JonathanLB
Carbonite Member
I just find this very interesting because I operate exactly the opposite -- if at all possible, I REALLY want my actors involved, at a story and dialogue level, not just to show up and recite lines or "act." I like to work with my leads far ahead of the process. In fact, I had my lead actor and actress for my feature before I had my producers, my DP, my 1st A.D., or anyone else. They were aboard from the beginning, and I've just finished incorporating final notes from them a month before production. It's very valuable for me to hear, "I don't think I can play this character as sympathetic as he should be if this scene plays out this way," and then I can ask, "Oh, ok why do you think that? What are you having difficulty with?" Then we discuss it and I can either explain that I see it a different way, don't worry about it, we'll make it work, or, "Ok what if I changed THIS and THAT, would that make your character more sympathetic?" Then we try to arrive at some sort of improved scene. Or my lead actress has helped me make her dialogue more "feminine" and more the types of things she would say, which I am fine with, because I like my actors to make their roles their own. I believe that lends them the most authenticity.
Sure, there's something to be said for casting a chicken as a cow and trying to make everyone believe it's a cow, but if I have a cow.. I'd rather just have the cow play the cow! Same with actors, I'd rather they play a character closer to how they actually are, with as much in common as possible. I'm not in the business of taking huge unnecessary risks. Filmmaking has enough risks, and in my mind a lot of the battle is won or lost in the casting process, so if I can figure out a way to work with the actors to shape the characters in a way that makes sense for all of us, the final performances are going to be a lot better. I won't change the character in a way that compromises my vision, but I'm happy to make the character more like the actor as far as mannerisms and dialogue if I think those will play and make sense in the role.
My leads are keenly aware of the entire script, and how the story plays out, they know each other's roles very well, etc. There will be no confusion when we step on that set, about goals, motivations, mannerisms, etc. They are aware of a sufficient enough backstory, their character arcs, the overall theme of the film, and it makes me a lot more confident as a director to involve my actors to a maximum extent. That's why it's tough for me to imagine just using the actors as pawns, because at least the quality of people I work with are extremely creative in their own right (they are actors, but have branched out to doing writing, directing, and producing of their own) and have good creative instincts that I enjoy tapping into!
Sure, there's something to be said for casting a chicken as a cow and trying to make everyone believe it's a cow, but if I have a cow.. I'd rather just have the cow play the cow! Same with actors, I'd rather they play a character closer to how they actually are, with as much in common as possible. I'm not in the business of taking huge unnecessary risks. Filmmaking has enough risks, and in my mind a lot of the battle is won or lost in the casting process, so if I can figure out a way to work with the actors to shape the characters in a way that makes sense for all of us, the final performances are going to be a lot better. I won't change the character in a way that compromises my vision, but I'm happy to make the character more like the actor as far as mannerisms and dialogue if I think those will play and make sense in the role.
My leads are keenly aware of the entire script, and how the story plays out, they know each other's roles very well, etc. There will be no confusion when we step on that set, about goals, motivations, mannerisms, etc. They are aware of a sufficient enough backstory, their character arcs, the overall theme of the film, and it makes me a lot more confident as a director to involve my actors to a maximum extent. That's why it's tough for me to imagine just using the actors as pawns, because at least the quality of people I work with are extremely creative in their own right (they are actors, but have branched out to doing writing, directing, and producing of their own) and have good creative instincts that I enjoy tapping into!
