Pick up a camera. Shoot something. No matter how small, no matter how cheesy, no matter whether your friends and your sister star in it. Put your name on it as director. Now you're a director. Everything after that you're just negotiating your budget and your fee.
The law does not pretend to punish everything that is dishonest. That would seriously interfere with business.
Character builds slowly, but it can be torn down within incredible swiftness.

