Producers and Directors
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
Studies the script and other source material, then plans each scene: framing, camera or stage movement, sound, and what actors should do. Those choices get explained to performers so takes and rehearsals stay focused. The same person also oversees camera, lighting, design, and sound crews, and sits with writers and technical staff to settle sets, costumes, music, and photography. Live broadcasts, films, and recorded programs all get reviewed against production standards before they go out. Suits people who like making detailed creative calls, coordinating many crews at once, and checking finished work against a plan.
Typical education: Bachelor’s Degree (4-year)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$90'360
Median Wage Market Position
$90'360
What you might do
- Study scripts to decide how each scene should play
- Plan shots, camera moves, sound, and actor movement
- Direct films, live broadcasts, or recorded programs
- Guide actors on character, movement, and scene approach
- Coordinate camera, lighting, design, and sound crews
- Review footage and rehearsals against production standards
Skills that matter
- Planning framing, sound, and actor movement
- Telling actors how to play a scene
- Studying scripts to decide the approach
- Coordinating camera, lighting, and sound crews
- Reviewing rehearsals and recorded takes
- Researching how a script should be directed
AI & the future of this role
Script drafting, editing assistance, and previsualization tools may speed parts of the pipeline and pressure mid-level creative coordination. Final taste, stakeholder negotiation, and on-set leadership still count, though the role looks somewhat exposed overall.
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Related careers
Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details