Placement Overview

This placement is a freelance Television Director who is currently contracted to the BBC. They specialise in directing television dramas including the popular daytime TV drama - Doctors.

Generic Job Description for a Television Director

Television Directors work in the television, film and video industries. They are responsible for making the creative decisions on broadcast projects.

Television Directors work alongside the crew and cast of a television production, including the producer who is often the person responsible for creating the initial idea for the production. The Directors job is to communicate with the cast and crew on set to compose the look of each shot.

Their duties include developing storyboards prior to the start of shooting, casting actors and making decisions about locations and design.

Skills:

• Artistic vision
• Good communication skills
• Creativity
• A broad knowledge of the television industry
• Decision making skills
• An understanding of television technologies

Pay:

• Entry £18,000
• £30,000 - £50,000 for an independent production
• £200,000 or more with experience, working on a high budget production 

Please not that salary figures are a guide only. Actual salaries may vary depending on the organisation and geographical location

Hours:

• Long and unsocial hours are common
• Working late into the night is often required in order to finish a project on time
• Some Television Directors work shifts

Environment:

• Locations can vary greatly and could be indoors or outdoors
• Filming in extreme conditions is often necessary for certain types of production
• Travel to locations is common 

Qualifications:

• Degree or HND qualifications are normally necessary
• Degrees are available in media studies, broadcasting and related subjects
• Most degree courses require five GCSE passes grades A-C plus two A-Levels

Training:

• Experience in the Television industry is essential
• Training to develop skills is normally on-the-job
• Training schemes for specific skills are available broadcast companies such as the BBC

Opportunities:

• There are around £14,000 employed Television Directors in the UK
• Opportunities exist in broadcast companies of all sizes from small independent production companies to large multinational broadcast companies
• There are many opportunities to work abroad with experience
• Opportunities are concentrated around large cities, particularly London

Links:

www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk - The UK Film Council

www.bbc.co.uk/newtalent - BBC Recruitment

www.bfi.org.uk - British Film Institute