Introduction to Directing
Session: August 2026
About this Live Online Course
The director works with every department head to create the film you see on screen. From the set to the shot choices to the costumes and the edit, the director is consistently making decisions to create a visionary cinematic journey for their audience. But what does it truly mean to be a director? Where do you start in your journey to become one and what do you need to know before you step on set?
With an experienced director as your guide, this four-week course will provide you with a fundamental understanding of the craft. By looking at scenes from existing films and TV shows, discussing different directing techniques, and analyzing case studies, you will learn the director's visual language and the tools they have available to them. Whether you are preparing to direct your first film, transitioning to directing for television, or generally have an interest in knowing what a director does, this course will provide you with an entry point into directing film, TV and Digital Media.
What you bring to the course:
- an interest in fiction directing. Creators at any level of experience are welcome to apply. (You do not need to have a screenplay or active project to participate.)
What you’ll get from the course:
- An understanding of the director’s role in every phase of prep and production
- A breakdown of the key crew positions and what to consider in your hiring process
- Best practices for collaborating with your creative team
- Dos and don'ts on set
- An overview of composition and shot types
- Blocking basics
- Approaches on how to work with actors
- Analyses of of different directing techniques
- Setting the tone for the project
- An understanding of the director’s role in the post-production process
This course will:
- provide tools and techniques to apply to any project.
- allow time for small group discussion each week.
- showcase successful directors and their approaches.
- allow you to pose questions to the instructor during class sessions.
- recommend reading and viewing, but not require outside class work.
During the course term, you will have the opportunity to purchase a 45-minute, 1-on-1 meeting with your instructor to receive additional personalized guidance.
Live Online CourseAccessibility
Sundance Collab provides accommodations and support services to participants with disabilities. Accommodations and services are designed to meet the needs of each participant. Please email us at accessibility@sundance.org to arrange for services.
Scholarships
Sundance Collab offers a limited number of need-based, partial and full scholarships. Scholarship applications can be submitted until one week before the registration deadline and do not stack with discounts or promotions, including early registration. Due to the volume of applicants, we are not always able to provide a scholarship, but we may still offer a spot in the course.
Outline
Topics covered include:
- The role of the director in film, television and digital media
- Set protocol
- Directing do’s and don’ts
- Anatomy of a scene
- Tone and intent
- The importance of point of view
Topics covered include:
- Crafting the look of your film with your department heads
- Mise-en-scène
- Identifying locations and building sets
- Blocking
- Selecting shot types
- Lenses as a tool for storytelling
- Choosing when and how to move the camera
- Creating storyboards, shots lists, and overheads
Topics covered include:
- Casting
- Using rehearsal time effectively
- Communicating with actors
- Giving notes
- Acting techniques
- Directing approaches
- Creating a safe space for your performers
Topics covered include:
- The art of creative collaboration
- The roles of the producing team
- The art and ethics of AI as a prep tool
- Making your set as sustainable as possible
- The responsibilities of the assistant director(s)
- The importance of a script supervisor
- When and how to hire a casting director
- Working with an editor
- Sound design, music, color and VFX
- Finishing and delivering your film
Instructor
Rachel Raimist
Instructor
Dr. Rachel Raimist is a trailblazing television director and tenured professor of directing whose work centers on smart women, messy families and the magical reality of adolescence. Her directing credits span drama, comedy, action, musicals, science fiction and fantasy. She has brought her distinctive voice to series including Elsbeth (CBS), Bel-Air (Peacock), The Spiderwick Chronicles (Roku), Sex Life (Netflix) and Wu-Tang: An American Saga (Hulu), among others.
At the Directors Guild of America (DGA), Raimist made history as the first woman appointed Co-Chair of the Special Projects Committee by President Lesli Linka Glatter. She has also served as Alternate Co-Chair of the Women’s Steering Committee, Co-Chair of the Disability Committee and Alt. Co-Chair of the Latino Committee. A passionate advocate for equity and representation, Raimist co-founded the DGA’s annual Women’s Day and leads initiatives spotlighting groundbreaking, diverse directors. She continues to champion inclusive storytelling both on screen and behind the camera.
