Move to LA if you want to become one. UK is kinda hard to start off at.

1. A beard – all great film-makers have beards – Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola etc. etc. Note, this isn’t sexist, women can have fine beards too. Don’t worry if you can’t grow a beard, you can always borrow one from a responsible adult.

2. A stupid name – Scorcese, Tarantino, Zefirelli. You don’t hear of anyone making films called Jones*, so change your name to something daft. How to come up with that perfect moniker? Try hitting a keyboard and seeing what it spells. If it looks really strange you are are obviously a foreign film-maker – well done! Alternatively try adding -berg to your name eg. Steven Spielberg, David Cronenberg for that directory touch.

3. A baseball cap – Directors always wear baseball caps. If its a cold shoot they have a cap on to keep warm, if its a hot sunny shoot they have a cap on to keep cool – presumably this is to keep their brains in optimum condition. Caps can also double up as advertising space for your latest feature or as an alternative revenue stream. Man to take tips from – Spike Lee, he’s made a career out of the baseball cap.

4. A press photo of yourself behind a camera pointing – This is directing,…pointing – presumably just after saying something like “Try shooting that bad guy over there Arnie” or “Blow up that building Sly”.

5. A quirk – so people can remember who you are in interviews eg. Tarantino – ‘speak-very-fast’ quirk, Scorcese – eyebrows quirk, Tim Burton – quirk of nature.

6. Friends – no, not your ordinary pals, or even the US comedy six pack, but real life celebrity mates. Be seen hanging out with Eric Stoltz, throw a barbie and invite Winona and Brad over. Yeah as if! Alternatively find a couple of lookalikes/cardboard cut-outs, get a photo done and casually leave the pictures around your abode/send them to film mags. An even easier method (although not recommnded) is to shoot the breeze with Charlie Sheen, Sean Young and other has-beens.

7. A guess spot directing for TV – Spike Lee’s done it (Red Stripe commercials), Quentin Tarantino’s done it (ER) even David Cronenberg’s done it (Nike).

8. Umm…one of those chairs, y’know the director fold out ones that are made out of wood and canvas with DIRECTOR on the back. Don’t make the mistake of using a deck chair instead. Sure its similar, but it just won’t do.
If you’re ever on a film set for a laugh try sitting in the Director’s chair. A wannabe film-maker friend of mine did this and he directed half of Batman and Robin before anybody realised.

9. A megaphone. Okay, so close your eyes and try and imagine a film-maker and you’ve probably put one of these in their hands. Why??

10. And finally, a damn famous film. You can go one of two ways, you can either have Hollywood’s cheapest film…

1Step OneBrainstorm to come up with any potential contacts in the film industry. Work as an apprentice under anyone currently directing student films, TV commercials, music videos or feature films.

2Step TwoConsider applying to film school to gain both knowledge and industry contacts. Some top film schools can be found at New York University, the University of Southern California, the American Film Institute in Los Angeles, California Institute of the Arts and the University of California at Los Angeles. (See How to Apply to Film School.)

3Step ThreeApply for work on movie sets in entry-level jobs, such as production assistant or as anyone’s assistant. If you work hard and make friends, you can move up the ladder.

4Step FourTarget jobs directing TV commercials or music videos, where many film directors get their start.

5Step FiveDevelop a reel. Make sure it is of professional quality.

6Step SixShoot films on your own. To start, they can be short (10 minutes long) and in black and white. If necessary, cast and write your films yourself to build your experience and résumé.

7Step SevenSend postcards and updates regularly to industry contacts you have made, including directors, producers and actors. Constant networking leads to opportunities.