Do directors have to be good writers?

[Coldkilla]

I've noticed that a lot of well known Directors are also the writers for their projects. Are all great Directors writers? If not I'm sure it certainly helps, but don't films usually have people that write the project while the director, directs it? Reason I ask is for my own personal research.

Thanks.

 

[darkswordsman17]

I think writing is used a little liberally as a lot of director's just adapt it to a movie more than write it (so they'll take a scene and write it into a format that can be acted out better). I'm not saying that doesn't take talent, but in a lot of cases they're just adapting something, not actually "writing" it. The reason why that often works is that the director then knows what they were aiming for.

 

[Coldkilla]

Right. Thanks!