From Pretending to Perfecting: A Director's Journey On Set

Written By: Rachel Furolo

Lead Creative Producer - New Business, Visual Domain

“I'll let you in on a little secret, we all just pretend we know what we're doing.”

These are the words of wisdom at the front of my mind as I walk into my first shoot as a director.

Gifted to me from the cinematographer I’m working alongside, it’s this sentiment that I’ve kept reminding myself of in the lead up to the day.

I’m convinced that a form of osmosis has taken place during the many shoots I’ve been part of as a producer. I’ve watched talented directors lead shoots of varying shapes and sizes, clients and crews. I’ve seen things go wrong and go right, a good director pivoting where necessary, a great director following instinct above all. 

I’ve learnt that directing is a pretty beautiful thing if you think about it. It’s bringing a creative vision to life, taking something you see in your mind and turning it into reality. Believing in an idea only you can truly see, and recreating that to share it with the world around you. Though creativity is completely subjective, the best directors will be so clear in their vision, they’ll make it their mission to show you exactly what they can see. 

But watching is one thing, and doing is another. 

The thing is - I think I can do it. I know I can do it. But I want it to be perfect. 

A long lead time has meant really thorough pre-production, which can often be an oxymoron for the fast-paced video production space we work in. From in-depth concepting and storyboarding to talent selection and location recces, call sheets and catering - we’ve laid the foundations for any good production. Mentored and pep-talked by a formative director from afar through the whole process, by the time the shoot day rolls around, I just want to get into it. 

I know all too well that it’s on set where things get real, and sometimes even the best-laid plans can be thrown out the window. Today though, I’m hoping that’s not the case. 

As we get ready to roll, a flurry of energy washes through me.  

“Action!” I call for the first time.

Despite having practised this phrase more times than I’d like to admit, I’m surprised by how it sounds coming out of my mouth. There’s a confidence and assertiveness that I didn’t realise I had, and I hear it grow as the shoot goes on.  

I quickly fall into a state of flow, loosening the grip on my clipboard as we move through each scene, a unique sense of satisfaction gained by crossing each one off.  

The actors we’re working with take to my style right away, a mix of detailed explanations and animated hand gestures helping me illustrate exactly what I’m looking for. 

And of course, each take is bookended with another little word that is synonymous with directing, and it’s fast becoming my favourite.  

“Cut!”

It strikes me how natural I find the whole process, like I’ve done it before. 

As we move through the shoot, my mind is abuzz with a million thoughts about how each shot will be placed within the edit. It’s like looking down on the pieces of a puzzle, you can see them all jumbled in front of you and there’s a distinct rush in making them fit together. I’m loving every part of it, feeling energised and stretched past the limits of what I thought I could do. 

A few hours later, we wrap on what’s been a successful night on set. The crew have smashed it, the talent has been completely on point and I’ve done what I set out to do. Above all, I’m proud of myself for diving in head first. 

It’s hard trying something for the first time, having the guts to give it a crack and hoping you’ll swim, not sink. But I guess that little secret is true after all - If you pretend hard enough that you know what you’re doing, you’ll start to believe it yourself. 

And with time, learning and growth, you won’t have to pretend - it’ll become real.

Elevate your vision with the power of video. Reach out to our team today and let's turn your ideas into captivating reality!

Written By: Rachel Furolo

Lead Creative Producer - New Business, Visual Domain

With a background in journalism, storytelling is in Rachel's blood. Making the switch from producing television to producing video content was a refreshing and welcome change for her, igniting the creative side of her brain once more. Rachel has an eye for detail, a flair for unique creative approaches and a knack for turning simple briefs into highly engaging content. She relishes seeing a project from concept ideation through to delivery of the final product, working closely with clients to foster the best possible outcome. Her projects have ranged from branded content to TVCs, testimonials, animations and everything in between.