r/directors

Hi! I run a film YouTube channel and am conducting a poll on who the most overrated director of all time is. Here's my guidelines:

What movie director do YOU think is the most overrated by critics and/or audiences of all time? Only type one director, just their name. For example, if think it's Christopher Nolan, just type "Christopher Nolan" with their first and last name capitalized. It helps me sort things much easier that way and makes compiling the results much easier. Thank you!

Link to the poll here. Leave your more in-depth thoughts here.

Had some really great reception here to the trailer and if anyone wants to see the film its available here

I'm a beginning filmmaker and this isn't a really big concern but in the future when I plan to direct feature films, is there a way to find volunteer work or should I find a producer, or use some kind of funding service?

Hello everyone,

I went to school with the goal of becoming a writer/director, but suffered an injury that limited my mobility and ability to be on set which made me primarily focused on screenwriting. As I near the end of my recovery, I have wanted to step back into directing. I recently moved to LA from the Midwest, and wanted to know if anyone had advice on finding work or seeking directing roles if my reel is primarily made up of student films. Let me know if this reel “sizzles” enough to gain traction for micro-budget (or even no-budget) short film and proof of concept work, or if my focus should be on writing and putting a project of my own together.

Thanks!

I’m developing my first feature right now. It’s deliberately contained and dialogue/character-driven, and I’ve been designing it around what I could realistically produce rather than writing something that requires a massive budget.
My current goal is to have roughly $40K available, although I think the film could potentially be made closer to $25–30K if necessary.
The biggest obstacle is simply financing. I’m currently self-funding it through work and saving consistently, and I’m prepared to continue doing that. But obviously, saving $30–40K entirely through ordinary income is a long road.
For people who have actually produced a feature in roughly this budget range: where did the money ultimately come from?
Did you self-finance most of it? Find one or two private investors? Combine savings with crowdfunding? Bring on producers later? Get grants? Did having the first $5K/$10K/$20K already committed make it easier to raise the remainder?

Hi, I’m an animation student, and I’m thinking of trying filmmaking as well. Being an animation student has made me realise that I care more about the stories and concepts than the animation itself. I enjoy it, but honestly, I don’t really care about the medium, and I’m thinking of trying filmmaking as well, just to explore and see where it takes me.

But my real question is: can I do directing while also being a story writer? I’ve seen a lot of amazing directors doing that, but whenever I talk to an expert about it, they’re always like, “These are two different things,” and because of that, I’m not really sure how to proceed from here.

What exact steps should I take from here if I want to achieve something like that? I have a lot of concepts, and I’d really like to work on them.

Hi my name is Malcolm Kewa I am a screenplay writer from Papua New Guinea.

I picked up writing in 2024 aside from my 9 to 5 job as an IT Systems Analyst.

I write in all genres from series to feature films.

I have posted my work on social media under my brand 31st Scripts, please see the link attached to my Instagram page called 31st Scripts

Any writers want to collaborate I would be more than happy to discuss further, DM or email thirtyfirstscripts@gmail.com and let me know if any production company representatives or producers

No Film School with a nice write up about the Ouray Film Sabbatical, including the 2027 Facilitators. Applications open through October 5.

Hello!!

I just wanted to ask how does one go about pitching a film to a big production company with the intention of personally directing the film? I have looked into indie production companies but the thing is, the film I am making/ building is such a very galactic film. I am not joking. I don’t think An indie production company could actually execute it in the same way a big budget would? I could be very wrong though!!

But the film I wrote, its genre is dystopian horror if that helps with anything? It’s very detailed and I’ve put my heart and soul into it. I’ve spoken to professors and scientists to help with the world that I am building to make it all make sense for I have this unnerving need to make everything logical.

I have read countless of threads, both my friend and I and it seems the one thing that keeps popping up but it’s my first time hearing of is an agent? But not like an actor agent, but an agent who will submit your script to these producers.

I know it seems rather unrealistic, but my wish is to make my films early in my twenties rather than wait till I’m older lol. I think we need more young filmmakers.

​

I recently rewatched 12 Angry Men and am always blown away by how a movie set entirely in one room with just people talking can be more thrilling than a multi-million dollar action film.I want to discuss how writers and directors maintain pacing and high stakes without changing locations or relying on visual spectacles. What are the key cinematic techniques used to make a single-room setting feel dynamic rather than stale?

I'm from West Bengal and my dream is to become a film director, preferably in the Tamil film industry (Kollywood). I couldn't attend an expensive film school, so I'm planning to start by making short films, learning screenwriting, directing, and editing on my own while building a portfolio.

Is this a realistic path? Has anyone here become a director without film school? What should my first 3–5 years look like, and what mistakes should I avoid?