Directing Actors for the first time (The real, scary ones!)

[-Elsomic-Amateur]

Hi guys,
I'm currently in the pre-production phase of a short film I'm writing/directing, and I'm planning for the first time to hire real actors.
I keep having sleepless nights fretting about how to approach directing them as I've only ever wored with friends.
Could you guys give me som advice on how to audtion actors and then go on to direct them.
Any help would be appreciated.
Cheers, Dom.

 

[hscully]

If you're in pre-production, this may not help, but an acting class is extremely useful in learning how to work with actors. Pick up a copy of Practical Handbook for the Actor by Bruder, et al. It is the foundation for acting taught at the Atlantic Theater School. If you're a quick study, it may help you learn something of the actor's process and vocabulary.

Actors come well prepared. The better the actor, the better prepared they will be. If you're prepared with your shot list and vision for the scenes they will be ready partners.

Other than that, just refrain from giving line readings

 

[Finn Yarbrough]

Different actors work in different ways, but ideally, they will be able to surprise you with the little ways they bring your characters to life, as well as be able change direction if you tell them that what they're doing doesn't quite work for whatever reason.

 

[tired]

Hi Dom,

nothing to be worried about - just be yourself.


If you're auditioning 'real' actors you will still get a great variety of experience - you need to decide just how much experience you're looking for. If it's a character driven piece with emotion then you may want actors with the experience and knowledge to give you what you want - if it's a situation comedy you may get away with newer actors.

More experienced actors may want to read the script (I always do) before they audition.

Auditions
you have to decide what you want to see, will you give them a small part of the script to read? will be be prepared (they come to the audition knowing the lines) or just cold read? either way you may need to have someone there to read the other part if it's a conversation. look for performances that give you a little more than you expected, something different and ALWAYS ask them to do it differently - if they come on strong, ask for a softer version, lighter, darker, sinister, funny - anything to push them out of their comfort zone and find out the most important thing - can they take direction? if you can't budge them from their pre conceived idea then could have trouble.

You could also ask for a certain type of monologue - comedy, drama etc, any serious actor should have a bank of 4 or 5 monologues they can call on.

It may just be a look you're after or a certain persona, you may just need to meet & greet to decide - or you may wish to audition & call back to get just the right person. It's your call, you're the director

shooting
Again - you're the director, you're the boss - good actors will own their lines and offer you colour & depth you didn't expect - you will see your vision come to life in unexpected ways - but it's your vision, no one elses. A good actor can offer you alternatives but it's your call. You will need to decide how closely you want to follow your script, actors may want to change words to fit better and sometimes that's good but.... it's your call. beware the free for all that follows " so .. is there anything you'd change?" They are actors and have ego's so while each may need to be treated differently they all need to know the boundaries - don't take any ****.

 

[combatentropy]

The best book I've read is Directing Actors, by Judith West. If I were to summarize, it would be to give your actors short, clear direction. For example, avoid, "You're angry with her, but you also feel a little guilty for your part in it. Also, you're worried about what your parents will say, and they'll be here any minute." Instead, keep it simple, and instead of talking about feelings or deep, complex psychology, focus on goal-oriented action. For example, "Get an apology" or "Try to seduce her" or "Get out of this conversation as soon as possible." There's much more she talks about, but that's the headlines.

 

[zackhosseini]

First, let me tell you that you are going to be so happy working with real actors that you'll never want to go back to working with friends. I'm seventeen and still I wish I would've started working with real actors sooner. About two years ago I started casting them and it brings your vision to life in ways you could never imagine! Smaller projects will come along, and when you would normally call your friends up on short-notice to act, now you'll be calling your actor friends up on short-notice to act. So congrats on progressing to this state, you'll love it.

Directing actors is actually just as easy/difficult as directing friends. The biggest thing is that these guys know what they're doing, so don't do any line reads (a lot of actors frown upon you spelling out their lines for them anyway), direct them with subtext, and have an open set. Take ideas from the actors - they've spent a good amount of time learning these characters after all. When you're shooting a scene, ask if anyone has anything they want to try. Some of the best stuff comes from being open for ideas. For example... when Scorsese was shooting the scene with Matthew McConaughey at the restaurant in The Wolf of Wall Street, Leonardo DiCaprio had seen McConaughey beating his chest and humming to warm up for the scene. Leo suggested they add it to the scene somehow and everyone went with it. Now it's one of the most memorable scenes from the film - even dominating the end of the trailer.

Last thing, about directing with subtext, if you're like me you're used to directing your friends by telling them exactly what they're feeling, how they need to feel, how to say what they're saying, and basically you're acting for them. It may not be the best route, but it seemed to get the best performance out of them (still not that great). Lead your actor to their emotional state, through subtext, and it will make a huge difference in their performance.

Good luck Dom!