Raimist is the Morgan Woodward Endowed Distinguished Professor at the University of Texas at Arlington. She also has taught for Sundance, Netflix, African Creative Television, Tyler Perry Studios, the Latino Film Institute and many colleges and universities. She serves on the Advisory Board of Kōawa Studios at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. She has taught filmmaking, feminism and storytelling at more than 30 colleges and universities and has filmed and taught in more than 20 countries.
Rachel earned her PHD in the Department of Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies at the University of Minnesota where in 2010 the Rachel Raimist Feminist Media Center was named in her honor.
FAQ
In Sundance Collab’s Live Online courses, participants attend live, virtual class sessions on the same day and time for a specified period. These sessions are led by an instructor and in some cases, supported by a team of advisors. In some courses, you are given assignments with submission deadlines to help you take the next step with your work.
- Each week you will be able to attend live lectures via Zoom video and ask questions of your instructor.
- In some courses, you will receive individualized feedback from your course advisor on elements of your work.
- In some courses, you will have the opportunity to have a 1-on-1 session with your advisor. Depending on the course, this session may be included or may be purchased separately for an additional cost. Check the course description for specifics.
All members of the Sundance Collab community are welcome to register for Sundance Collab courses. Please review the course description and any eligibility requirements to ensure the course is a good fit. If you have any questions about a course, please email collab_courses@sundance.org.
Note that space is limited. If the registration window is open, you will see a “Register” button on the course page. If there is an application, applications are considered as they are received and applicants are accepted on a rolling basis until the course is full or the deadline has passed, whichever comes first.
We do not allow creative partners to do our live online courses as a team. However, both creators can individually register for the course.
Part of Sundance Collab's unique educational approach is to create a teaching team for every course. Each class is led by an instructor who may be accompanied by additional course advisors. This allows us to keep an intimate ratio of participants to advisors and to provide a diversity of voices and approaches to the course content.
We often offer a limited number of need-based, full or partial scholarships. Check the course description to see if that course currently has scholarships available. Scholarships are prioritized for one per person per year (from the date of issue). Scholarship applications are available up to one week before the registration deadline. To apply for a scholarship,complete the registration form by clicking the REGISTER button and selecting the option to apply for a scholarship, if available.
Applicants will be notified about their scholarship decision prior to the first day of the course. Due to the volume of applicants, we are not always able to provide a scholarship, but we may still offer a spot in the course. In this case, depending on the course, payment plans may be available and can be selected at checkout.
Yes, we offer two or three-part payment plans for Live Online courses, depending on the length of the course. In all cases, the first payment is due at the point of registration. The remaining payment(s) are spread out throughout the course term. For specific payment plan dates for a course, please reach out to our team at: collab_courses@sundance.org.
Yes, you are welcome to take a live, online course even if you can’t make the live sessions. Recordings of each class session are available online by the following day so you can keep up with the course lectures. For courses that include a 1-on-1 session with an advisor or instructor, the meeting is scheduled according to your (and their) availability.
All sessions are recorded and usually made available within one business day. The videos will also contain the chat and transcript from the class session, viewable in the video playbar.
Participants will have access to the recordings for one year following the last class session.
All participants will receive a Certificate of Completion. The certificate will include the name associated with your Sundance Collab account.
You can find any courses that you are enrolled in or have already completed in the profile section of your Sundance Collab account under “Courses.”
You can join a course via a computer or mobile device. All of our live, online courses are conducted via Zoom.
Download and set up the Zoom software (https://zoom.us/download) and make sure you have the latest update. Here are some great resources from Zoom’s Knowledge Base to take a deeper dive into using Zoom:
- Watch Zoom's Video Tutorials or review training materials on the Getting Started page
- Join a Live Training from Zoom
If you have any further questions, please email collab_courses@sundance.org.
Sundance Collab provides accommodations and support services to participants with disabilities. Please contact us at (435) 776-7790 or email us at accessibility@sundance.org to ask any questions or to discuss your specific needs after you have been accepted into the course.