Ok, I'm in the same boat as the rest of you... but I've directed some stuff too. I even had a producer come along and ask me to direct his short movie. I didn't get paid, no one did, but for the first time I didn't have to worry about the money. That was nice.
I didn't really read all the messages but here's my two cents.
Wanna be a rock star director? DRESS LIKE IT. Your ideas sound better when you look better than everyone else. People are dumb like that.
Besides, what does a director even do? You've got a DP to shoot it, a writer to write it, sound guys to get the sound, actors to act, JUST KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND HOW YOU WANT IT DONE THEN GET THOSE PEOPLE YOU CAN TRUST TO DO THAT BUT GIVE THEM PLENTY OF SPACE TO ADD THEIR OWN MAGIC.
That's filmmaking. That's directing, secretly manipulating people to do your bidding Muhahahahahahhah!
(cause you can't do it all yourself)
Dress sharp, talk fast, stick to the plan.
-S