r/directors

In a film where clearly hearing the dialogue is make or break for how someone will understand the films story, I have two question categories.

1. Regarding audio, what should the ratio be? Absolutely no background noise, only dialogue? Or a little background noise mixed in?

2. Regarding actors, should they be directed to speak as clearly as possible ? Or is that bad directing advice that could harm their performances overall?

Thank you.

I’ve seen many successful directors say that they never went to film school, yet they still became amazing directors. In one interview, a director even said, “Don’t go to film school if you want to be a director. Instead, go to a design school."

So now I’m confused — what’s actually the best way to become a director? Should I go to film school or design school? Guys, help me out.

Im panicking a bit as to whether I went too far in this situation. Im 17F. In a youth theatre group. We are doing a production currently and only people in a certain part of the show were being used for like an hour of rehearsal.

The rest of us were in a room unsupervised. The little kids were being very loud. Im usually great with kids but a 14 year old girl was getting really stressed out by the little kids. She started crying and saying she just wants them to shut up and was shouting at them to shut up. I tried to deescalate the situation and said. “Guys it’s ok to talk please just don’t be too loud as [girl] has a headache. Shes not feeling very well.” Some of the little kids then started teasing her and purposely annoying her.

She was getting more angry and started cussing at them. I said “Don’t swear at the kids. Do you need to go to the bathroom to calm down?” I also told the kids “knock it off shes very upset she shouldn’t have sweared. She feels sick though leave her alone.”

The girl wouldn’t back down though and purposely started saying inappropriate things. I said “seriously stop. Theyre little kids.” Some of the little kids understood what she was saying and started explaining it to other kids and I said “see that one knew what you meant. Seriously take 5 minutes.”

But she started shouting at them saying theyre annoying and should’ve been swallowed. Again which some of them understood.

The little kids ended up leaving her alone after I said again to leave her alone. But these two kids started play fighting really loudly and aggressively. The girl started losing it at them. I told them to not play fight it’s dangerous and stressing her out.

They stopped for a little bit and did it again. I told them again to knock it off. They again started play fighting again this time really aggressively. Like one kid hit his head pretty hard yet kept going. And this other little kid who wasnt a part of the play fight was getting upset too because she almost got hit in the mix of it.

This time I broke up the fight. I told them to stay away from each other and one of them said im being bossy and theyre just playing. I said they could get hurt for real though and the other girl almost got hurt and the 14 year old is getting annoyed.

He started sulking. I said you can still play just don’t play aggressive. But he was very upset at me.

That was a few days ago. Today my mother got a call asking to have a meeting with me. The parents of that kid complained that I was saying inappropriate things around him (I didn’t that was the 14 year old) and that I hit him (I didn’t hit him I was just trying to break up the fight.)

I am usually really good with kids I’m usually chill but I didn’t know what to do because I didn’t want them or other kids to get hurt and the 14 year old to say even worse things.

Im really scared about getting kicked out of the group or in trouble. I don’t know what to do. Does anyone have any advice. What would have been a better way to go about this? And what do I tell the director and owner?

My first-ever short film, released yesterday! Coming from a background in illustration, this means a lot. Hope you like it and am definitely open for any feedback!

Movie opens to the ink spots if I didn't care. Then it shows from the side of the bed looking at a child lieing down. The mother peeks her head through the door saying goodnight. The boy returns the comment and as he lays his head down on the pillow toward the camera we get a brief look at his face. Then the camera descends done to where we pass to the bottom of the bed and it goes black. We then continue to go down and up come a starting scene of an old town 1940's - 1960's which starts in a yellow-ee kind of black and white colour pallette. The camera then settles above the floor to where it would be shoulder height with passer bys. Then we see a distinct man pass us by. We don't yet know why he is so distinct but know he is of importance. We then go to a higher up angle but the man is walking parallel to the camera but he starts at a far distance so we pan from left to right with him. We do not see the character as he has a hat on with a suit and suitcase in hand. Being gripped as if the contents inside are too important to lose. We then get a look at the man as he sits down on a bench outside a shop under a canopy, Leg shaking violently under the bried case. We slowly pan up to the man who looks almost worried. UNFILLED DONT KNOW WHAT TO PUT DOWN YET. LATER -> We see him look into the camera while he sits on a stool surrounded by others. But it's not as if he's looking at us but something in the distance. We then see him open the case slightly. Something happens, the music ends briefly until the case shuts violently. The music replays again as we see the music is faded into playing from a record. But while he opened the case we see a slight change in the character, a bit of colour. We then see him at almost knee height, as he leaves the bar in a haste with out back to him as he leaves through the door. The camera lingers a little longer then it should, as if to show us that there is something else to be seen. This is when another person enters the frams but they walk across the screen. We don't yet know who but again there is that sense of importance which passes with here. Maybe a small bit of red colour in her shoes. The music then fades and the scene ends, the screen going to black. MORE TO COME.