JOB

Director

Directors are responsible for the analysis, conceptual work and artistic presentation of the projects they manage at any given time. In addition, the director’s job involves making work plans and cost estimates, managing rehearsals, ensuring actors have challenging tasks to deal with and coordinating the work of everyone involved.

Directors work in theaters, films and production of radio and television material, in collaboration with designers and other artistic directors, producers and editors.

Main tasks

• choosing a script and making it ready for performance in collaboration with co-authors
• organizing and managing auditions and selecting for roles
• organizing production processes in collaboration with producers
• overseeing the interplay of artistic elements such as set design, costumes, props, lighting, effects, music, prostheses, dance and stage performances
• overseeing post-production, such as editing, special effects and music selection
• ensuring that time and budget plans are met

Competence requirements

As a director, you need to have artistic talents to create and be able to share the responsibility of a work with a group of co-authors. It is important to be able to bring out the creative joy and imaginative powers of colleagues as well as having planning skills. Good leadership and communication skills are also desirable traits, as well as being motivating and showing initiative. A director needs to be able to think in solutions and to make decisions quickly and decisively.

Study

Iceland does not offer accredited studies in directing, neither for stage, films nor television. The Iceland Academy of the Arts offers a three-year BA study program for actors, as well as a BA study program for stage authors and a BA in contemporary dance. All of these tracks are useful preparation for directing jobs. The Icelandic Film School also offers a study program in screenwriting and directing.

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