the World

201 Things You Wouldn't Know Without Movies or Television

Discover the Three Golden Rules all directors must know to survive in the Film and Television business today!

For the answer, visit my "History of Film" Hub http://hubpages.com/hub/Why-you-Must-Know-The-History-of-Film