So What Do Film Directors *Actually* Do?

I'm going to share my top 5 skills that come into play for me when directing unscripted films and real-life sports documentary series with A-list celebrities, production companies, and streaming platforms.

5 Skills To Direct Like A Pro

1. Creative Vision and style

My job as a documentary director is to establish the story and vision for a film or series. 

For every project I work on, no matter how big or small, I start by writing a creative treatment.

The creative treatment is my North Star. 

It serves as a roadmap that makes the filmmaking process easier to navigate for myself, my crew, and my clients.

Here's what I typically include in my creative treatments:

• Title page
• Logline & synopsis
• Cast & descriptions
• Stakes & Story Arcs
• Themes & tone
• Look & feel 
• References & mood boards

If you don't know where to start, I would recommend using Canva.

Search "film & TV treatment" to find thousands of starter options there.

Be aware that you should customize and personalize templates and pages beyond what's given to you.

Once you develop your own creative process and style, you will be able to create your own treatment templates.

By figuring out how to communicate your vision on paper, you will reach a deeper understanding of what you need to tell your story on screen.

2. Storytelling approach 

The storytelling approach is arguably the most important part of my process.

Carrying out this approach is determined by my core team.

Who is going to help me tell the story in the most authentic and nuanced way?

I always try to select a producer, cinematographer, and editor who are aligned with my vision and share similar values.

But I don't bring people on purely based on their passion. 

I look for collaborators who can also do the following:

• Provide a relevant body of work 
• Execute on what they say they can
• Contribute the necessary skills that complement mine

I'm very selective about who I work with because the success of my entire project hinges on the strength of my team.

3. Casting and interviewing

In documentary and unscripted film & TV, casting is everything.

Here are the top things I look for when casting for a documentary or film & TV series:

• A compelling and relevant story
• The ability to communicate that story on camera
• Someone who is in an active pursuit of a goal 
• Real-life stakes 

Once I find the right fit, I try to spend as much time as possible getting to know my subject or cast before any cameras are turned on.

Getting to know your subjects can clarify and inform the direction of your film or series.

It can also make shooting more seamless and the end product feel more natural.

Take notes as you learn and write specific questions based on these initial conversations.

The backbone of your film will be built off of interviews. 

More on how I craft and conduct interviews in a future newsletter!

4. Editing direction

When a director doesn't understand editing, the editor becomes the director.

Don't just hand your editor hours of footage and expect them to create the story for you.

As a director, having proficiency in editing has set me apart. 

I like to have as close of a relationship with my editor as I do with my cinematographer or producer.

Editing knowledge has allowed me to:

• Shoot more thoughtfully in the field
• Prevent undershooting or overshooting
• Provide realistic feedback under reasonable timelines
• Build a good reputation

Here are the minimum base materials I provide my editor before diving into post production:

• Raw footage on a hard drive, ideally labeled and organized by an assistant editor 
• Director interview selects + timecode color coded by topic
• General story structure + scene work
• Editing milestones + timeline 

5. Adaptability

Filmmaking is unpredictable.

And your initial ideas and concepts won't always come to fruition.

So expect the unexpected.

Being adaptable is a non-negotiable skill for success in documentary and unscripted filmmaking.

I often slightly diverge from my creative treatment, throw away interview questions, and have to make decisions on the fly. 

Stay flexible as new information is learned.

It takes time to cultivate confidence when going off-script, so give yourself some time.

Comfortability in the unknown will come with experience.

Action Steps & Summary

Here are the 5 skillsets that have set me apart as a director:

1. Creative vision and style

2. Storytelling approach

3. Casting and interviewing

4. Editing direction

5. Adaptability