Directing Advice

"I guess my only question would be "how do you make your actors feel comfortable?'"


It starts early in the process. I begin to develop rapport during auditions, I solicit feedback during rehearsals. If I feel a particular scene is difficult or emotional, I talk to them about it. I never compromise my position as the "Captain of the Ship", but I invite them to be a part of the creative process; to invest in what we are doing.

Normally I don't allow other people on the set to offer their input to actors. It's amazing to me how many people think they know how to help someone find their emotional center. I make exceptions to that if I know there is another actor on the set that is respected and has a history with whoever is having a problem.

It's also important to be unambiguous. I doubt there are many things more unsettling to an actor than not knowing what the director wants.

I also tell all of my principal actors that they are free at any time to stop. I don't get mad if they think what they are doing isn't working, even if I think it is. We take 5 and start again. I never criticize them in front of anyone. In fact I don't really criticize a t all. I encourage them to find what they need (and give them all the help that I can).

Actors act, so they recognize acting when they see it. That means they know when you are full of ****. If you are sincere about wanting what they want, which is the best possible performance they can deliver, and you develop the tools to get that from them they will recognize that. I have had actors get way out of their comfort zone for me, just because they trust me.

You don't have to be their best friend, but if you know what you want, are honest with them, stick to your word, show competence and confidence, and (perhaps most importantly) allow them to interpret the character without overt or harsh criticism, you will set yourself far apart from most of the people directing out there.

Trust is the key.
 
you can make them feel comfortable by encouraging any choice they do. This is basic management style. when i used to own a few retail stores i woudl always ask my employees for their opinion of what they would do in a particular situation. Now most of these were young people in high school or just out. many times they did not have a basis on which to form a great opinion of what they should do but none the less i asked. Each time i would respond with encouragement such as "thats good idea, if we did that how do think X would be affected?" the reason i asked is because honestly the idea wasnt good but i wanted them to make suggestions by asking them the second question they began to see the problems themselves. they then may repond. "oh i didnt think about that, well what of we did X instead?" then ofcourse i would wind it around until they came up with the idea that i wanted? but since they were the ones that went through the mental process the idea was now their own and they could run with it. I could hyave simply sadi that idea is wrong or stupid and then told them what i wanted but what chance would i have of ever getting suggestions from them in the future?

I tell you all this because to me its the same in acting. You want to encourgae them to try different things. you have a visison but they bring to the table an ability to bring a paper full of words to life. You want your actors to feel the freedom to truly go to far. Im telling you its a one shot deal. if your actor loses trust that he can be free to go balls to the wall with his emotions then you wont get it back.

As an aside to this this whole thing, I once had a director for a play ask people during the audition to do the monologue like other people. he asked one guy who his favorite comedian was. the guy said Chris rock. the director said ok now give me that mononloque like chris rock would say it. i asked him later after i got a role why he did that. his reasoning was that if that actor was willing to look silly and would take that direction on the very first time they met then he knew they could collaborate together. I thought that was a perfectly sound reasoning. By the way they guy was doing as shakeperian monoloque as Chris Rock.
 
Find someone in our area who teaches acting. Offer to take them out to lunch and pick their brain. You will find out a lot about how an actor prepares before they get to the set, and what they are looking for from the director once they are in front of the camera.

When you find the time you should also take some acting classes. It will not only help you learn how to work with actors but will give you some great insight into breaking down scenes and moving action in scenes.

Rob
 
Mr Blue is correct about taking an acting class. It will give you a sense of what happens in the preperation for the role. You will also see what you feel when trying to give a performance. Then you will know what kind of direction you woudl have liked in that situation.. Great suggestion Blue
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top