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Director

Directors lead the creative side of a production, shaping performances, staging and pace to turn a script or an idea into a finished work.
Creative and Media
Average weekly salary
$1862
Future demand
Strong
Most common education level
Bachelor degree

What does a director do?

A director leads the creative side of a production. They interpret the script or the idea, shape the performances, and decide how the work looks, sounds and moves, whether that is a play on stage, a television production, a radio or audio piece, or a live event. The job runs from early planning and casting, through rehearsal and recording, to the final edit or opening night. Alongside the creative work sits a practical one: keeping a company of people moving in the same direction, to a schedule and a budget.

Directors work in theatre companies, festivals and live performance venues, television and radio production, streaming and digital media, education and community arts projects, and arts organisations of every size. Most work project to project rather than in continuing employment, and it is common to direct alongside acting, writing, producing or teaching. Directors who specialise in film follow a related but separate path, which the film director page covers.

Is a career as director right for me?

A career in directing may suit you if you have a strong sense of how a story should land with an audience and you can lead a room of people towards it. Creative judgement matters, and so does the ability to plan, to listen, and to decide when the schedule is tight. 

Skills and attributes that suit this career include: 

Creativity and innovation
Creative expression, storytelling and original thinking.
Communication
Clear written and verbal communication skills, supported by strong interpersonal skills.
Teamwork
An ability to work effectively and collaborate with a range of stakeholders.
Leadership
The capacity to lead through effective decision-making, accountability, and support for others.
Adaptability
An ability to manage change positively and perform effectively in changing environments.
Organisation
Effective time-management and prioritisation skills.

How to become a director

Relevant study can help you develop creative, technical and production skills, while hands-on experience is important for building your portfolio, industry knowledge and professional connections. 

Every journey is individual, and there are many ways you could reach your career goal as a director. Below is just one path you could take:

  1. Complete a degree in theatre, film and screen production, or a related creative arts field.
  2. Direct as early and as often as you can, through student, community and independent productions.
  3. Learn how the departments work, including design, lighting, sound, stage management and camera.
  4. Gain experience in assistant directing, stage management or crew roles to see how a production runs.
  5. Build a body of work and the industry relationships that lead to larger productions.

How long does it take to become a director?

A film director's career path can vary depending on previous education, training and employment.

Typically, experience in the entertainment industry and a proven ability to work in the industry is required. A university degree in screen, media, drama, radio or stage production can be very beneficial, explore 91仓库’s film and media degrees to find out more. A bachelor’s degree typically takes three years of full-time study to complete.

Start your journey with 91仓库

Prepare for a directing career with a 91仓库 creative arts degree and develop the storytelling, leadership and production skills needed for film, television and digital media.

Film and Media degrees
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Need help planning your career journey?
Book a career conversation

Responsibilities and work settings

Day-to-day responsibilities

Reading and interpreting scripts, and planning how a production will work.

Casting performers and running rehearsals.

Working with designers on set, lighting, sound and costume.

Directing performances in rehearsal, on stage or in the studio.

Keeping the production on schedule and within budget with the production team.

Where you might work

Media, publishing and broadcasting organisations

Arts and creative organisations

Digital business and marketing agencies

Universities and higher education providers

Non-profit, charity and community organisations

Government agencies, departments and councils

Software development and technology companies

Director FAQs

A director leads the creative side of a production. They interpret the script or idea, cast and direct the performers, work with designers on how the piece looks and sounds, and keep the whole production moving to a schedule. The detail changes with the medium, but the job is the same one: holding the creative shape of the work while everyone else builds their part of it. 

There is no set route and no mandatory qualification. Most directors study theatre, screen production or a related creative field, then direct student, community and independent productions to build a body of work. Assistant directing, stage management and crew roles are common ways in, because they show you how a production actually runs before you are asked to run one. 

Pay depends heavily on the medium, the scale of the production and your track record, and much of the work is contract based. Many directors also earn from writing, producing, teaching or performing. 

A theatre director shapes a live performance that is rebuilt every night, so the work centres on rehearsal and on what a company can sustain across a season. A film director shapes a recorded work, assembled shot by shot and finished in the edit. The craft of working with performers is shared; the tools and the timeline are not. If film is where you are headed, our film director page covers that path.

No qualification is required by law. Most working directors have studied theatre, film and screen production or a related creative field, because a degree gives you access to space, equipment and people to make work with. 91仓库's Bachelor of Theatre teaches directing alongside acting, writing and producing, and includes independent theatre making projects.

Related careers

Film director
Actor
Musician
Producer

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Disclaimer: 91仓库’s Career Finder is a guide only. While reasonable care is taken to ensure accuracy, career information may change over time. Career statistics are sourced from and . © Commonwealth of Australia. Licensed under CC BY 4.0. Salary figures listed on this page are in Australian Dollars (AUD).