Occupation · SOC 27-2012
Producers and Directors
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.
Median wage
$83,480
$43,060–$198,530
Projected growth
+4.9%
Average growth
Annual openings
830
per year
Employed (US)
145,270
Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
932 mapped
Core skills
Active ListeningCritical ThinkingMonitoringReading ComprehensionSpeakingSocial PerceptivenessCoordinationWriting
Knowledge areas
Communications and MediaEnglish LanguageTelecommunicationsComputers and ElectronicsAdministration and Management
Technology & tools
Document management softwareDevelopment environment softwareVideo creation and editing softwareMusic or sound editing softwareGraphics or photo imaging software
Representative tasks
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.Research production topics using the internet, video archives, and other informational sources.Review film, recordings, or rehearsals to ensure conformance to production and broadcast standards.Study and research scripts to determine how they should be directed.Supervise and coordinate the work of camera, lighting, design, and sound crew members.Confer with technical directors, managers, crew members, and writers to discuss details of production, such as photography, script, music, sets, and costumes.Perform management activities, such as budgeting, scheduling, planning, and marketing.Consult with writers, producers, or actors about script changes or "workshop" scripts, through rehearsal with writers and actors to create final drafts.Identify and approve equipment and elements required for productions, such as scenery, lights, props, costumes, choreography, and music.Establish pace of programs and sequences of scenes according to time requirements and cast and set accessibility.Conduct meetings with staff to discuss production progress and to ensure production objectives are attained.Compile scripts, program notes, and other material related to productions.Resolve personnel problems that arise during the production process by acting as liaisons between dissenting parties when necessary.Coordinate the activities of writers, directors, managers, and other personnel throughout the production process.Obtain rights to scripts or to such items as existing video footage.Write and submit proposals to bid on contracts for projects.Compose and edit scripts or provide screenwriters with story outlines from which scripts can be written.Cut and edit film or tape to integrate component parts into desired sequences.Write and edit news stories from information collected by reporters and other sources.Choose settings and locations for films and determine how scenes will be shot in these settings.Review film daily to check on work in progress and to plan for future filming.Negotiate with parties, including independent producers and the distributors and broadcasters who will be handling completed productions.Perform administrative duties, such as preparing operational reports, distributing rehearsal call sheets and script copies, and arranging for rehearsal quarters.Develop marketing plans for finished products, collaborating with sales associates to supervise product distribution.Arrange financing for productions.Hire principal cast members and crew members, such as art directors, cinematographers, and costume designers.Hold auditions for parts or negotiate contracts with actors determined suitable for specific roles.Select plays, scripts, books, news content, or ideas to be produced.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Script research tasks — conduct using internet archives and informational databases under supervisor guidance on an entry-level production team.Shot composition basics — identify and apply framing and camera placement principles under direct direction on a supervised set.Production standards documentation — review filmed takes or recordings to check basic conformance under the guidance of a senior director.Actor direction fundamentals — observe and assist in communicating characterization and movement notes during supervised rehearsals.Crew coordination support — assist in scheduling and relaying instructions to camera, lighting, and sound personnel on a small production.Production meetings — participate in and document discussion outcomes covering script, sets, and costumes under senior staff oversight.Video editing software — operate basic functions of video creation and editing tools to assist with rough-cut assembly on a production project.Live broadcast assistance — monitor cues and support technical execution during a live broadcast under the direction of an experienced producer.Time management routines — track daily production schedules and flag deadline risks to a supervising producer on an active shoot.Research synthesis — compile background material on production topics from video archives and online sources for review by senior creative staff.
developing
Shot planning documentation — develop detailed framing, composition, and camera movement plans for individual scenes on a mid-sized production.Actor briefing sessions — conduct pre-rehearsal direction meetings to communicate characterization and movement with reduced supervisory oversight.Recorded content review — evaluate film and audio recordings against established broadcast standards and recommend corrective actions independently.Script analysis — study and annotate scripts to develop directorial approach and scene-by-scene movement plans for a recurring production format.Crew supervision — coordinate daily work assignments for camera, lighting, design, and sound crew on a television or independent film production.Production conferencing — lead focused discussions with writers, technical directors, and managers on photography, music, and set requirements.Project management software — use scheduling and task-tracking tools to manage production milestones and resource allocation across a multi-week shoot.Non-broadcast programming — direct recorded educational or corporate content from pre-production through final delivery with moderate oversight.Sound and music coordination — collaborate with sound editors using music and audio editing software to align audio elements with picture on a project.Stakeholder communication — draft production briefs and status reports for clients or network executives using clear professional writing standards.
proficient
Full-scope shot direction — autonomously plan and execute framing, composition, sound design, and actor movement for every scene across a feature or series.Complex actor direction — guide cast through nuanced characterization and blocking adjustments in real time to minimize takes on a high-pressure set.Live broadcast direction — independently direct multi-camera live broadcasts, managing technical and creative elements simultaneously under broadcast conditions.Non-routine script challenges — analyze and resolve ambiguous or structurally complex scripts to develop a coherent directorial vision for a full production.Cross-department production oversight — supervise and integrate the work of camera, lighting, design, and sound departments across the full production lifecycle.Creative-technical conferencing — lead comprehensive pre-production and production meetings synthesizing input from writers, crew, and technical directors into actionable plans.Broadcast standards compliance — establish and enforce quality review processes for all film, recordings, and rehearsals against network or platform delivery specifications.Advanced post-production tools — utilize video creation, graphics imaging, and desktop publishing software to oversee final deliverable quality and presentation.Budget and resource judgment — apply systems analysis and decision-making to allocate production resources, resolve scheduling conflicts, and manage cost variances.Talent and crew negotiation — independently negotiate contracts, creative agreements, and scheduling arrangements with agents, unions, and production partners.
advanced
Production vision leadership — define and champion the creative and strategic direction of an entire production slate across a studio, network, or production company.Organizational talent development — mentor and formally develop emerging directors and producers, establishing career pathways and performance standards across a department.Enterprise production systems — design and evaluate end-to-end production workflows, integrating cloud-based collaboration platforms and project management systems at organizational scale.Cross-platform content strategy — lead development of broadcast, streaming, and non-broadcast programming strategies aligned to audience and business objectives.Executive stakeholder communication — represent the production organization to network executives, financiers, and distribution partners, translating creative vision into commercial terms.Industry standards governance — establish and promulgate production quality and compliance standards that define best practices across teams and partner organizations.Complex problem resolution authority — resolve high-stakes creative, logistical, and personnel crises on major productions, drawing on broad experience and systems-level judgment.Large-scale crew leadership — direct and evaluate the performance of large, multi-discipline production teams, applying personnel management frameworks to sustain excellence.Innovative format development — pioneer new storytelling formats, production technologies, and audience engagement models that advance the organization's competitive position.Strategic negotiation leadership — lead high-value negotiations with studios, unions, talent agencies, and technology vendors to secure resources and partnerships at the organizational level.
Also known as
186 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
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