THE DIRECTOR
When a video is being created, regardless of whether it is an advertisement, a documentary, an explainer video or something else, it is clear to everyone that the guy behind the camera is recording, that the sound guy is holding the microphone, that the actors are standing in front of the camera delivering lines… But, what does the director do?
He does not handle any piece of equipment, he is not in front of the camera and does act, he did not write the script… he just shouts orders and charges a lot. You might think that anyone can do his job. And you would be very wrong.
Actually, the director is the foundation of every video. He combines the costumes, scenography, music, recording, acting and other things together into a new concept. He is the one who knows how to develop the initial idea into the final product. He edits the script, defines the shots, chooses the costumes… He decides how the story will be told. Being involved in all segments of video production, he has the knowledge and vision to connect all of the segments. In other words, he is the chief creative officer, i.e. the artistic supervisor of the video. He is to the film what the captain is to the ship or the coach to the sports team.
Director’s role was established relatively late, at the beginning of the 20th century. Previously, his job was divided between various people. It is known that the ancient Greek writers Aeschylus and Sophocles created their own theatrical texts, Shakespeare rehearsed dialogues with actors, while Molière, in addition to his directing duties, played the main roles. But due to the complexity of filmmaking and the involvement of a large number of artists of various kinds, there was a need for one person to manage all these different segments. As filmmaking became an industry, there was a need for a production method that required the utmost professionalism, i.e. the division of work competencies, speed and efficiency. Although the director is the one the audience does not see, some directors have become synonym of a good film. Regardless of the genre, the main actors or the composers, the audience began to recognise some directors as important. The first ones that got stardom were David W. Griffith, Alfred Hitchcock, John Ford and Cecile B. DeMille. However, with the recognition of the director’s job in the public, in addition to fame came the burden of failure, so for every failure of a particular film, the director was identified as the main culprit.
When it comes to filming promo or explainer videos, the director is the person who knows best how to turn the wishes and needs of the client into a video that will produce the desired effect with the audience. The director is the one who will give instructions to the costume designers, set designers, composers and everyone else in which direction to think to get the best possible result. He doesn’t have to know how to play an instrument, but he has to know what kind of music evokes what kind of emotions, he doesn’t have to be a great actor, but he has to know how to explain to an actor how to act a certain scene, he doesn’t have to know how to draw, but he has to know how to advise the animator within the requirements of the project in order for the animation to have the desired effect. Without a director, each of the production segments could be completely out of sync with the other elements.
And finally, let’s break the spell that has become popular during the recession and frantic cost-cutting: do you think that hiring and paying a director isn’t necessary? You’d pay a lot more to shoot (and edit) without one.
Ivan Prlić – Prle
P.S. Check out our services Video Production, TV Commercial, Promotional and Corporate Film, Explainer Video
