Western directors are, probably, the most well-paid in the world.  Their popularity is growing and their movies attract the majority of people, who are more or less interested in movies made in our day.  Among other western stars, western directors are considered to be in the first 5 (ranging on the level of popularity and honorariums).

These western directors are the individuals who can visualize the film script, and then guide the actors and production crew to carry out the chosen vision. These people have the artistic control over everything regarding film making, from the film script to the financial aspects.

Thus, there are different aspects of movie making that all the western directors must pay attention to. For example, it is their job to define the artistic vision of the whole film, they control the film's flow and content, direct and manage the actors' performance, choose the most appropriate place for the film to be shot, manage the technical details of film making (such as lightning, the positioning of cameras), etc.

One of the most successful western directors, who has made a great contribution to the making of modern movies, is Clint Eastwood. Over the past three decades, this man has been responsible for directing a wide range of films which had both famous and critical acclaim. At the same time it's known that he has his own production company, and as a result, has a considerable control over some other movie projects. At first, Clint Eastwood wasn't among the western directors.

In the 1950's, he started his career as an actor and had already appeared in approximately 55 films. His first films were rather undistinguished: (1964) "A Fistful of Dollars,"  (1965) "For a few Dollars More," (1966) "The Good, The Bad and the Ugly," and others. So, Eastwood became popular for his so-called "tight guy" roles.

A few years later Clint Eastwood became a movie star in films which he directed. By the mid 1970's, he was recognized as a talented director which had an extraordinary and consistent style. He is still famous for his high-quality dramas with a pessimistic tone (for example, "Unforgiven," "Mystic River," and "Million Dollar Baby". A widespread critical approbation was given to his famous work "Unforgiven," in 1992. But at the same time, Clint had achieved the highest box office ratings when compared with other western directors in the early 1990's.

Clint Eastwood differs from the rest of popular western directors, thanks to his stylistic economy borne out of the process of production. He got used to working with tight budgets and short deadlines. He also adopted many working practices of Don Siegel (his mentor).

Thus, directing is the second career of Clint Eastwood. He received more critical acclaim. Unlike many other actors who combine their actor career with their work as director, Eastwood very often directs the films in which he doesn't play. So, he has become a highly respected director not only in the United States, but also all over the world. He's recognized for his low-cost but efficient approach to making films.