We’ve been working with The Directors Charitable Foundation to look at the issues and pressures that directors experience – whether in film, on TV or on stage.
It can be a dream job. You have the responsibility of taking what is on the script you’re given and turn it into a fully-realised production on screen or stage. But when we spoke to a range of directors about what life is like for them, they told us that along with such a large sense of responsibility can come a lot of pressure. You might find yourself experiencing decision fatigue, stress, or feeling as though you are in a constant state of crisis.
We asked directors what piece of advice they would offer to others who might be feeling extreme pressure as a result of their job.
Sadly, there are some things you simply can’t avoid as a director. You might, for example, be working long hours, or facing pressure from producers to get the job done quickly but within budget.
But one of the key responses we heard was: directors should feel able to ask for help or support. Even though you might feel overwhelmed by work, making time for yourself and your loved ones can give you a much-needed boost to your mental wellbeing.
There’s another side to the importance of talking too. The fact is, directors aren’t always well treated – but one respondent told us that keeping quiet about problems enables them to continue, and urged directors to take responsibility for highlighting them. In the end, if something has gone wrong or you haven’t been treated fairly, it’s important for your experiences to be listened to and considered.
Of course, that’s just a starting point. We’ve put together a collection of resources that might help you in your role as a director – ranging from advice on getting a good night’s sleep to coping with negative attention on social media. If you – or perhaps a colleague – can identify with the issues our directors told us about, have a look below.
Being a freelancer in the film and TV industry can come with a lot of uncertainty and pressure. The Film and TV Charity have created this site to help you to learn more about your mental health, and find out what you can do to improve it.
Sometimes, you or someone you know might find themselves the target of social media harassment. This help page from the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma explores some things you can do if you, a colleague, or one of your reports is the target of a hate campaign.
Working in the TV and film industry can be rewarding, but it can be tough too. The film and TV Charity have partnered with Emma Mamo from Mind to bring you a series of videos on subjects you might find helpful.
Bullying and harassment can affect anyone, and is a sadly too common experience for directors. This guide has advice on behaviour, protecting yourself and others, the legal aspects, and how to get help.
Leapers runs a Slack group for people who are, or are considering, working outside the normal nine-to-five pattern: freelancers, homeworkers, the self-employed, SME owners and everyone in between.
Some of the directors we spoke to highlighted how their role affects their sleep. This one-page PDF fact sheet from Unilever highlights some of the reasons why poor mental health and sleep deprivation are linked, and offers techniques for improving the amount and quality of your sleep.
Especially when your schedule is busy and unpredictable, it can be useful to have a few tools and tricks available in little moments of down time. This site has a range of suggestions for if you have 3 seconds, 3 minutes or 30 minutes.
Imposter syndrome can affect anyone, but especially those that have reached ambitious professional goals. Model Amber Le Bon shares her stories of uncomfortable moments in the industry, her anxiety and panic attacks, and of the 'little voice' she sometimes hears telling her she is not meant to be where she is.
Resilience at work can be described as your ability to maintain high performance and positive wellbeing, even when times are stressful. This online test allows you to measure your own levels of personal resilience, broken down into four key components.
As a director, you likely experience high pressures and demands frequently at work. Your resilience levels can determine how well you can respond to these challenges. This guide offers advice on improving your resilience and managing uncertainty.
The CALM helpline is there for anyone who needs to talk confidentially about a tough time they are experiencing.
