Actors trying to take over my role, director!!!

Set is for shooting - not for working out interpersonal problems.
Nip it in the bud, or find new actors - just my 2 cents.
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Absolutely Luis.

As for filthrich and being 6'7" and his friend is 300 lbs. This isnt about physical intimidation. You guys wouldnt scare me for a second. And I'm a foot shorter than you. It's about being in charge. It has nothing to do with who can beat up whom. Save that sh*t for schoolyard or the alleys.
 
crzyns said:
Should I just give them the flick?
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GageFX said:
If that is even a question then you should not be directing.
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I sure agree with this.

But, he did mention he is still in school, you didn't mention College or High School, because in the Actors eye that makes a big difference, eventhough it shouldn't. They might look at you as a kid and not take you serious.

But if you're not in High School, then what GageFX says is so true. Don't mean to be Harsh but if you gotta ask that kind of question maybe directing is not for you.
 
Give your actors food, credit, and copy for no-budget films.

Be sure your script is WGA registered or Copywritten in someway.

Don't give them any more control than adlibing

GET MORE PEOPLE ON SET! - You can't mix sound and work a camera at the same time. it's just impossible. If you don't know anything about lighting, get a gaffer and a DP. If you don't know much about the manual settings on prosumer camcorders, get a DP. If you are having trouble keeping on schedule, get a production manager or Assistant director. If you have a clapper, get a PA. If you're using Final cut pro or a half decent editing system, Get someone to Log your shots. If you have FX get an FX artist. You need basic make-up so if you don't know how to do that, get a make-up artist. If you have a 35mm lens or are shooting in 35mm, get an AC and 2nd AC for pullfocus zoom etc.

Major motion picturs have over 100 people on set. low budget films have about 40. No budget films have around 8-15.

Try shooting a couple shorts before doing a feature.
 
Actors tried to take over my first film too and I said my film is NOT a democracy. My second film went smooth as silk (well a lot smoother than the first, LOL). :)

-Nate
 
ChrisHurn said:
Regarding your point on working alone - that's all good and well, but you should definitely be open to working with people on things like editing, locations, sound, whatever - filmmaking is a collaborative process and sometimes it's better to have extra people around. I'm not saying you shouldn't write shoot and cut the film yourself - but you might want to get used to having other people around if you want to get further than making films in your basement.
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Please, listen to Chris! Movie-making is a collaborative process. I come from a writing background (non-fiction), which you can do totally alone, and it is a process adapting to such a collaborative medium as film, but everything I have done has been much better when I've had professionals in each position, doing their best at their jobs while I do the best at mine. It's hard to trust other people at first with something as seemingly important as your film, but you will find in time if you can make those connections who are professionals, it's worth trusting them.

I don't think it's bad to write and director your own project, by any means, in fact I think that's ideal (you know what you want out of your script). But it's even tough to be both director and producer. I've had to do it, of course, on every one of my projects to some extent, though I hired a UPM for the last music video to help after I had gotten the ball rolling. It's very difficult, I hate producing and directing, but sometimes you have no other choice. But when it starts to become that you're doing 5, 6, 7, 8 jobs yourself, that is just not professional.
 
Filmmaking is a collabo process. I did (and do) take advice from other choreographers and even camera ops if they're shooting and I'm infront of the camera. It's a difference between this and letting someone take over though.

-Nate
 
This is a mixed bag, it is you're film, your vision, and a change of the script here of there in the actors vision may kill the flow of the story. So yes in this film, you need to put your foot down soon, don't be an ass, be a diplomat, trust me thats harder than it sounds. do it sooner than later so if you have to replace one or more of them, you'll have more time to do it.

This being said, there are time you have to make changes to make your actors happy, In my film Burn it Down (in post now) I had an amazing actress, Miss Ho is one of the better actors I've ever worked with, however she is also young, 18 at the time, and was not ok with kissing on Camera. so I cut the Kiss. I knew that killing the kiss, and having her play the part, would be better than replacing her, and keeping the Kiss.


as a new director I have just one thing I can tell you, keep pushing forward, anything that can go wrong probably will, just assume it will, (hope it doesn't) but when and if it does, just keep on pushing forward, don't let it stop you for longer than it takes to take a deep breath (punch a wall) clear your mind and fix it, and keep moving forward.

Thank you
Jason Miller
 
Don't worry..... If your still in school, You still have a ways to go. It takes a few years to acquire your own style. When I was younger (mid twenties), I was the more macho and authoritative type. As I look back, It was my insecurities that demanded respect on the set. Now I get the respect "The Gentle Way" There is never a doubt who is in charge on one of my sets and it's very clear that were all working towards the same goal.
The key is to develop a positive creative atmosphere that people want to perform for you and go the extra mile. You can still be in control without being an A-hole.

frisco
 
Actors should certainly have the freedom to express themselves but only if it services the script. The tricky part for you is that you wear so many hats. Firstly you need to sit with them as the writer and only the writer. Actors will always look to make their part the strongest and will try to re-work scenes to make themselves stand out, you have to know where this is good work and where it is just ego.

In terms of camera movement etc. that is something for you, your d.p. and camera operator to work-out and very rarely involves the actors.

Often questions raised (even bad questions) can force you to think why you want to do things a certain way and that is never a bad thing.
 
My dad gave me a few bits of wisdom growing up:
1. Everyone is a fool in their own way son so I want you to go out there and be the biggest fool in the room.

2. There is always a better deal

the second one is what you need here when it comes to actors, equipment, locations, script, or any other aspect of your shoot or life in general we do the best with what we have but never lose sight that there is always a better deal available. The only reason your actors are acting this way is that they feel entitled to take control now their intentions may or may not be bad they may actually believe that their way will make a better picture. Remember YOU GET WHAT YOU ACCEPT.
accept nothing less than what YOU want on YOUR set

There is always a better deal
 
The problem with actors trying to change it up..... Most times they are not aware of the big picture and how the scene may connect with another or how important it is to telling the story. That said, I welcome input or may even push an actor to go beyond because his or her personality may help the scene.

A "Good" actor will pull you aside and say..... "After we do it the way it's in the script and your happy with it....... I could try it this way if you would like" At that point you could agree or just thank the person for being helpful.

The reason your actors are changing the script....... Is because they are being allowed to.......

frisco
 
frisco, this big picture statement is true for more than Just actors, it can be true for a DP trying for a "better comp" gaffer trying for better color, you name it.

Jason
 
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