What does a director do in the UK?

A director is the creative lead on a film or video production. They’re responsible for shaping the story, tone, and visual style of the piece — and for guiding the cast and crew to deliver that vision on screen.

In the UK, a director’s role can vary depending on the scale and format of the production, but typically includes:

• Working with the client or agency to understand the brief
• Developing the creative concept and treatment
• Casting talent and directing performance
• Collaborating with the DoP on visual style and shot design
• Guiding the production team through pre-production and shooting
• Providing creative oversight in the edit

Directors are particularly vital on branded content, commercials, documentaries, and narrative work — where tone, pacing, and storytelling are everything.

If you’re looking to hire an Director of Photography in the UK, get in touch with our form below!

Looking for a different role? Check out our UK Film Crew page to find more professional crew.

Looking for a Director for a UK production?

We’ll respond within 24 hours about the availability of our crew.

How much does a director cost in the UK?

Director rates in the UK vary depending on the type of project and the level of creative involvement.

Here’s a general guide:

Corporate & Branded Content

£500–£900 per day
For interviews, internal films, or branded videos with simple setups.

Mid-Tier Commercial & Creative Projects

£1,000–£3,000 per day
For agency-led branded content, multi-day shoots, or short-form docs with pre-production support.

High-End Commercials / TVCs (via agency representation)

£5,000–£15,000+ per day
For broadcast or high-budget commercial work with global usage. These rates are typically managed through agents and negotiated alongside production teams.

For most productions, a director’s fee will either be a day rate or a flat project fee that covers creative development, shoot days, and sometimes involvement in post.

When should you hire a director?

You should hire a director when:

• You need someone to take creative ownership of the project
• You want consistency across interviews, narrative flow, visuals, and tone
• You’re producing commercials, brand films, or high-end documentaries
• You need someone to work with talent and shape performance on set
• You want help translating a brief or script into a compelling visual story

On smaller shoots, directors may work solo or as a director-producer. On larger productions, they’ll collaborate with a full team to bring the creative vision to life.

What’s the difference between a director and a DoP?

A director is responsible for the overall creative vision — guiding the story, working with talent, and making key decisions about tone, pacing, and performance.

A Director of Photography (DoP) is in charge of how that vision looks on screen — managing lighting, composition, lenses, and camera movement to bring the director’s ideas to life.

In short:

• The director says what the story needs to feel like.
• The DoP decides how that feeling should look.

They work closely together, especially on high-end shoots, to ensure every scene hits the right emotional and visual note.

Looking to hire a director in the UK?

We work with some of the UK’s most experienced freelance directors — from commercial creatives and branded content specialists to documentary filmmakers and narrative storytellers.

Whether you’re shooting in London, Manchester, Glasgow, or anywhere in between, we’ll connect you with a director who fits your brief and brings creative value to your production.

Fill out the form above and we’ll respond within 24 hours.

Looking for other roles? Check out our UK Film Crew page to explore more crew options.