The director is the person tasked with directing each of the different techical and artistic professionals involved in the creation of an audiovisual product. They are responsible for its commercial performance and content, and for meeting the targets set by the production team. Directors can work in various fields of audiovisual communication: these include film, television, new media, music advertising or promotions, events, corporate videos and artistic formats. Directing requires a vast ability to organise and manage the human and technical teams that work at the service of a creative idea. The amount of creative freedom and power to make decisions depend both on the contract and the agreement between the production and director's teams, as well as on the type of product being made:

• Intense work planning and preparation of the shoot: technical breakdown of scripts, synopses and proposals offered by the production team.
• Perfect organisation of the technical and artistic teams involved in the shooting phase.
• Execution of the shooting plan: budget control, preparation of the shooting phase, and execution.
• Preparation of material for the post-production processes, overseeing and assessing these.
• Identify the best skills of the artistic team they are directing and successfully harnessing them in order to achieve the final goals for the production.
• Leadership to settle potential conflicts that may emerge in different phases involved in the process for making an audiovisual product.
• Analysis of the artistic aspects of the work that they are directing.
• Integration of narrative and visual elements.
• Planning, in order to be able to stick to a fixed budget and meet the timeline set out by the production team.

Regulated training and graduates

• Grau: Comunicació audiovisual
• Grau: Comunicació i periodisme audiovisuals
• Grau: Audiovisual i multimèdia
• Grau: Periodisme
• Grau: Cinematografia
• Grau: Multimèdia
• Grau: Enginyeria multimèdia

Complementary training

Other specific skills

The most common route into film directing comes through making short films in digital format. Subsequently, you can make the leap into film directing, by directing either one of your own projects or scripts (which you may have written alone or with someone else) or a commissioned product (the apprenticeship period normally involves two years of intense work). The short film festival circuit and the categories that are reserved for short films in some major festivals are vital for future directors.

On the other hand, the recommended route for becoming a television director includes doing an internship at companies in the sector, particularly at public or private television channels, where you should have direct contact with the facilities and familiarse yourself with their directing and control procedures and techniques.

Planning and organisation: Level 3

Leadership: Level 2

Networking: Level 1

Commitment to the organisation: Level 3

Learning and use of knowledge: Level 3

Creativity: Level 3

Communication: Level 3

Artistic

People who show an interest in the artistic field enjoy expressing ideas and feelings through the language of art A creative spirit and the motivation to convey concepts or emotions are inherent to this interest. This field includes all the activities that are oriented towards creating artistic products in their various forms: works that are musical, cinematographic or visual in nature, as well as dance and related arts.

Logistics

The planning, organisation, control and carrying out of logistics and administrative tasks are the focus of people who work in the field of logistics. Activities in the field of logistics include the organisation and planning of supply, storage, production and distribution systems, taking inventories, controlling stock and estimating production, as well as the organisation and/or carrying out of the administrative tasks necessary for the implementation of these activities. Knowledge of organisation, control and management techniques is essential for carrying out these activities.

Infographics designer

Post-production technician

Director of photography

Content manager

Director of communication

• Work hours

  For freelance film (and advertising) directors: there are no set hours The role is extremely intense during the phase when the audiovisual product is being put together and is particularly demanding during the shooting phase, with more than 12-hour working days. The post-production phase is equally intense and demanding, although this depends on the extent to which the director is involved in the editing and post-production process. For directors employed in television: standard 8-hour working days, which may either be intensive or reduced depending on the slots they work. It is common for shifts to be rotated in order to cover weekends and public holidays.

• Salary

  Junior: between 14.754 and 22.033 euros annum gross. Median: 18.030 euros annum gross.
  Senior: between 19.730 and 32.202 euros annum gross. Median: 25.206 euros annum gross.
  
  Source: Report "Observatory of Jobs and Salaries of the Labour Market. Barcelona Activa", elaborated by ICSA Grupo. April 2015.
  

• Other features

  It is a significant advantage to be a member of well-known directors associations or guilds

• Professional category

  Middle management

• Human resources and equipment

  You will need to invest in technology, a physical space - office or studio - that serves as a working space and for inspiration.

• Initial investments

  The most significant investment comes for training in film, television and technical and technology-related tools (lighting, digital editing, etc.) and for building up experience with professional directing teams.