How to be taken seriously...

V

vertigo

Active member
Hi, I'm 17, well, turning 18 in a matter of days, and soon I will be directing my first official short. It seems that "being taken seriously" is a major problem that I would have to face during casting calls and up until the first stages of production. In your experiences, do you think a 40 year old (give or take a few years) actress/actor, no matter their talent/skill, would take an 18 year old director seriously? Or is it completely the opposite? I'm looking for any suggestions that could help me through this process. Of course, conducting myself with maturity and professionalism is obvious. Also, it being my first official short, are there any tips you could provide me with on how to "manage" myself on set as to not have actors/actresses rolling their eyes at my, well, newbieness. Also, when production actually begins, when should I tell my actors to be at the location? Should I give enough time for almost all of the equipment to be set up by the time they get there? Or should they be there when we're beginning to set it all up? Any tips and suggestions - perhaps stories of shooting your own memorable first shorts or films - would be very very appreciated. Thank you.

Bryan Esposito
 
Re: How to be taken seriously...

first thing bryan.. be confident in who you are.. for example we dont need to know that your almost 18.. just say your 17. its a thing with me when people do this cause its an attempt to make sure that one is seen as older or more mature, but the fact is that older people dont like to say or admit they are any older than they are.. they usually would preffer to be younger.. AAAAAANYWAY.... :p nuff about that.

heres the deal. if your actors dont take you seriously , then dont take them seriously. get differnt actors. but in any case if you want to be on top of things and you dont have a speilberg resume, then youve got to have everything planned out to a T. actors get eye roll itchy when a dirctor or producer doesnt seem to know whats going on.. so even if your at a loss at moments.. just do a little acting yourself, and walk over and talk to your DP or somone in a seriouys looking manner like your discussing something pertinent.. or look at your script or shotlist while you think about what on earth your supposed to do in the situation. sounds stupid..yes, but i dont think it would hurt at all to do. because if actors dont respect you, they are not going to give a good performance. ..

its like back when i was in high school..and after too.. i played soccer, and alot of times if my team thought that another team sucked too bad, they would slack the whole game, and give up goals cause they were too lazy to do anything but sit there and think we would automatically win because ANY performace would be good enough to beat the sucky team, and just the fact that they are standing on the field should be good enough ..man i hated that.


so anyway the point is the actors need to really believe in the film, and your ability to direct it, or you can expect those eye rolls. so if your giving them top notch professionalism . preparation, and direction to look up to , and they cant get over the age thing.. lose them. the actor with the perfect "look" for the part is only going to ruin it if they are couch potatoing the performance the whole time.. vs someone who may not look perfect, but is ready to work, and give you the respect that a director, and producer needs to make a quality film will be like gold for you.


have them get there during setup, and use the time to go over lines with you, and prep for the scene so that when its set up, they are ready to go and your not rehearsing for another hour or whatever still.

..also having a larger crew will demand a bit more resapet because they would be wasting alot of peoples time, and energy if they are not going to throw down when they get ther, and people will be rolling their eyes at them. mor equipment helps.. cause it seems like a more serious big production.. a more serious looking camera helps:mattebox ..and follow focus and rials and such..
a sound setup or at least a seperate sound man certainly helps.

good luck . and remember that the more you believe in yourslef the more people will believe in you. your whole crew nees to be onboard.. its like captaiing a ship in alot of ways.. you need to demand, and command respect.. if your not getting it, you need to talke with the offender, and remove them if needed, cause making any film long or short is a hectic voyage, and a grumbling amoung the crew, or a mutany is THE LAST thing on earth you need. so dont be too demanding and cause strife cause you act like theres a stick in your posterior..just be real, but be resolute, and positive with encouragement. and take the time to explain to people why you are choosing to do what you are doing and why what you say goes(cause its your film and your vision, and you know that what youve decided is best for that vision and the film) if there are any challenges or disputes. ..speak softly but carry a big stick. and dont let the bed bugs bite the partridge in the pear tree.

;)
 
Re: How to be taken seriously...

Thanks, that was a great response. I too used to play soccer, and unfortunately I relate to those type of situations. That example helped a lot in showing me the actor's point of view of a bad director. I guess the best thing to do would have everything planned out, like you said, to a "T", for this first one. How exactly should I go about the casting call? What is the process? e.g. 1) place an ad, 2) get a call, 3) explain the script, 4) meet with the actors/actresses, get to know them by asking a few questions, have them read a part or three, 5) let them know that i'll get back to them if they got the part, 6) decide...?
 
Re: How to be taken seriously...

Sounds like you've got it pretty well together. I don't see there being any other way to do a casting call...

Another thing that would help at the casting call would be a camera to do some screen tests. People can look and act quite differently when on camera and it also helps to make your audition more professional. Having a monitor/television with your actors face on it while they read the lines makes it look much more hardcore and will also cause the actor to perform their best.

Having a professional attitude will help you regardless of your age. Making sure you don't use a lot of slang or swearing can help unless you really get to know the people around you and that they are cool with that. It's important to show that you're serious about making the film rather than just doing it for a joke. Careful use of language can definitely make a difference...
 
Re: How to be taken seriously...

Seventeen year olds are kids, as are eighteen year olds.  You’ll be facing the kid wrap well into your twenties because there’s always someone older around who may or my not find your difference in age to be novel.

Here’s the thing though…there’s a big difference between a kid who’s green and a kid who’s an idiot.  People tend to respect guys who try but have no experience, what they don’t respect is people who are young enough to not know anything but arrogant enough to think they’ve got things covered.  Don’t be one of those guys and you’ll be fine.

