Writing is the foundation of any piece of work. It communicates an idea verbally, in the form of text, describing significant, intricate details of the art form it may be coupled with. However, once the writing is done and out of the road, here comes the role of the director.
Often, the two will communicate with each other over where the story will go, and how it will be portrayed ultimately. The director makes creative, usually visual, decisions in production, the stage that follows pre-production. Putting aside the role of the producer, the director is the electricity that gives life to the final written piece, the monster. The monster that is production, or the delicate role that the director holds.
It can be tricky, especially among students. Not because of the inability of bringing an idea to life, but more to do with the fact that you need to communicate this idea to others effectively. Sure, you might be able to do it well -- very well, even -- but you also have to be on level with the others in your team, ensuring that everyone involved realises that's what you're doing; communicating and discussing an idea, and not just being a dick by getting a kick out of telling people what to do.
Granted, some people who go for the director role are in it for that, but not everyone. I honestly don't think it's a role best suited for those without a creative bone in their body, so it's poor choice. Communication is also key, and you need to know how to talk to people and how to appropriately treat them. Bearing in mind that everybody is different, so everyone will react differently to certain methods that you may apply to get them involved, intrigued, and in focus on the project.
For me, I have serious trouble with confidence and self-esteem, so it's difficult for me to to believe in myself when in this role. I get excited about ideas, and bringing them together, and I'm fine with some people. Others, though, I'm a lot more submissive with. That's not good. Never be submissive with a crew if you're supposed to be in an authority role, such as the incredibly important director. That's a major problem in the student film making process, mind. There's a sub-conscious distrust towards many in certain roles on the one hand, and on the other hand, it's just very easy to take over someone else's role, even though your role dictates something else.
I've heard people talking about these roles a lot, or even complaining. This... does not help my confidence in the slightest. I know I need to learn to actually not give a toss about what others think, provided I'm doing a good job, because, really, all it does is show a lack of interest, motivation in a project, and a serious lack of maturity to take something seriously. Not necessarily the subject matter, just the creative process in general. You'll have 'they're just not interested because of ABC' with 'they're so pretentious because of XYZ' in the same utterance by the same mouth, which makes you wonder about the kind of balance you need to take. Thinking about that too much isn't helpful to your mindset either, leaving you unwilling to take charge at all in case this is what people think of you.
There's nothing more demotivating than having your enthusiasm trampled on or disregarded. After all, for a selected some anyway, we're on this course for a reason, and that reason is our love and admiration to create visual-audio stories, to learn more about it, and to, hopefully, meet others just like that to help us on the way. You do need a team after all. An enthusiastic one at that where people aren't afraid to go the extra mile to do the best that they possibly can. I'd like to think I got away from people in high school who see a project as nothing more than a chore that they only need to tick the most basic of criteria for. That's boring, and I don't want people like that on my team, or any team that I become a part of.
If I know exactly what I need to communicate, I have no issue at all in doing so, especially if I've conducted sufficient research for it and have planned the pitch out well and thoroughly. Otherwise I trip over my words, and cringe the entire attempt. It suggests a lack of interest in that case but, prepared, it shows you're incredibly excited about the project and truly believe in it and, more importantly, yourself. Don't let others disbelief in the medium pull you down.
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