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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.
Other titles employers use
Artistic Director · Director · Executive Producer · Multimedia Producer · News Producer · Producer · Production Director · Radio Producer
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to creative, persuading and organizing work.
- Creative
- Making, designing, writing, or performing without one set answer
- Persuading
- Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Social Perceptiveness
Subjects to know
- Communications and Media
- English Language
- Telecommunications
- Computers and Electronics
- Administration and Management
Useful strengths
- Oral Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Deductive Reasoning
- Problem Sensitivity
- Speech Clarity
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.5 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 2.4 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.6 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 2.9 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a bachelor's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A four-year degree 57%
- High school or less 15%
- A certificate or some college 15%
- A two-year degree 13%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Web platform development software
- Project management software
- Video creation and editing software
- Web page creation and editing software
- Cloud-based data access and sharing software
- Word processing software
- Office suite software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 55,700
- Job openings each year
- 4,790
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 8.4%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 55,700 | 4,790 | 8.4% |
| New York | 34,930 | 0 | — |
| Texas | 9,320 | 810 | 9.3% |
| Florida | 8,950 | 790 | 12.2% |
| Georgia | 4,740 | 420 | 14.8% |
| Pennsylvania | 4,510 | 380 | 5.4% |
| Colorado | 4,080 | 350 | 6.3% |
| New Jersey | 3,650 | 310 | 3.7% |
| Illinois | 3,520 | 300 | 8.3% |
| North Carolina | 3,510 | 310 | 9.3% |
| Washington | 3,300 | 350 | 16.6% |
| District of Columbia | 3,070 | 260 | 5.1% |
| Virginia | 3,070 | 260 | 4.8% |
| Connecticut | 2,780 | 250 | 18.3% |
| Michigan | 2,750 | 230 | 2.6% |
| Maryland | 2,700 | 230 | 5.9% |
| Ohio | 2,320 | 190 | — |
| Tennessee | 1,980 | 190 | 26.9% |
| Oregon | 1,900 | 170 | 13.1% |
| Missouri | 1,820 | 150 | 1.7% |
| Massachusetts | 1,700 | 150 | 6.3% |
| Minnesota | 1,590 | 130 | 6.0% |
| Indiana | 1,580 | 140 | 7.5% |
| Arizona | 1,540 | 140 | 17.6% |
| Utah | 1,500 | 150 | 38.9% |
| Wisconsin | 1,470 | 130 | 13.1% |
| Nevada | 1,410 | 120 | 12.8% |
| South Carolina | 1,220 | 110 | 19.6% |
| Alabama | 1,130 | 90 | 2.7% |
| Louisiana | 1,040 | 90 | 3.0% |
| Kentucky | 930 | 80 | 4.5% |
| Oklahoma | 910 | 80 | 5.8% |
| New Mexico | 810 | 80 | 26.6% |
| Mississippi | 790 | 70 | 6.8% |
| Iowa | 710 | 60 | 7.6% |
| Puerto Rico | 700 | 60 | 12.9% |
| Arkansas | 640 | 60 | 4.9% |
| Montana | 480 | 40 | 2.1% |
| Kansas | 420 | 30 | −2.3% |
| Nebraska | 420 | 40 | 7.7% |
| Idaho | 410 | 40 | 13.9% |
| Rhode Island | 400 | 30 | 5.3% |
| New Hampshire | 330 | 30 | 6.5% |
| Maine | 320 | 30 | −5.9% |
| West Virginia | 320 | 30 | 3.2% |
| Vermont | 270 | 20 | 3.8% |
| North Dakota | 220 | 20 | — |
| South Dakota | 210 | 20 | 5.0% |
| Delaware | 120 | 10 | −7.7% |
| Wyoming | 110 | 10 | 22.2% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
New York University
- Degrees each year
- 1,305
- Admit rate
- 9%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Savannah College of Art and Design
- Degrees each year
- 934
- Admit rate
- 84%
- Annual cost after aid
- $49,000
Emerson College
- Degrees each year
- 401
- Admit rate
- 47%
- Annual cost after aid
- $42,000
University of Southern California
- Degrees each year
- 407
- Admit rate
- 10%
- Annual cost after aid
- $20,000
Columbia College Chicago
- Degrees each year
- 434
- Admit rate
- 91%
- Annual cost after aid
- $26,000
DePaul University
- Degrees each year
- 355
- Admit rate
- 74%
- Annual cost after aid
- $29,000
University of Central Florida
- Degrees each year
- 502
- Admit rate
- 40%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
American Musical and Dramatic Academy
- Degrees each year
- 225
- Admit rate
- 25%
- Annual cost after aid
- $44,000
Compare every college offering drama/theatre arts and stagecraft