大象传媒

Meet Roisin and find out about her life as a freelance music video director and stylist. Part of our Bitesize world of work series.

I was always incredibly good at communicating a visual idea through words.
  • Roisin directs music videos. She listens to an artist鈥檚 song and creates a video treatment for it. That includes writing down shot lists, ideas for lighting and what she鈥檚 trying to achieve visually

  • She works long days - sometimes from 6am to 11pm

  • Roisin is a freelancer, which means she is self-employed. She feels she has been able to progress further and more quickly this way

  • Roisin studied English, Media Studies and Art at A-level. She didn鈥檛 want to go to university, though she did recognise that it might have opened up opportunities for her, such as allowing her to move to another country

  • She says it鈥檚 important to get as much experience as possible. Often this can be low- or unpaid work

  • Roisin believes that the key skills for this role are good communication and organisational skills. It also helps to be able to play around with your ideas.

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A similar role to a music video director is a TV and film directors. They lead the creative and technical production for cinema and television.

What to expect if you want to be a TV or film director

  • TV or film director average salary: variable
  • TV or film director typical working hours: 39 to 41 hours per week

What qualifications do you need to be a TV or film director?

You could get into this role via a university course or a college course such as a Level 3 Diploma or a T-level in Media, Broadcast and Production (England-only, from Sept 2023). You can also work towards the role, produce and release your own films or do specialist courses run by private training providers.

Sources: LMI for All, National Careers Service,

This information is a guide and is constantly changing. Please check the for the latest information and all the qualifications needed and the for more on T-levels.

For careers advice in all parts of the UK visit: , , and .


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