Crossword Genius

Ghastly actor, not a movie maker … (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

director

'movie maker' is the definition.
(I know that director is a type of movie maker)

'ghastly actor not a' is the wordplay.
'ghastly' becomes 'dire'.
'not' is a deletion indicator.
'actor' with 'a' taken away is 'ctor'.
'dire'+'ctor'='DIRECTOR'

(Other definitions for director that I've seen before include "Record it (anag.)" , "Creditor made to create film or play" , "Managing board member" , "Business manager or film maker" , "Senior person in a firm, executive or non-executive" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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