Actors and their lines Part II

Big ScareCrow

Big ScareCrow

Well-known member
I've got an idea on actors and their lines. My second question would be concerning rehersals. Do you reherse the wholo movie at once. Or by scene? I was thinking almost reheresing a particular scene the same day before a shoot. So everything is fresh in everyone's mind. Are there any suggestions to improve the rehersal process.
 
You're going to rehearse as you block the scene. Leave it at that unless it is some complicated action sequence.
 
For one indy film I acted in, we rehearsed one scene the night before the scene was shot. This scene turned out being the best one in the movie because everybody figured out all kinds of reactions and subtle mannerisms etc.

I would suggest rehearsing any "big" scene in your movie before the camera and crew are anywhere near the actors. i.e. at your house the night before. This way the actors feel they have a slight "edge" over the film crew and give them more confidence.
 
Rehearsal is the best preparation you can do, IMHO! If the actors are working their way through stuff on set you waste time and footage in production and post...If you are shooting Guerilla, it really helps incase you need to throw your actors around because of the threat of a bust...What you do in a rehearsal is SO evident in the final product. Just doing it in blocking is like telling a fighter to warm up before a fight but not preparing for the fight in the lead up...DO YOURSELF A HUGE FAVOR AND REHEARSE. Doing it in sections is fine if you prefer but doing the entire piece first is better so that when you are doing it by scene, they have already had a total sense of the movie...not just by reading it...also helps with continuity...

Stan Harrington
www.xristosproductions.com
 
I completely agree with Stan. Take a look at a theatre production. Plenty of rehearsal there... and the final product is (probably) closer to what the director had envisioned for the film. Rehearsal also helps to develop the relationships between characters because you can pinpoint what they should be instead of wasting time exploring relationships between characters on the set.
 
I have a question similar to this... I got my cast based on their characteristics from their own personalities... So I try making it easy on them and I'll get in position and act their whole scene out for them... Explain what should be going on in their head, emotions, tone, etc. I also make them feel good about themselves... Than when we rehearse, everything comes out perfect... But when the camera is recording it sounds like their reading or if they lose their personalities... And by personalities, I mean the personalities I met them by and put them in the movie for... Than, when the dialogue/action comes out good, the shot comes out bad... Than when the shot comes out bad, the dialogue/action might come out good... (I can complain about Sunday forever, thank God I have a 2AM reshoot next week.)

My question is... Does this sound its like a common problem to come across? Please let me know...

Thanks
 
FutureDVXUser:

You'd be well advised to read "Directing Actors" by Judith Weston before you continue much further.
It will give you answers to almost every thought you mentioned, and supply some, if not all, of the cure to the situations you wrote about.

If you're in the Los Angeles area, you might consider taking her director's courses as well. Highly recommended. If not, she runs several weekend courses nationwide. Her site is judithweston.com.

HTH, YMMV, etc.
 
FutureDVXUser,
Since you cast them based on their personalities have some trust in your choice and don't make it easy for them. Don't act their whole scene out for them except as a last resort. Let them find the performance guided by your suggestions. The scenes will play fresher and stay fresher if you let them develop more organically.
 
Thanks guys,

I'm gonna look into buy it... I've skimmed through two Tarantino books I have... And my tv production teacher was an indie filmmaker and used to give directing lessons during that class...

Thanks again
 
emotepix said:
FutureDVXUser:

You'd be well advised to read "Directing Actors" by Judith Weston before you continue much further.
Click to expand...
If I may quote Judith "In this situation I would circle the donut and intoduce him as if he's a new character in the scene."

what the hell are you talking about Judith?
 
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