Producer or Director

Produce or direct stage, television, radio, video, or film productions for entertainment, information, or instruction. Responsible for creative decisions, such as interpretation of script, choice of actors or guests, set design, sound, special effects, and choreography.

On the job, you would:

Plan details such as framing, composition, camera movement, sound, and actor movement for each shot or scene.
Communicate to actors the approach, characterization, and movement needed for each scene in such a way that rehearsals and takes are minimized.
Direct live broadcasts, films and recordings, or non-broadcast programming for public entertainment or education.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Producers and directors must convey information and ideas clearly in order to coordinate many people to finish a production on time and within budget.

Creativity. Because a script may be interpreted in different ways, directors must decide on their approach and on how to represent the script’s ideas for the production.

Decision-making skills. Producers must find and hire, within budget, the best director and crew for the production. Directors must make choices that affect the look and feel of the production.

Leadership skills. Directors instruct actors and help them portray their characters in a believable manner. They also supervise the crew, which is responsible for behind-the-scenes work.

Personality

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Characteristics of this Career
		94%	Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
		94%	Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
		89%	Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
		87%	Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
		85%	Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
		83%	Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
		83%	Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
		80%	Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
		80%	Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
		78%	Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
		78%	Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
		76%	Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
		74%	Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
		74%	Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
		72%	Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
		72%	Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Strengths
		95%	Enterprising - Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.
		83%	Artistic - Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Values of the Work Environment
		89%	Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
		83%	Recognition - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
		81%	Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
		70%	Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
		68%	Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Aptitude

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Abilities \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		88%	Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
		78%	Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
		78%	Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
		75%	Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
		75%	Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
		72%	Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
		69%	Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
		69%	Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
		69%	Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
		69%	Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
		69%	Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
		66%	Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
		66%	Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
		66%	Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
		66%	Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
		66%	Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.
		60%	Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
		53%	Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
		53%	Speed of Closure - The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.
		53%	Time Sharing - The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Skills \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		64%	Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
		63%	Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
		61%	Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
		61%	Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
		61%	Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
		59%	Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
		59%	Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
		57%	Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
		57%	Management of Personnel Resources - Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
		55%	Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
		52%	Management of Financial Resources - Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.
		52%	Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Job Details

Responsibilities

Edit written materials.

Write informational material.

Determine technical requirements of productions or projects.

Coordinate artistic activities.

Direct productions or performances.

Coordinate activities of production personnel.

Study scripts to determine project requirements.

Coordinate activities of production personnel.

Collaborate with others to determine technical details of productions.

Conduct research to inform art, designs, or other work.

Manage content of broadcasts or presentations.

Collaborate with others to prepare or perform artistic productions.

Select materials or props.

Determine technical requirements of productions or projects.

Discuss production content and progress with others.

Compile technical information or documentation.

Coordinate logistics for productions or events.

Direct fundraising or financing activities.

Manage operations of artistic or entertainment departments or organizations.

Coordinate activities of production personnel.

Edit written materials.

Write material for artistic or entertainment purposes.

Negotiate for services.

Edit audio or video recordings.

Determine technical requirements of productions or projects.

Determine presentation subjects or content.

Manage content of broadcasts or presentations.

Obtain copyrights or other legal permissions.

Develop proposals for current or prospective customers.

Develop promotional strategies or plans.

Select staff, team members, or performers.

Negotiate for services.

Audition or interview potential performers or staff members.

Determine presentation subjects or content.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent
		100%	Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
		97%	Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
		95%	Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
		95%	Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
		92%	Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
		90%	Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
		88%	Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
		85%	Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?
		84%	Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
		84%	Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
		83%	Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
		82%	Responsibility for Outcomes and Results - How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
		82%	Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
		78%	Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
		78%	Spend Time Sitting - How much does this job require sitting?
		74%	Level of Competition - To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
		65%	Deal With External Customers - How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?
		62%	Physical Proximity - To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people?
		61%	Frequency of Conflict Situations - How often are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
		58%	Letters and Memos - How often does the job require written letters and memos?
		56%	Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People - How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
		83%	Duration of Typical Work Week - Number of hours typically worked in one week.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Tasks & Values
		92%	Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
		90%	Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
		85%	Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
		81%	Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
		81%	Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
		78%	Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
		77%	Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
		77%	Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
		75%	Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
		74%	Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
		73%	Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
		70%	Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
		69%	Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
		67%	Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
		67%	Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
		66%	Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
		63%	Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
		61%	Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
		60%	Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
		60%	Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
		59%	Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
		58%	Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
		57%	Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
		54%	Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

What Producers and Directors Do

Stage directors make sure the cast and crew give a consistently strong live performance.

Producers and directors make business and creative decisions about, film, television, stage, and other productions. They interpret a writer’s script to entertain, inform, or instruct an audience.

Duties

Producers and directors typically do the following:

Select scripts or topics for a film, television, video, stage, or radio production
Audition and select cast members and the film or stage crew
Approve the design and financial aspects of a production
Oversee the production process, including sound, lighting, and performances
Oversee the postproduction process, including editing, music selection, special effects, and a performance’s overall tone
Ensure that a project stays on schedule and within budget
Promote finished productions or works through advertisements, film festivals, and interviews

Although producers and directors have distinct roles in a production, their work may overlap. For example, directors ultimately answer to producers, but some directors share producing duties for their own films.

Producers make the business and financial decisions for a film, stage production, or TV show. They raise money for the project and hire the director and crew, which may include designers, editors, and other workers. Some producers also assist in the selection of cast members. Producers set the budget and approve any major changes to the project. They make sure that the production is completed on time, and they are ultimately responsible for the final product.

