26 Production Director Interview Questions & Answers
1. What are your benefits expectations?
How to Answer
Oftentimes, production directors receive some other kinds of perks of working this job. If the production requires travel, they are given a stipend for food and hotels, and even sometimes gas money when traveling to the productions. Otherwise, they receive some kind of stipend for buying tickets to see other productions or to send friends and family. The candidate should discuss what other benefits they hope to receive.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"At my previous job, I received free hotel stays when I had to work for a three-day stretch close to the production. I would appreciate getting a stipend for staying at hotels while on the job if they require more than an hour of travel from my home."
Written by Christina Erne
2. How well do you work with quick changes?
How to Answer
Sometimes, a piece of the set will break, a cast member will get sick, or weather will interrupt filming. The candidate should discuss their experience working with changing situations and how they are able to manage the situation even on short notice.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I work well with sudden changes because I consider myself very adaptable. I always have a back-up plan and can make it look like our first plan in the first place."
Written by Christina Erne
3. Do you consider yourself someone who deals well with stress?
How to Answer
The candidate should discuss their experience working under stress in the workplace, and how they continue to work well despite being pressured or feeling stressed. Especially in this superior role, stress can come through many outlets of the job, and the candidate should be able to talk about how they have worked in the past with stress and are confident they will succeed.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I feel that I am able to handle a lot more work even when I am stressed, because I am more focused and less worried about aspects of the project that do not concern me. I am able to give others some responsibility and focus on my job alone."
Written by Christina Erne
4. What is your experience with technical directions on set?
How to Answer
The candidate should be well versed to both give and receive technical directions. This shows they are capable of doing the job and communicating to their team in a timely and widely understood way in the field of producing and directing.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I am able to coordinate well with all branches of the production staff. From discussing scrims in lighting to simple direction like stage left and right, these make the production run smoothly."
Written by Christina Erne
5. Who is your inspiration in this career field?
Answer Example
"My inspiration in directing is Bo Christensen. He has sent multiple films to the OSCARs for award winning foreign films, and I am inspired by his work."
Written by Christina Erne
6. Have you progressed in your career as you expected?
How to Answer
Is this the candidate's dream job? Is this a jumping off point for them? The candidate should discuss the steps it took them to get here, where they plan to go from here, and how they feel about their previous work experience. Has a lengthier path given them more opportunities to learn? Has a quick jump through the ranks given them a fresh look at productions and added a new take on shows? Explain your journey and why it makes you the best fit for the job.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I have surprisingly taken a fast route to becoming a production director, and I am proud of how fast I have learned all the skills necessary to do this job. I never expected to be here this early in my career, but I believe it will make me stronger developing my skills at one company for a series of years."
Written by Christina Erne
7. What is an example of a time you made a mistake on the job and how did you remedy it?
How to Answer
The candidate should demonstrate the ways they are constantly trying to improve their work and fix mistakes by talking about a way they problem solved their way out of one in the past. This will show the determination to succeed.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"One time in a dress rehearsal, I was part of a production team and I gave the incorrect stage orders to a cast member, and they had to scramble to get on stage on time. I have learned how much accuracy matters in the job, and that's why I am understanding of those still learning."
Written by Christina Erne
8. How do you manage a relationship between management and production staff?
How to Answer
The candidate should discuss how they will try to create a bridge between production staff and those who are ultimately in charge of the production. Staff sometimes want to voice their own opinions, and it is important to have a healthy relationship between the two.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I will host one hour weekly meetings where staff can feel comfortable coming to me to voice their concerns or changes, so I can pass the information along and we can make healthy changes."
Written by Christina Erne
9. In what ways do you try to improve a production on the set?
How to Answer
The candidate should discuss specific plans they have to improve sets. Whether it is holding meetings with individual groups on set about what they need to do during the productions season, or hiring professionals to come in to train cast and crew for a day, the candidate should have some ideas how to elevate the team.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I find that doing team building exercises is a great way for everyone to learn how to work together well. Being a member of the production team widely varies from being a cast member, but the two need to learn how to work together. I find that setting aside a few hours or even a day for team building makes for a stronger production in the long term."
