What sort of qualifications do you need to become a film director?

Question

I wanna work in the film department...you know writing scripts and being a director!!!But the prob is my parents won't take me sereiously...and..there arn't any good film schools in Sri lanka...also to work abroad you'll have to have some sorta expereince right?Like you'll have to at least direct a high school drama or something right?But I didn't get any of the oppertunities!I am sitting for my ordinary level exams at the end of this year...and I don't wanna end up going to med school!!!

Answer 1

As you are from Sri Lanka you will find getting into the film industry very tough.

If you want to stand even the slightest chance you will need to relocate to a country with a bigger film industry, such as the United States. To get into film school you will need some experience first and so I suggest enrolling onto a short eight week course at the New York film acadamy. Their alumni includes Spielberg's son, Max. The academy is not that expensive either, about $8,000 for eight weeks.

By the end of your tuition you will have a short 10 minute film to impress a film school selection panel if you decide to go for further education. The alternative option is to find part time work on independant shorts. This work is mostly volunteer so expect to be paid in food, if you're lucky. See http://www.mandy.com

Only a handful of people started out as directors, you will need to begin small and work your way up the career ladder. e.g. runner, assistant, ect. Don't rule out television either. Many directors including Spielberg got their first break on TV, and television is fantastic way of sharpening your claws and meeting new contacts.

Or if you have the money you can direct a low budget film yourself and hope that it will be successful enough for the top guys to take notice of you.. E.g. Christopher Nolan, (Batman begins director), David Lynch, etc

Considering the competition, becoming a film director is enormously difficult and it might take you 20 years before you direct your first feature length film. My friend took 12 years; he was lucky!

Answer 2

I'm sorry I don't know more about Sri Lanka or its film buisness.

The Directors' Guild of America has a DGA trainee program that is hard to get into but wonderful.

Answer 3

For a Script author, you elect Radio and action picture writing classes. For action picture Director, you elect Radio/television/action picture direction/Communications classes. Northwestern college of Communications is taken under consideration one of the terrific in the rustic. David Schwimmer, John and Joan Cusack, James and John Belushi, Harrison Ford, Megan Mulally...and various greater...all hail from Northwestern!!!

Answer 4

go to a film school, start with commercials, music videos and write your own awsome script. good luck.