Directing a movie doesn’t necessarily require a degree or educational background; after all, in theory all you need is video camera and a well thought out execution plan. However, it’s nearly impossible to make any sort of name for yourself or produce anything of quality without the proper tools to succeed and networking opportunities. With the right blend of a properly tailored education, natural talent and real world experience, a great director you yet may become. Where to get started?College Attend a 4 year university while majoring in filmmaking or a very closely related subject matter. Ideally, you should choose an institution with a well-established program for filmmaking, most of which are located in either the greater New York or Los Angeles area. Go where the movies are After graduation, move where movies are actually made. Traditionally, this is again New York and Los Angeles, though tax breaks in many states have encouraged many directors to shoot a large number of films in other cities, such as Atlanta and New Orleans. Work as a production assistant Before you start directing films on your own, you will need to get a feel for how movie sets work, beyond what can be taught in the classroom. Though many production assistant positions are either very low paid or completely unpaid, it is a necessary rite of passage for many future directors, learning the basics from the ground up. Production assistants are the movie industry’s equivalent to interns, and may even be found under ads and listing for internships. Try your hand at various positions on set Production assistant is just a starting point. There are several positions on a movie set a good director knows well. Take as many jobs as possible in order to further your technical proficiency and see movie sets through a more cumulative perspective. Shadow a director If through your work you are able to use personal connections to shadow a directory, this can be an effective way to learn the nuances of the craft. Otherwise, training courses are offered by organizations such as the Directors Guild of America in order to teach particulars of large scale directing. Give it a go Direct something on a small scale and see how it goes. Obviously at this point you won’t have the budget for a major studio picture; however, with the proper fundraising or a small-enough project, you can soon have a picture to call your own.