Various producers often share responsibilities on large productions. For example, on a large movie set, an executive producer is in charge of the entire production and a line producer runs the day-to-day operations. A TV show may employ several assistant producers to whom the head or executive producer gives certain duties, such as supervising the costume and makeup teams.

Directors are responsible for the creative decisions of a production. They select cast members, conduct rehearsals, and direct the work of the cast and crew. During rehearsals, they work with the actors to help them portray their characters accurately. For nonfiction video, such as documentaries or live broadcasts, directors choose topics or subjects to film. They research the topic and may interview experts or relevant participants on camera. Directors also work with cinematographers and other crew members to ensure that the final product matches the overall vision.

Directors work with set designers, location scouts, and art directors to build a project’s set. They also work with costume designers to ensure that clothing suits the overall look of the production. During a film’s postproduction phase, they work closely with film editors and music supervisors to make sure that the final product meets the producer’s and director’s vision. Stage directors, unlike television or film directors, who document their product with cameras, make sure that the cast and crew give consistently strong live performances.

As with assistant producers, several assistant directors may work on large productions. Assistant directors help the director with small production tasks, such as making set changes or notifying the performers when it is their time to go onstage. Their specific responsibilities vary with the size and type of production they work on.

For more information about occupations related to producers and directors, see the profiles on actors, writers and authors, film and video editors and camera operators, dancers and choreographers, and multimedia artists and animators.

Work Environment

Producers and directors held about 175,300 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of producers and directors were as follows:

Motion picture and video industries	35%
Media streaming distribution services, social networks, and other media networks and content providers	13
Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries	9
Self-employed workers	8
Television broadcasting stations	7

Producers and directors are often under pressure to finish their work on time. Work assignments may be short, ranging from 1 day to a few months. They sometimes must work in unpleasant conditions, such as bad weather.

Theater directors and producers may travel with a touring show across the country, while those in film and television may work on location (a site away from the studio and where all or part of the filming occurs).

Work Schedules

Workdays for producers and directors may be long and irregular. Many do not have a standard workweek, because their schedules may change with each assignment or project. Evening, weekend, and holiday work is common. Most producers and directors work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.

Getting Started

Education:

57%

Bachelor's Degree

15%

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

How to Become a Producer or Director

Producers and directors ensure that a project stays on schedule and within budget.

Producers and directors typically have a bachelor’s degree. They also typically need several years of experience working on set in film, TV, stage, or other productions in positions such as actors, cinematographers, or film and video editors or in related occupations, such as theater managers.

Education

Producers and directors typically need a bachelor's degree in film or cinema studies or a related field, such as arts management, business, communications technology, or theater. In film or cinema studies programs, students learn about film history, editing, screenwriting, cinematography, and the filmmaking process.

Stage directors may complete a degree in theater, and some go on to earn a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree. Courses may include directing, playwriting, set design, and acting.

Work Experience in a Related Occupation

Producers and directors might start out working in theatrical management offices as business or company managers. In television or film, they may begin as assistants or in other low-profile studio jobs. They may also participate in internships that provide opportunities to work alongside producers and directors. For more information, see the profile on film and video editors and camera operators.

Advancement

As a producer’s or director’s reputation grows, he or she may work on increasingly large, challenging, and expensive projects that attract publicity.

Job Outlook

Employment of producers and directors is projected to grow 7 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.

About 16,000 openings for producers and directors are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

The volume of TV shows is expected to grow as the number of online-only platforms, such as streaming services, increases along with the number of shows produced for these platforms. This growth should lead to more opportunities for producers and directors.

Demand for theater producers and directors will depend on funding availability. If there is a steady revenue stream, these workers may be in high demand. However, opportunities for theater producers and directors may be limited in theaters with funding challenges.

Contacts for More Information

For more information about producers and directors, visit

Directors Guild of America

Producers Guild of America

National Association of Schools of Theatre

National Endowment for the Arts

Similar Occupations

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of producers and directors.

Occupation	Job Duties	Entry-Level Education	Median Annual Pay, May 2022
Actors	Actors express ideas and portray characters in theater, film, television, and other performing arts media.	Some college, no degree	The annual wage is not available.
Art Directors	Art directors are responsible for the visual style and images in magazines, newspapers, product packaging, and movie and television productions.	Bachelor's degree	$105,180
Dancers and Choreographers	Dancers and choreographers use dance performances to express ideas and stories.	See How to Become One	The annual wage is not available.
Film and Video Editors and Camera Operators	Film and video editors and camera operators manipulate moving images that entertain or inform an audience.	Bachelor's degree	$62,420
Special Effects Artists and Animators	Special effects artists and animators create images that appear to move and visual effects for various forms of media and entertainment.	Bachelor's degree	$98,950
Top Executives	Top executives plan strategies and policies to ensure that an organization meets its goals.	Bachelor's degree	$100,090
Writers and Authors	Writers and authors develop written content for various types of media.	Bachelor's degree	$73,150

Producer or Director

What they do:

On the job, you would:

Important Qualities

Personality

Characteristics of this Career

Strengths

Values of the Work Environment

Aptitude

Abilities | Cognitive, Physical, Personality

Skills | Cognitive, Physical, Personality

Job Details

Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent

Tasks & Values

What Producers and Directors Do

Duties

Work Environment

Work Schedules

Getting Started

How to Become a Producer or Director

Education

Work Experience in a Related Occupation

Advancement

Job Outlook

Employment

Contacts for More Information

Similar Occupations