The director is the person who thinks up the artistic interpretation of a script and creates a theatrical production. He or she then works with producers, technical directors, and actors to create this vision in the form a production. The term is derived from the Latin directus which means "straight". In this respect a director stays true to his or her vision in every aspect of production.

Today the most famous directors are film directors. Directors like Steven Spielberg and Michael Moore attend prestigious events and win awards. They are also sought out by producers to create movies. Producers often choose a story and arrange to have it written, then they pick a director that they feel can bring the story to life in a way that will entertain people. Spielberg is one of the most important directors of the 20th century. His vision brought new life to the movie industry with films like "Jaws" and "E.T.". Michael Moore is responsible for the new popularity of the documentary. His hits like "Bowling for Columbine" and "Fahrenheit 9/11" were box office smash hits.

New independent directors like Darren Aronofsky often write, produce and direct their own movies, this gives them maximum artistic control of a project. This is called auteur direction. The principle generally holds that a film is a work of art which is a creation of the director. Some feel that producers, who often pay for films, can stifle the artistic vision. Directors who produce their own movies do not run into that problem. Regardless of artistic control, directors play an important role in modern film creation.