First timers usually pay for their own movies, so they don't earn
a salary. Non union shows have no set salary agreement so each
project is different. A first timer can get a few hundred a week
or a few thousand or get one fee for the entire project.

The DGA minimum is $10,259 per week for budgets up to
$500,000, $10,559 per week for budgets up to 1.5 million and
$15,108 per week for a budget above 1.5 million. There is no
provision for points in the agreement - that is negotiated individually.

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

I see the DGA makes alot of money then. I was wondering the same thing but I see my question is answered.

The median salary for a director is about $52,000.00, according to one website.

http://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/118/Director.html

The range according to another is $29,000.00 to $36,000.00, but that seems low.

http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/layouthtmls/swzl_compresult_national_AR17000020.html

I would go with the median salary of about $50,000.00. But it's too early for you to plan your salary, because you still have several years to go. I suggest that, if you really want a job at this, go through the various stages, and you'll get an idea of what your salary should be.

quote:

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Originally posted by naviobb

So, how much a movie director earns per project? From first timers to big names? I think they also get some share from the total gross, isn't it?

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http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Al0IoD7e4gENgSFbO6RTJJTty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20081123140559AA71D6o&show=7#profile-info-V070S9zEaa

and more Answers here: ?url? http://realfilmcareer.com/forum/index.php?topic=55.0?/url?

Brian Dzyak
Cameraman/Author
IATSE Local 600, SOC
http://www.whatireallywanttodo.com
http://www.realfilmcareer.com

The question to ask is, how many projects can be expected in a year. Those numbers are fine if the director has a lot of projects lined up but they are tough if the director is scavenging for work.

RJSchwarz

In other words, if you are member of their union, you cannot work for less than what DGA specifies as minimum for a production with a certain budget.

So, until you build skills, experience and connections, you will struggle to find jobs that pay union wages.

In many non-artistic fields, one can take the usual, traditional route: finish school, go to college, finish college, go to grad school, finish grad school, do summer internships during college and grad school, then at age 24 apply for entry-level jobs at various companies. Once hired, work hard, network with colleagues and look for promotions, or for other jobs that offer better opportunities.

In artistic field, the path is nowhere near traditional. There are very few companies out there hiring film directors for a full-time position with salary and benefits. This is a freelance type of work, and everyone fends for themselves.

To become a director that will actually be able to consistently earn money takes several things. First requirement (without which none others matter) is talent; then there is massive amount of hard work, as well as great amount of good luck. You must read A LOT about film, film making (craft, techniques, process), as well as watch and ANALYZE other movies, i.e. not just get some popcorn, sit back and enjoy Fast & Furious, but get a notepad, turn on commentary track and carefully study every scene, taking notes along the way. Find a good, gripping scene. Look it over several times; figure out each shot (composition, camera movement, scene blocking, light, set design), as well as the editing (pacing, cuts, etc).

There is a lot to do in order to become good at directing film. Good part of it doesn't require making movies; it requires reading a lot, writing scripts a lot, and analyzing other good movies a lot. In the end, though, actually making movies is something that cannot be substituted by any other task. You simply have to get yourself a camcorder and some (hopefully talented) people, write a script and shoot it. And then repeat the process with other scripts as many times as possible.

There is a kid on these forums who shoots a 2-minute short every week, with his school buddies. These shorts are beginner's kind, but the kid is learning and figuring things out. Regardless of the length of your script, the film making process is still the same and goes through the same stages. You learn a lot of stuff by doing it, which can't be taught.

Can a director NOT be part of a union? I mean, union membership has been going down for decades, so there must be a way to make a major feature film without going through the guild.

Of course, you don't have to join the union. If you do become good and successful, time will come when jobs being offered will be union jobs, so it would be worthwhile to eventually join the union.

I also believe there may be certain exceptions that would allow a union director to accept work that isn't in compliance with union rules. I'm not sure, though if a major feature production would ever go outside of unions. They tend to have a lot of power these days.

Robert Rodriguez and George Lucas both dropped out of the Directors Union for different reasons (Rodriguez because of their rules on shared director credits and Lucas because of their rules on credits at the beginning of the movies). They paid a heavy fine and went on with their live.

I do believe both follow union rules in all other regards though so that they can work with SAG actors and such.

RJSchwarz

Thousands of films have been made non union and will continue
to be made non union.

All the major studios have signed agreements with the various
unions and guilds so in order to work for them one must be a
member. But a major feature made independently of the studios
can be made non union.

The last three "Star Wars" films were made outside of the studio
system because (as rj pointed out) the director is not a member
of the DGA.

=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

Actually I believe all 6 Star Wars because Lucas came into conflict over the opening credits to the original Star Wars and still hasn't changed the way the movies open without credits.

RJSchwarz