Written by Christina Erne
10. How would you describe yourself in five words?
How to Answer
The candidate should find ways of describing themselves, both their personality and their working attitude. This will give the interviewer an idea of what they will contribute to the workplace in terms of their attitude, not just what they are capable of doing in the job.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I would describe myself as witty, spontaneous, creative, humorous, and dedicated."
Written by Christina Erne
11. Have you ever taken a position in a company you regretted?
How to Answer
While many people believe it is important to leave the past in the past, the hiring manager may want to know a little more about the candidate and what they were doing before this job interview. The candidate may talk about any previous positions they have taken and why they were either not successful at it, or why they did not like it. They should find a way to circle back to why they ultimately decided to pick this career as their passion.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I regret taking a position in college as an on-air talent. I find that I am best behind the scenes, instead of directly in the production. While I am glad I learned what it is like to be talent in the production, which helps me to relate to them, I probably embarrassed myself on stage and I much prefer being behind the curtain."
Written by Christina Erne
12. How do you take charge of a situation?
How to Answer
A production director should be someone who fixes any and all problems on set, and should be able to take control when things go awry. The candidate should talk about their experience fixing situations that have gone wrong and discussing the ways in which they consider themselves a successful fix-it person on the job.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I take charge of a situation both in my personal life and professional life when I want things to go the right way. I find the best way to fix something is as soon as you see the problem, and in the workplace I will be respectful to those working on the production, yet any mistakes I will use as a teaching lesson for everyone so it doesn't happen again."
Written by Christina Erne
13. How would you describe your leadership skills?
How to Answer
The candidate should describe their previous experience as a leader, and their ability to take command of a production and lead the entire team to success. They should talk about what they believe makes a good leader.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I find that my best leadership skills are that I am understanding yet demanding. I try to push my team to do the best work they can, and understanding when things do not go perfectly right, but I also push them to do better next time and get them excited to succeed."
Written by Christina Erne
14. Why do you want to become a production director?
How to Answer
The candidate should discuss what traits of their personality make them a good fit for the job. They should discuss what has lead them to want to take this kind of job and why they are so passionate about the career.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I have always wanted to get into the film industry and I feel I have a keen eye for what a good production should be. I want to be a production director to change the film industry."
Written by Christina Erne
15. What are your salary expectations?
How to Answer
A production director is typically someone who has spent many years in producing and directing, and is looking at a salary above starting. A typical entering salary would be between $60,000-70,000 depending on the size of the production, the amount of funding they receive for their productions, and where the shows are being performed or recorded. The candidate should discuss what they believe they should make based on their prior experience and come to a decision in the meeting.
Written by Christina Erne
16. Why is this job right for you at this time?
How to Answer
The interviewer wants to know more about the candidate's aspirations in life and their past experiences. They want to know why the candidate feels they are ready to take on this hefty responsibility as a production director. The candidate should discuss why they feel this is the right time for them to take on a role as large as this one, and why they feel they are prepared to do so.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"This job is a perfect fit for me at this stage of my life. I have been working in productions since high school and I have worked my way up the ranks and have learned what it takes to succeed in this industry. I am ready to take on this large role, and I feel the creative juices I have been stimulating for years are ready to be put to good use."
Written by Christina Erne
17. What previous experience do you have directing an entire production?
How to Answer
Anyone applying for the job of production director should have some kind of experience directing a show on their own. Being able to take a position like this requires the ability to know how each part is moving, and making sure nothing is missed. The candidate has the chance to talk about what experience they have in directing in the past and how that will help them in this job.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I have directed several productions at the college level, and I had some of my technical directors move on to higher positions because of what they learned from me. I have learned how to make sure everything runs smoothly while also finding ways to improve upon each show."
