This might involve hiring actors who will work for lower pay, asking family members or friends to help out with some of the behind-the-scenes work, or coming up with less expensive strategies for executing an idea. Film directors are typically under an enormous amount of stress, since they make most of the decisions, and those decisions ultimately determine whether the film will be a success or not. The entire production process of a film can take over a year. The production phase is the busiest and most time-consuming period.