A television director is in charge of directing a television episode and overseeing the various crews involved in the production. In contrast to a film director, a TV director in the United States often has less control over a show and must typically follow the producer’s vision. A television director’s exact duties and responsibilities vary depending on the type of production on which he or she is working. The director of a single-camera production has similar responsibilities to that of a film director, and must coordinate camera positions and angles, lighting, and the overall flow of a scene; for multi-camera productions, the director usually ensures that the production flows well, communicates with different camera operators, and oversees floor production.
A television director’s responsibilities vary greatly depending on the type of production on which he or she is working. In the United States, for example, a director usually only directs one or a few episodes of a show, giving him or her less direct control over the show than a producer who works on it for an entire season or series. Directors for television in other countries, on the other hand, may have more control, particularly if they direct multiple episodes. If a television director is also a producer, he or she will have a greater influence on a project.
A television director must often act like a film director in a single-camera production, which is typically used for televised dramas with multiple locations. During a take, he or she must communicate with the camera crew to ensure that certain angles and shots are captured. Actors may be asked to perform multiple takes in order to achieve the director’s desired results, which are then edited together. On this type of production, a television director usually communicates his or her goals to the sound department and ensures that the lighting supports the various shots he or she has in mind.
A television director working on a multi-camera production, on the other hand, may have very different responsibilities. Situation comedies, or “sitcoms,” game shows, and news broadcasts are all examples of this type of production. The director of this type of production is usually responsible for coordinating the various camera angles and ensuring that every detail of a scene is properly captured during filming. A television director may also be required to facilitate communication on set or on the floor, speaking with camera operators and floor managers to ensure that actors’ or other talent’s speech and actions are properly captured.