Written by Christina Erne
18. In what ways do you advance a production?
How to Answer
A hiring manager is looking for someone who is constantly striving to do more and do better work. The candidate should discuss the ways in which they feel they will add to how the entire production moves, and especially the position of production director requires someone who is going to change the way things are done around the set. The candidate should describe the ways in which they advance work and move productions forward, improve upon them, and ultimately put out the best product possible.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I am someone who is constantly working both artistically and technically to find ways to save money on productions while making them extravagant in their own way. I am unlike most production directors in the way that I am never happy with the final product and want to constantly improve show after show."
Written by Christina Erne
19. How do you work as part of a team?
How to Answer
The candidate should be someone who is able to not only manage a team and direct a group, but work well with them and be someone that others want to work with. The candidate should discuss their team working skills and how they know they will be a good addition to a team.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I feel that I am a great leader of a team, and I am able to take direction the same way I am able to give it out. I feel that putting yourself on the same level as your co-workers allows them to respect you, and that way more can get done without any tension in the workplace."
Written by Christina Erne
20. What part of the career do you find the most rewarding?
How to Answer
The interviewer wants to know what keeps the candidate coming back to work each day. Passion keeps a worker wanting to do the job instead of feeling like they have to do the job. The candidate should discuss what keeps them returning to work and why they love being a production director so much.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I find that watching the final production is the most rewarding part of doing this job. I love seeing how the ultimate job turned out and see how everyone I directed worked together like how I wanted."
Written by Christina Erne
21. What unique skills set you apart from other candidates?
How to Answer
The candidate should figure out what skills of a production director and manager they have that set them apart from others. They should discuss why they will be the best fit for the job based on their experience, knowledge of the field, knowledge and command over production and talent crew, and more.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"Although many production directors may have similar qualifications and experience, I am unique in the way that I have made my way through the ranks and have worked nearly every other job in production that exists. This makes me understand each of the technical producers on the team so I can treat them how I know they want to be treated."
Written by Christina Erne
22. What do you hope to learn from this job?
How to Answer
The interview wants to know what the candidate still hopes to achieve in their career while they are in the new job. Everyone can always gain to learn something from their teammates and in new jobs, and the candidate should discuss what they hope to improve upon.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I hope that in this job I will constantly be learning, although I already feel that I am a strong production director. I hope that I will learn from my other production staff to learn the latest news in the world of production and keep improving my strengths."
Written by Christina Erne
23. What is part of the production director career do you find most difficult?
How to Answer
The candidate may talk about something they struggled with as a part of the job in the past, and how they will be working to remedy this. The candidate may talk about a weakness they once had on the job and how they have learned to adapt.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I find the stress of the job and making sure everyone works together to make the production go smoothly the most difficult part of the job. I have learned to relax and trust the team to do their jobs, but I also have work to do to ensure my anxiety on the job does not affect how I treat my co-workers."
Written by Christina Erne
24. What is your favorite production you have worked with in the past?
How to Answer
The candidate should discuss a successful production they worked on in the past and why they take so much pride in it. The candidate should discuss what aspects of their work made the production so successful and describe how they will bring these aspects of their most successful productions to the table at the new job.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"In the past, my favorite production I worked on was a play on Broadway. I learned how important it is to stay calm when things are changing, and I feel this production was my favorite because I worked with very experienced team members who were able to take direction and adapt as we went on."
Written by Christina Erne
25. Why do you think you are a good fit for this position?
How to Answer
The candidate should discuss their previous work and how it reflects why they believe they will succeed when they take this position. They should discuss what will set them apart from other candidates and what unique ways they know they will work well with the team and on this kind of production.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I believe I am a good fit for this job position because I have worked on productions for the past few years and I know what it takes to make a production get done on time and get it produced well. I know my way around the production set and I know how to communicate well with every member of the team so the job gets done."
Written by Christina Erne
26. What skills do you have that make you a good fit for a production director?
How to Answer
A production director must have great management skills and a keen eye for art and small technicalities in producing, from scripts and language to lighting and nuances on set. The candidate should talk about what skills make them a good fit for the job, and what skills will make them a special fit.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I feel that my leadership will make me an essential part of this team. I have a great command of production and making it go smoothly while also producing high quality work, and I can gain respect of the cast and crew while doing so."
Written by Christina Erne