Producers & Directors
Produce or direct stage, television, radio, video, or film productions for entertainment, information, or instruction. Responsible for creative decisions, such as interpretation of script, choice of actors or guests, set design, sound, special effects, and choreography.
Technology Tools
Key Tasks
- Plan details such as framing, composition, camera movement, sound, and actor movement for each shot or scene.
- Communicate to actors the approach, characterization, and movement needed for each scene in such a way that rehearsals and takes are minimized.
- Direct live broadcasts, films and recordings, or non-broadcast programming for public entertainment or education.
- Research production topics using the internet, video archives, and other informational sources.
- Study and research scripts to determine how they should be directed.
- Review film, recordings, or rehearsals to ensure conformance to production and broadcast standards.
- Supervise and coordinate the work of camera, lighting, design, and sound crew members.
- Confer with technical directors, managers, crew members, and writers to discuss details of production, such as photography, script, music, sets, and costumes.
- Write and submit proposals to bid on contracts for projects.
- Consult with writers, producers, or actors about script changes or "workshop" scripts, through rehearsal with writers and actors to create final drafts.
- Perform management activities, such as budgeting, scheduling, planning, and marketing.
- Compose and edit scripts or provide screenwriters with story outlines from which scripts can be written.
- Identify and approve equipment and elements required for productions, such as scenery, lights, props, costumes, choreography, and music.
- Cut and edit film or tape to integrate component parts into desired sequences.
- Conduct meetings with staff to discuss production progress and to ensure production objectives are attained.
- Establish pace of programs and sequences of scenes according to time requirements and cast and set accessibility.
- Compile scripts, program notes, and other material related to productions.
- Write and edit news stories from information collected by reporters and other sources.
- Choose settings and locations for films and determine how scenes will be shot in these settings.
- Review film daily to check on work in progress and to plan for future filming.
- Resolve personnel problems that arise during the production process by acting as liaisons between dissenting parties when necessary.
- Negotiate with parties, including independent producers and the distributors and broadcasters who will be handling completed productions.
- Coordinate the activities of writers, directors, managers, and other personnel throughout the production process.
- Perform administrative duties, such as preparing operational reports, distributing rehearsal call sheets and script copies, and arranging for rehearsal quarters.
- Obtain rights to scripts or to such items as existing video footage.
- Develop marketing plans for finished products, collaborating with sales associates to supervise product distribution.
- Arrange financing for productions.
- Hold auditions for parts or negotiate contracts with actors determined suitable for specific roles.
- Hire principal cast members and crew members, such as art directors, cinematographers, and costume designers.
- Select plays, scripts, books, news content, or ideas to be produced.
Skills
Knowledge
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Abilities
Work Activities
Work Context
How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?
100%
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?
97%
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
95%
Telephone Conversations
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
95%
Frequency of Decision Making
How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
92%
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?
90%
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
88%
Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
How important is it to coordinate or lead others (not as a supervisor or team leader) in accomplishing work activities in this job?
85%
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?
84%
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
84%
Duration of Typical Work Week
Number of hours typically worked in one week.
83%
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
83%
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?
82%
Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers
How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
82%
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
79%
Spend Time Sitting
How much does this job require sitting?
79%
Level of Competition
To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
74%
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?
65%
Physical Proximity
To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?
62%
Conflict Situations
How frequently are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
61%
Written Letters and Memos
How frequently does your job require written letters and memos?
58%
Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
57%
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
47%
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
47%
Public Speaking
How frequently does your job require public speaking (one speaker with an audience)?
43%
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
43%
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
How important are continuous, repetitive, physical activities (like key entry) or mental activities (like checking entries in a ledger) to performing this job?
42%
Consequence of Error
How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?
41%
Health and Safety of Other Workers
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
39%
Spend Time Standing
How much does this job require standing?
35%
Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions
How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
23%
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?
23%
Spend Time Walking or Running
How much does this job require walking or running?
18%
Work Schedules
How regular are the work schedules for this job?
18%
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
17%
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?
16%
Degree of Automation
How automated is the job?
12%
Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
12%
Outdoors, Under Cover
How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (like in an open shed)?
12%
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
12%
Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions
How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?
11%
Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling
How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?
10%
Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People
How frequently does this job require the worker to deal with physical aggression of violent individuals?
8%
Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body
How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
8%
Exposed to Contaminants
How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
7%
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
6%
Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings
How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
6%
Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles
How much does this job require climbing ladders, scaffolds, poles, etc.?
6%
Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance
How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?
6%
Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?
2%
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?
2%
Exposed to High Places
How often does this job require exposure to high places?
1%
Exposed to Disease or Infections
How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
0%
Exposed to Radiation
How often does this job require exposure to radiation?
0%
Exposed to Whole Body Vibration
How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (like operating a jackhammer or earth moving equipment)?
0%
In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment
How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or operating equipment (like a tractor)?
0%
Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection
How often does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?
0%
Education
Bachelor's degree
High school diploma or equivalent
Associate's degree
Interests
Artistic
Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts,
Enterprising
Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertis
Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or hum
Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the f
Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, t
Work Styles
Work Values
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