Vision and Direction
The central issue at the core of every director everywhere ever.
dictated but not read
You’ve heard of “the director’s vision,” I assume?
In the simultaneous throws of pre- and post-production, I’ve been thinking on it a lot. I have to explain my vision for Beatrice Likes the Dark to designers and my vision for the final look and sound of Can I Just Say? to the colorist and mixer. But how to explain that vision?
Vision boards are good for designers. Visual reference points, artwork, color palettes, and one big concept that everyone can rally around.
Sounds simple enough.
The thing is, there’s a LOT of people you have to work with. And they don’t all immediately get what you’re talking about. This is where directing is like teaching. You have to come at it from many different angles until you and the designer (or actor or director of photography or whomever) are on the same page.
The thing is, lots of questions about one’s vision can make one feel like they maybe are full of shit. And this is the first danger zone.
So you have to take a step back and try again (again). You have to believe in your vision so much that you cannot be shaken. And, at this stage, you do. Because it’s early and no one has brought you any designs (or run the scene or lit the room) yet.
And then, they do.
And now you face your second challenge. How to say “no” without actually saying the word. Because the designer will take the explanation of your vision (important to note here, this is not the vision itself as no one can live in your head) and give it a go through their own artistic talents. Which means they are bringing themselves to your vision. That’s what supposed to happen. But maybe it doesn’t look (or sound) like what you thought.
This is where you have to remember your job title. A director (and stay with me here) directs. We don’t demonstrate or do it for you, we direct. We explain the path to the best of our ability but the designer, actor, director of photography, sound mixer, editor, whomever has to actually walk the path.
This is where most directors falter. Because after a few passes of someone getting notes and coming back with something that STILL doesn’t resemble your vision, the frustration rises (on both sides). And with the frustration comes the temptation. The temptation to just tell whomever EXACTLY what you what by drawing them a picture or doing the scene or moving the lights or whatever.
And that is not your job.
Your job is to direct.
Patiently, but insistantly, direct.
Let the artist be creative, it’s why they’re there. If you demonstrate or do it for them, you stifle that creativity and they will not give you their best work.
It make take a little more effort but when it works, they bring you something you didn’t expect or know you wanted but takes your vision to the next level.
And that feels pretty great.
- Patrick, 8/12/26
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pre-production
Beatrice Likes the Dark
Rehearsals start in less than a month. The set is designed! Why can’t we just start rehearsing?!?
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post-production
Can I Just Say?
Color correction is done. The mix is finished. And our first festival submissions have been submitted. Hopefully more news very soon!
coming soon
The Ferberizing of Coral on KLIPIST!
Just 2 weeks until The Ferberizing of Coral will debut on klipist.com! Klipist is a free streaming platform dedicated entirely to the world’s best independent short films. As their site says: “Curated by humans, watched in 190 countries, supported by the filmmakers who make them.” And did I mention: IT’S FREE!
now playing
The Ferberizing of Coral on OMELETO!
You know what the best part of the Internet is? You can watch The Ferberizing of Coral every day. Don’t believe me? Click above and find out for yourself.
live on stage
The Velveteen Rabbit: A Toy Story
available through Theatrical Rights Worldwide
Westlake High School (Austin, TX) - November 18-20
Theatre in the Grove (Forest Grove, OR) - February 5-June 14, 2027
Roanoke College (Salem, VA) - February 18-20, 2027
Tinker Bell
available through Dramatic Publishing
Red Mask Players (Danville, IL) - September18-20
END OF LINE
This resonates so deeply