I wouldn’t worry about people not taking you seriously until you’ve got a valid reason to fear it.  Sure you’re young, but it’s a business that isn’t very rooted in age.  You’ve got 34 year old producers, 19 year old PA’s, 23 year old directors and 75 year old DP’s all on the same shoot most of the time.  Age doesn’t count for much in this business unless you’re an actress.

Remember that as the director, you’re the owner of the business.  You hire everyone, you fire everyone, you help where you can and you step back where you can’t.  A 40 year old actor that wants your role is going to have to please you and work FOR you.  If they don’t, can them as quick as you possibly can.

As far as a call time for your actors…that depends on how inexperienced your crew is.  If they’re new at this game, give them at least an hour or two before the actors arrive so they can just jump into the shoot.
 
Re: How to be taken seriously...

You'll find if you treat people with respect and do good work, you'll get respect whatever age you're at. You'll get far in life by being talented AND nice.

John is right about being green vs being a young punk. Never act like you know what you don't and don't be afraid to ask questions. When people try to act like they know more than they do they eventually get caught...and this is a quick way to lose people's respect for you.

When I was 19 I got the chance to direct a film with a professional crew. They knew I was green, but they came to respect me because I showed an eagerness to learn and I worked hard to be the best director I could be. I still work with this crew today, and although most are 20 years my senior, that age difference couldn't mean less.
 
Re: How to be taken seriously...

Thanks for the responses guys. All these suggestions are helping tremendously.
 
Re: How to be taken seriously...

Everyone's given good suggestions so far.

One thing I'd always remember - if you're making a good movie, everything else will fall into place. In order for the movie to be good, you have to be organized, and if you're organized, you'll appear professional. Appearing professional will get you the respect of your cast and crew, giving them good reason to work harder, and in full circle, this will make a better movie.

And definitely, if the actors are regardless of any effort still not treating you with respect - get new actors. It wont be a good environment OR a good movie unless you have their respect.
 
Re: How to be taken seriously...

A person who doesn't respect you is a person who doesn't trust you. And a person who doesn't trust you will be fundimentally opposed to taking direction.
 
Re: How to be taken seriously...

Bryan,

It sounds like you are on the right track.

As for the audition process, I would definitely have all your equipment setup, taped down, and be good to go. Our actors, were definitely impressed when they saw our setup and realized they were dealing with people who were thorough and professional.

Also, I come from a theater background and in watching the auditions I was practically ready to cast it on the spot. But, when we watched it on tape, we had a big change of heart, some actors are just better on stage and some on film and you want to make sure you are seeing "how much the camera likes them".

Chris
 
Re: How to be taken seriously...

yep.. you also want to see if people get camera shy.. some people can perform well , but get all weird when a camera is on them. and sort of "play up to the camera" by usig body language and posture as well as facial expression that is just dramatising a simple action or line. .. you want actors who can appear natural and as if the camera is not there at all.
 
Re: How to be taken seriously...

Never lie about yourself. You will be demanded to have all the answers, and that will really be your job, especially in what concerns the actors. Know your script well, but never fake an answer. Ask for 5 minutes to think and if you really are lost, take a chance. Go for the green, follow your stomach. If you ask for 5 minutes too often, or if you take longer than 10 you'll seem lost (Don't take it literally, but it's kinda true...). I have took tasks to me that I didn't knoe I was cabable, but today I take them as pure irresponsability. I am not for it at all, and most of the time, I don't want to be around people that I can fool that easily..
 
Re: How to be taken seriously...

The "never lie about yourself" comment can't be stressed enough. Lies are just too hard to live up to most of the time, so don't trap yourself in one. Don't think that you need to lie anyway, if lying is the only way to get something...then you're surely not meant to have it in this point of your lifetime.

You have to be very fatalistic about certain things in your career and very optomistic about others, but either way, manipulation will never work for long. There's a certain charm in people who have no experience and are dying to try, while everyone harbors some deep hatrid of people who have no experience and fake their way into situations they shouldn't be in.

I'm sure everyone can think of a number of people in their lives, or gasp...governments that fit that description.

Living alone will grant you experience, but integrity will always be in short supply.
 
Re: How to be taken seriously...

[quote author=J_Barnes link=board=Directing;num=1095275547;start=0#13 date=09/29/04 at 11:51:37]Living alone will grant you experience, but integrity will always be in short supply.[/quote]

Is that a J_Barnes original? Or have I heard it before?...

Great line either way!
 
Re: How to be taken seriously...

I've hereby licenced it to the general public with the Creative Commons Attribution license.

do as thou wilt.
 
Re: How to be taken seriously...

Hey, Vertigo

How did the shoot go?

I directed my first short a few weeks back and some of the pointers I learnt were;

You will always encounter problems, the key is how you handle and get around them.

I didn't even let our actors know about the problems we encounted and let them beleive everything was going well and according to plan but the crew knew on the down low.

I didn't let them know is because it would lower their spirits and loose confidence in the project.

I'm not a big fan of improv (lines, actions etc) no matter how slight, in some cases it can change the context and doesn't acheive what you intended and doesn't work. So try and stick to the plan as much as possible and then experiment with an improv if needed as a back up.

Finally; clever editing can fix or improve any scene that you aren't happy with.

Practical experience is the best teacher and I bet you are now so much more prepared for your next attempt.

Good luck
EVIL HOMER
 
Re: How to be taken seriously...

[quote author=EVIL_HOMER link=board=Directing;num=1095275547;start=15#17 date=10/02/04 at 14:54:01]Finally; clever editing can fix or improve any scene that you aren't happy with.[/quote]

I can't say that I agree with this one...sometimes bad is just bad :-/
 
Re: How to be taken seriously...

Yeah, if you've got bad coverage for something, there's no amount of editing that can fix it... you've got to make sure you've got the best you possibly can get when shooting because everything gets worse from there down to the finished product. You need to start at a much higher level than you want to end up with.
 
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