What Is The Difference Between A Film Director and Producer?

A lot of people ask a variation on the same question... what is the difference between a director and a producer?

The answer is a bit complicated, and the lines have been blurred a lot after the demise of the old studio system.

In the old days, the director was the one who took a script, actors and various other technical people, and put what was in the script onto film. He would rehearse the actors, tell them where to stand, how to say a line. He would talk with the cinematographer about how to set the lights. He would get involved with the costumes and sets.

He would not, however, have much input in the script itself, and he would not have much of a choice of what shots he took. The director had to make sure that each scene had certain angles and close-ups so that the editor would have a full choice in how the shots fit together. The director would not have any input in the editing process.

This is why old films tend to look very similar. A scene will start with a shot of the room. Then someone will enter. Two people will talk, and we see a shot of both of them, then shots of each in close-up as they talk. Shots don't move very much.

Directors always followed a formula. Master shot (the shot of the whole scene) close ups of each actor in the scene, and shots of action going from one scene to the next. Shots couldn't move to much because you might cause a problem with continuity for the editor (who would put a scene together from the elements the director shot) and you had to give the editor the maximum flexibility so that he could pick and choose what he needed to make a scene (and ultimately a film) work.

The producer was the one who found a script (or suggested an idea to a writer) pitched the idea and script to the studio, hired the director and actors and other crew and oversaw the editing and scoring and other post-production activities.

The producer was the man in charge. He often didn't do anything in particular (like set up a shot or choose a take in the editing process) but he would oversee everything, and the movie was usually his baby. He would make the final decisions, and had the final word on everything. A director might shoot a film every month or two, but a producer would be working on a film for several months, overseeing it from beginning to end. The producer could fire the director at any time (Gone with the Wind had at least 2 directors).

Now the roles have changed somewhat. A producer is still the one who oversees everything, and often still has final control over what is released. But the director has much more control over the creative aspects of film. A producer will often find a script, and then find a director who will mold the script and the other elements to fit his artistic vision. The director will work with the editor to make sure the film goes together properly (this is what allows for more creative shots and movement of the camera).

The producer will still have input, and will usually organize everything and work on the marketing, getting investors and other things so that the director doesn't have to worry about them, but he won't creatively impact the film as much.

The old style system does survive in TV shows.

If you would like to find out a bit more, check out the Wikipedia articles on Film Director and Film Producer.