Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to direct performers during the filming or recording of productions.

Directors are responsible for visualising and defining the style and structure of productions. They must have the capacity to inspire and motivate their team to produce the film they have envisioned, so high level communication and management skills are essential.

As time and budgets are important to screen productions, directors are responsible for ensuring that performers and production personnel are well briefed and rehearsed prior to shooting.

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.

Application of the unit 

Directors of film and television productions that involve a number of performers apply the skills and knowledge described in this unit.

Even though directors act with a high degree of autonomy and are ultimately responsible for realising the production's creative vision, they are members of a production team and need to collaborate with technical and administrative personnel during rehearsals and on film shoots. A high level of creativity is expected, along with the flexibility to make compromises where necessary.

Skills associated with directing television programs are covered in:

• CUFDRT401A Direct television programs and segments.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Prepare for actual production.

1.1. Brief performers about any specific technical requirements in collaboration with relevant production personnel where necessary.

1.2. Establish appropriate lines of communication between relevant production personnel to ensure smooth running of production.

1.3. Inform and update relevant production personnel of changes in production requirements that may have occurred since final rehearsals.

1.4. Review relevant dramatic elements dealt with in rehearsals.

1.5. Throughout actual production activity, run through scenes with performers immediately prior to recording where time allows.

2. Facilitate performances.

2.1. Create an appropriate environment to maximise performances and characterisations, including conduct of appropriate warm-up activities.

2.2. Ensure appropriate OHS requirements are met in line with enterprise procedures.

2.3. Communicate with relevant production personnel clearly and provide constructive feedback throughout production process.

2.4. Identify and rectify creative problems throughout production in collaboration with relevant production personnel.

2.5. Ensure performers are kept informed of filming order of scenes as required.

2.6. Assist performers throughout the entire production to understand desired mise en scene effect, size of each shot or framing, and their role in the context of whole shot or scene.

2.7. Engage performers in the control of the narrative by use of techniques that allow for character sub text.

3. Wrap production.

3.1. Check all scenes are recorded and complete, including spot checks of actual recordings for quality and accuracy.

3.2. Stand down production crew and complete necessary documentation according to enterprise procedures.

3.3. Make arrangements for additional production requirements as required and ensure relevant production personnel are informed appropriately.

3.4. Evaluate all aspects of the shoot from a director's perspective, including own performance, and note areas for improvement.

3.5. Provide positive feedback to relevant production personnel and invite comment on the shoot.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• communication and teamwork skills sufficient to:

• work with performers to produce quality performances that build on rehearsal experience
• provide constructive feedback to performers during shoots
• work collaboratively with production staff and performers during shoots
• respond appropriately to feedback from others about shoots

• high level of initiative, enterprise and creativity in the context of:

• developing ideas to a final outcome in original and innovative ways
• demonstrating originality and innovative approaches in the creative directing process
• being open to a wide range of ideas and approaches to visualising scripts
• generating original and fresh approaches to visualising scripts
• determining how a story can be carried forward from one scene to the next and throughout an entire production
• being flexible enough to make last-minute adjustments to planned performances if unforeseen circumstances arise during a shoot

• self-management and problem-solving skills sufficient to:

• show strong leadership qualities
• solve problems and challenges on set in a timely and collaborative manner
• manage a number of tasks concurrently
• work under pressure to tight deadlines.

Required knowledge 

• well-developed understanding of:

• character development
• the craft of screen acting
• the craft of the director of photography

• knowledge of communication techniques, including effective listening, questioning and non-verbal cues
• industry knowledge, including:

• roles and responsibilities of personnel in the screen production industry
• sound understanding of artistic and technical elements associated with productions, e.g. staging, lighting and sound
• issues and challenges that arise in directing performers in screen productions
• conventions and practices of directing for the screen
• broad historical and cultural context for types of productions relevant to area of work
• visual story-telling techniques
• techniques to transpose written to visual narrative
• conditions of industrial awards and workers' compensation in relation to participation of cast and crew in shoots

• duty of care to colleagues and general public
• OHS standards as they apply to directing performers in screen productions.

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment 

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

Evidence of the following is essential:

• directing of screen productions that demonstrates:

• effective communication with cast and crew
• ability to develop strategies to adjust planned performances
• knowledge of all technical, staging and artistic aspects of a production

• ability to meet production deadlines.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Assessment must ensure:

• access to screen productions that require the directing of performers
• availability of performers
• access to appropriate learning and assessment support when required
• the use of culturally appropriate processes, and techniques appropriate to the oracy, language and literacy capacity of the assessee and the work being performed.

Method of assessment 

The following assessment method is appropriate for this unit:

• direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance
• observation of the candidate directing performers during a shoot to assess candidate's ability to communicate effectively with performers
• evaluation of screen productions directed by the candidate to determine candidate's understanding of the directing process
• written or oral questioning to test knowledge as listed in the required skills and knowledge section of this unit.

Guidance information for assessment 

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

• CUFDRT501A Direct rehearsals of performers
• CUFDRT602A Audition and select performers
• CUFDRT603A Direct screen production crews.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Performers  may include:

• Documentation may include:

Technical requirements  may include:

• cameras
• floor space
• lighting
• make-up
• props
• sets, e.g. substitute furniture and flats
• sound
• taping
• wardrobe.

Production personnel  may include:

• associate producer
• camera operator
• co-producer
• director
• director of photography
• first assistant director
• gaffer
• head of department:

• make-up
• wardrobe

• producer
• production designer
• production manager
• script writer
• sound operator
• stage manager
• technical producer.

Productions  may include:

• advertisements/commercials
• animations
• documentaries
• factual programs, e.g. science programs
• feature films
• infotainment
• interactive media productions
• live performances
• music videos
• promotional presentations
• shorts
• television series and serials
• training videos.

Production requirements  may include:

• budget
• codes of practice
• confidentiality
• content
• contractual
• copyright
• deadlines
• duration
• genre of production
• intellectual property
• location
• purpose
• schedule.

Dramatic elements  may include:

• act changes
• attitude
• character:

• sub-text
• objectives
• actions
• history
• turning points

• director's vision
• nature of dramatic conflict
• plot
• production genre, e.g. drama, comedy or panel
• rhythm
• scene function
• script narrative and story-line
• style, e.g. period, contemporary, rock or classic
• theme
• timeframe and location
• tone
• relationships between:

• characters
• cast members
• cast and director
• cast and technical staff.

Warm -up activities  may include:

• blocking and staging
• improvisations:

• character
• situational

• movement, such as stretching, stage, yoga and aerobics
• physical
• vocal.

Mise en scene  may include:

• actors
• blocking:

• movement
• positioning

• costumes
• lighting
• props
• sets.

Documentation  may include:

• accident report forms
• agent lists
• bump-in schedules
• cast and crew call sheets
• contact lists
• dressing-room lists
• front-of-house information
• ground plans
• memos
• petty cash forms
• preliminary cue synopses
• production meeting agendas
• production meeting minutes
• production plans
• production schedules
• props lists
• rehearsal reports
• rehearsal schedules
• scene breakdown/working division
• scenery lists
• technical plots, e.g. fly plots and dome plots
• texts
• tour itineraries
• understudy and covers lists
• venue information
• wardrobe lists.

Unit sector 

Media and entertainment production - directing

Competency field 

Co-requisite units