Let’s get one thing straight: directing isn’t glamorous. It’s not about shouting “Action!” in a leather jacket while someone fetches your coffee. Nor is it about ego. It’s about clarity, preparation, and storytelling. If you want to direct your first film—short or feature—you need to understand one thing above all else: directing is leadership. You are the captain of the ship, the conductor of the orchestra. Everyone looks to you, especially when things go wrong (and they will go wrong).
At Raindance, I teach Film Directing Basics, an online evening course, and the 5-week course Film Directors Foundation Certificate. What I love about it is how quickly we can cut through the myths and get to the core of what directing really is.
So let’s do that here.
1. Understand the Story—Inside Out
The first—and perhaps the most important—job of a director is to know the story better than anyone else. Not just the plot. The emotional architecture. What’s the central conflict? What’s the tone? Whose story is it, really?
When I directed Mutant Chronicles (2008), it was a post-apocalyptic sci-fi on the surface. But underneath all the steam-punk weapons and latex prosthetics was a story about sacrifice. That had to guide every creative decision—from casting to the colour palette.
Directing tip:
Read the script every day during prep. Annotate it like a conductor marking up a score. Where are the emotional crescendos? Where are the silences? The pauses?
2. Pre-Production Is Where You Win (or Lose)
First-time directors often assume the real work happens on set. It doesn’t. It happens before you even roll the camera.
When I directed my first feature in the 1990s, I made the mistake of not storyboarding a critical scene. We showed up to set and suddenly had four hours less than expected due to weather. I had to wing it. The result? Coverage that was just okay—when it could have been great.
Directing tip:
Even on no budget, do a full tech scout with your DP. Walk the space. Act out the blocking. Talk lenses. Be relentless in your prep. On the day, it’s your safety net.
3. Work With Your Actors, Not On Them
Actors are not chess pieces. They’re collaborators. Treat them with trust and respect, and they’ll bring your characters to life in ways you never imagined.
One of my proudest moments was directing the brilliant John Malkovich. What struck me was how generous he was with his process. He expected a director who knew what the scene was really about. Not just “say this line and stand there.”
Directing tip:
Don’t line-read. Ask questions: “What’s going through your character’s head at this moment?” Let the actor find their truth. Guide gently, adjust the energy, but never micromanage emotion.
4.Learn the Visual Language
Film is a visual medium. The way you compose a shot tells the story. Think about proximity, angles, movement. What does a wide shot say that a close-up doesn’t? What does a handheld shot feel like compared to a locked-off frame?
In my class, I break this down into five fundamental tools:
- Framing
- Lens choice
- Camera movement
- Blocking
- Lighting
Each is a storytelling device. Use them with intention.
Directing tip:
Watch your favourite scene with the sound off. What’s being communicated purely through image? That’s directing.
5. Make Decisions—With Empathy and Clarity
Indecision is deadly on set. Your crew is waiting. The day is burning. You don’t need to know everything, but you do need to make a decision. And own it.
That said, you also need to listen. Film is collaborative. Your DP may have a better shot idea. Your editor might suggest a sharper cut. A good director listens, absorbs, then decides.
Directing tip:
Speak clearly. Set the tone. If you’re calm and focused, your crew will be too. Panic is contagious—but so is confidence.
6. Protect the Creative Space
On a film set, it’s easy for creativity to be drowned out by logistics: gear, schedule, egos, money. Part of your job as a director is to protect a sacred space where the story can breathe. Sometimes that means fighting for an extra take. Sometimes it means shielding the actors from behind-the-scenes chaos.
On one shoot, we were three hours behind. The producers wanted to cut a crucial scene. I fought for it—and we found a way to do it with minimal setup, two takes, one dolly. That scene ended up being the emotional heart of the film.
Directing tip:
You’re the last line of defence for your story. Don’t be a dictator—but don’t fold under pressure either. Know what’s worth fighting for.
7. Directing on a Budget? Good. That’s How You Learn.
Let’s talk money—or the lack of it. Most first-time directors aren’t working with studio budgets. They’re shooting on DSLRs, in borrowed flats, with borrowed lights. And honestly? That’s good. Constraints force creativity.
Use what you have. Can’t afford a dolly? Use a wheelchair. No soundstage? Shoot on location. Every great director started with less than perfect conditions.
Directing tip:
Don’t apologise for your budget. Own it. Use it. Write to your limitations. A single location can be more powerful than 12 if you use it well (see Reservoir Dogs [1992]).
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8. Post-Production: The Final Rewrite
Editing is where your film is born. It’s your last chance to shape the performance, pacing, and tone. Be ready to kill your darlings. Be willing to reimagine the story one last time.
I once cut an entire subplot from a film during post. Painful—but it made the core story stronger. The audience never missed it.
Directing tip:
Sit with your editor. Don’t hover—collaborate. Watch rough cuts with fresh eyes. Take notes. Walk away. Come back. Be brutal when necessary.
9. Finish. Then Move On.
Perfection doesn’t exist. Finish your film. Submit it. Screen it. Then get started on the next one. Your second film will be better. Your third, even more so. Directing is a muscle. The only way to grow is to keep going.
Ready to Start?
Directing isn’t for the faint-hearted. But if you’ve read this far, you’ve probably got the bug. At Raindance, my Film Directing Basics and Hands-on Directing courses are designed to give you the foundations you need to direct with confidence. We dive deep into the practicalities—shot lists, working with actors, camera language, and more.
So join me. Let’s cut through the myths and start telling stories.
Raindance Call to Action:
🎬 Film Directing Basics with Simon Hunter is running this term as a live, online evening class. Limited places. Book now and take your first confident step into the director’s chair.
👉Snag your place on Directing Basics here
🎬 Film Directors Foundation Certificate with Simon Hunter is running this term as a live online 5-week intensive with a qualification. Limited places. Book now and take your first confident step into the director’s chair.
👉 Elevate your directing with Film Directors Foundation Certificate here
Want more creative fuel?
At Raindance, we live and breathe the rebel spirit of independent filmmaking. From our Filmmakers Foundation Certificate to the Hands On Smartphone, we help you build the skills — and the resilience — to bring your stories to life.
👉 Check out our upcoming short courses here
👉 Want to go deeper? Check out our Filmmaking Degree Courses Here
Simon Hunter has directed seven feature films, high end long form television, and dozens of commercials and promos. He is just completing COLD MIND a TV crime drama set in the Algarve and California, which he is also show-running. He is represented by United Talent Agency in Los Angeles.
Simon also teaches in person the Hands On Directing Masterclass and the Advanced Hands On Directing Masterclass
