Actors, producers, and directors express ideas and create images in theater, film, radio, television, and other performing arts media. They interpret a writer's script to entertain, inform, or instruct an audience. Although many actors, producers, and directors work in New York or Los Angeles, far more work in other places. They perform, direct, and produce in local or regional television studios, theaters, or film production companies, often creating advertising or training films or small-scale independent movies.
Actors perform in stage, radio, television, video, or motion picture productions. They also work in cabarets, nightclubs, and theme parks. Actors portray characters, and, for more complex roles, they research their character's traits and circumstances so that they can better understand a script.
Most actors struggle to find steady work and only a few achieve recognition as stars. Some well-known, experienced performers may be cast in supporting roles or make brief, cameo appearances, speaking only one or two lines. Others work as "extras," with no lines to deliver. Some actors do voiceover and narration work for advertisements, animated features, books on tape, and other electronic media. They also teach in high school or university drama departments, acting conservatories, or public programs.
Producers are entrepreneurs who make the business and financial decisions involving a motion picture, made-for-television feature, or stage production. They select scripts, approve the development of ideas, arrange financing, and determine the size and cost of the endeavor. Producers hire or approve directors, principal cast members, and key production staff members. They also negotiate contracts with artistic and design personnel in accordance with collective bargaining agreements. They guarantee payment of salaries, rent, and other expenses.
Television and radio producers determine which programs, episodes, or news segments get aired. They may research material, write scripts, and oversee the production of individual pieces. Producers in any medium coordinate the activities of writers, directors, managers, and agents to ensure that each project stays on schedule and within budget.
Directors are responsible for the creative decisions of a production. They interpret scripts, audition and select cast members, conduct rehearsals, and direct the work of cast and crew. They approve the design elements of a production, including the sets, costumes, choreography, and music. Assistant directors cue the performers and technicians, telling them when to make entrances or light, sound, or set changes.
Work environment. Actors, producers, and directors work under constant pressure. Many face stress from the continual need to find their next job. To succeed, actors, producers, and directors need patience and commitment to their craft. Actors strive to deliver flawless performances, often while working under undesirable and unpleasant conditions. Producers and directors organize rehearsals and meet with writers, designers, financial backers, and production technicians. They experience stress not only from these activities, but also from the need to adhere to budgets, union work rules, and production schedules.
Acting assignments typically are short term—ranging from 1 day to a few months—which means that actors frequently experience long periods of unemployment between jobs. The uncertain nature of the work results in unpredictable earnings and intense competition for jobs. Often, actors, producers, and directors must hold other jobs in order to sustain a living.
When performing, actors typically work long, irregular hours. For example, stage actors may perform one show at night while rehearsing another during the day. They also might travel with a show when it tours the country. Movie actors may work on location, sometimes under adverse weather conditions, and may spend considerable time waiting to perform their scenes. Actors who perform in a television series often appear on camera with little preparation time, because scripts tend to be revised frequently or even written moments before taping. Those who appear live or before a studio audience must be able to handle impromptu situations and calmly ad lib, or substitute, lines when necessary.
Evening and weekend work is a regular part of a stage actor's life. On weekends, more than one performance may be held per day. Actors and directors working on movies or television programs, especially those who shoot on location, may work in the early morning or late evening hours to film night scenes or tape scenes inside public facilities outside of normal business hours.
Actors should be in good physical condition and have the necessary stamina and coordination to move about theater stages and large movie and television studio lots. They also need to maneuver about complex technical sets while staying in character and projecting their voices audibly. Actors must be fit to endure heat from stage or studio lights and the weight of heavy costumes. Producers and directors ensure the safety of actors by conducting extra rehearsals on the set so that the actors can learn the layout of set pieces and props, by allowing time for warmups and stretching exercises to guard against physical and vocal injuries, and by providing an adequate number of breaks to prevent heat exhaustion and dehydration.
| 1. | Direct live broadcasts, films and recordings, or non-broadcast programming for public entertainment or education. |
| 2. | Supervise and coordinate the work of camera, lighting, design, and sound crewmembers. |
| 3. | Study and research scripts to determine how they should be directed. |
| 4. | Cut and edit film or tape to integrate component parts into desired sequences. |
| 5. | Collaborate with film and sound editors during the post-production process as films are edited and soundtracks are added. |
| 6. | Confer with technical directors, managers, crew members, and writers to discuss details of production, such as photography, script, music, sets, and costumes. |
| 7. | Plan details such as framing, composition, camera movement, sound, and actor movement for each shot or scene. |
| 8. | Communicate to actors the approach, characterization, and movement needed for each scene in such a way that rehearsals and takes are minimized. |
| 9. | Establish pace of programs and sequences of scenes according to time requirements and cast and set accessibility. |
| 10. | Choose settings and locations for films and determine how scenes will be shot in these settings. |
| 11. | Identify and approve equipment and elements required for productions, such as scenery, lights, props, costumes, choreography, and music. |
| 12. | Compile scripts, program notes, and other material related to productions. |
| 13. | Perform producers' duties such as securing financial backing, establishing and administering budgets, and recruiting cast and crew. |
| 14. | Select plays or scripts for production, and determine how material should be interpreted and performed. |
| 15. | Compile cue words and phrases, and cue announcers, cast members, and technicians during performances. |
| 16. | Consult with writers, producers, or actors about script changes, or "workshop" scripts, through rehearsal with writers and actors to create final drafts. |
| 17. | Review film daily to check on work in progress and to plan for future filming. |
| 18. | Collaborate with producers to hire crewmembers such as art directors, cinematographers, and costumer designers. |
| 19. | Interpret stage-set diagrams to determine stage layouts, and supervise placement of equipment and scenery. |
| 20. | Hold auditions for parts or negotiate contracts with actors determined suitable for specific roles, working in conjunction with producers. |
| 21. | Create and approve storyboards in conjunction with art directors. |
| 22. | Confer with stage managers to arrange schedules for rehearsals, costume fittings, and sound/light development. |
| 23. | Promote and market productions by giving interviews, participating in talk shows, and making other public appearances. |
| 24. | Introduce plays, and meet with audiences after shows to explain how the play was interpreted. |
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