Producers and Directors
Producers and Directors is the O*NET name for people who produce or direct stage, television, radio, video, or film productions for entertainment, information, or instruction. The skills rated most useful are active listening, speaking, and reading comprehension. The job can ask you to plan details such as framing, composition, camera movement, sound, and actor movement for each shot or scene. Interest ratings put Artistic on top at 6.1 out of 7 and Enterprising second, so the code is AEC and the day leans toward creative work with room for original expression. Getting in usually takes a bachelor’s degree plus a period of work experience, a level O*NET calls considerable preparation. If you want creative work with room for original expression, keep it on your list. If you need hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world, it may feel thin.
What they do
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.
Main 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.
- Review film, recordings, or rehearsals to ensure conformance to production and broadcast standards.
- Study and research scripts to determine how they should be directed.
Skills
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Social Perceptiveness
Who this career fits
May suit you if
- You want room to make something in your own way.
- You like taking the lead and making the call.
- You are ready to spend around four years on a degree, then build experience.
- You are comfortable relying on active listening and speaking.
May not suit you if
- You prefer clear instructions to open creative briefs.
- You want to work with your hands for most of the day. Realistic rates 2.1 out of 7 here.
- You want to avoid a four-year degree or its equivalent.
Interest profile
O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code AEC takes the three highest, and Artistic comes first here.
Preparation
Considerable preparation. Most jobs here ask for a bachelor’s degree, and employers usually expect a few years of related experience as well.
Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Bachelor's Degree. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.
Also called
- Artistic Director
- Director
- Executive Producer
- Multimedia Producer
- News Producer
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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.