Questions about directing and acting in same vid
- Thread starter S7CK
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Michele Seidman
Well-known member
If you are directing don't give yourself a lead part. Unless you have done both at the same time over and over it can split your focus and you may not be able to give your best to both at the same time. If you must do a lead and direct...please find a really great Director of Photography and a perfect Assistant Director who can help make sure the technical stays on track when you are acting.
I have seen far too many horrible films that people directed and starred in themselves...yet, some of them had other work where they directed and did a supporting or cameo role and they worked great. A few major players do it but they surround themselves with the best crews to fill in those gaps.
I have seen far too many horrible films that people directed and starred in themselves...yet, some of them had other work where they directed and did a supporting or cameo role and they worked great. A few major players do it but they surround themselves with the best crews to fill in those gaps.
Michele Seidman
Well-known member
hmmm no additional replies yet
Have you asked this question in the directors section yet? Bet you will get a lot more information and find others who have done this. I am actually surprised one or two of the folks who post on this section have not chimed in!
Have you asked this question in the directors section yet? Bet you will get a lot more information and find others who have done this. I am actually surprised one or two of the folks who post on this section have not chimed in!
Thanks for the advice Michele, I'll throw up a post in the directors section and see what they think.
Azmyth
Veteran
I'm kind of doing this..
I'm acting in my own film, and I do have a "lead" role... but I'm not the star. So there's plenty of shots I am not in, and when I am not in those shots.. I'm on the crew.
But, I'm not entirely directing the film either. I produced it and wrote the script, and have also done the special fx makeup, and I've done pretty much everything else so far too when we didn't have anyone else to do it.. boom op, clapper operator.... etc.
I have a DP though who serves as a director as well, and he does all the directing in the scenes I am in. So I can focus on acting. Its still tough, because everyone comes to me with issues.. but Its been fine so far.
I'm acting in my own film, and I do have a "lead" role... but I'm not the star. So there's plenty of shots I am not in, and when I am not in those shots.. I'm on the crew.
But, I'm not entirely directing the film either. I produced it and wrote the script, and have also done the special fx makeup, and I've done pretty much everything else so far too when we didn't have anyone else to do it.. boom op, clapper operator.... etc.
I have a DP though who serves as a director as well, and he does all the directing in the scenes I am in. So I can focus on acting. Its still tough, because everyone comes to me with issues.. but Its been fine so far.
I agree with Michelle that many horrible films have been made with the director in the lead.
I saw it work in "You can't learn to plow by reading books" which starred the director who was also dp/soundman. That was made in a style similar to what you might expect from a Robert Bresson film. I believe some of the mumblecore directors star themselves on occasion. so it can be done, how successful is up for debate.
I saw it work in "You can't learn to plow by reading books" which starred the director who was also dp/soundman. That was made in a style similar to what you might expect from a Robert Bresson film. I believe some of the mumblecore directors star themselves on occasion. so it can be done, how successful is up for debate.
stan harrington
Well-known member
I create my own work rather than wait for opportunities...downside, my performance is compromised...upside, I have 5 features coming out this year and only 2 are my own...it has garnered many new opportunities for me to have work that can be seen...it's not easy but it can be done...heres a quick trailer I put together of my latest...based on a true story...WARNING: violent...
Cheers,
Stan The Man
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzEYydsw9oo
Stan The Man
Cheers,
Stan The Man
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzEYydsw9oo
Stan The Man
If I had to bet on who had the better chance of being successful (between equally talented actors), I would always bet on the actor who is proactive. Either writing parts for themselves, finding writers and cultivating those relationships, directing, producing or all of the above. I've liked what I've seen so far from your films Stan. Your new trailer looks really good. I'm glad you lent your voice to this discussion lest we forget it can be done successfully.
Other examples that have worked out well in the last years: Strays -Vin Diesel, Brothers McMullin-Edward Burns.
Other examples that have worked out well in the last years: Strays -Vin Diesel, Brothers McMullin-Edward Burns.
Michele Seidman
Well-known member
hurray...so glad others piped in on this one. since i only recently got back to throwing my hand in the director link and without putting myself in as an actor...i was not sure if my info was going to be much help.
S& hope you take in this advice!
S& hope you take in this advice!
Directing and Acting in the same video?
Very difficult if you don't know what you're doing. I directed/acted in a film not three days ago and it was my first time doing such a thing. My three bits of advice for you:
1) Don't stretch yourself too thin. Act, and direct, but don't try to do much more than that.
2) Record yourself in rehearsals and see how you come across on screen
3) Make sure you have an experienced crew so that you can focus on acting/directing.
Very difficult if you don't know what you're doing. I directed/acted in a film not three days ago and it was my first time doing such a thing. My three bits of advice for you:
1) Don't stretch yourself too thin. Act, and direct, but don't try to do much more than that.
2) Record yourself in rehearsals and see how you come across on screen
3) Make sure you have an experienced crew so that you can focus on acting/directing.
stan harrington
Well-known member
Thanks Lambert...proactive is the key word...directing and acting can be a recipe for disaster but also success if done correctly. Either way, as Teddy Roosevelt once said...It is not the critic who counts;
not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles,
or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena,
whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly;
who errs, who comes short again and again,
because there is no effort without error and shortcoming;
but who does actually strive to do the deeds;
who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions;
who spends himself in a worthy cause;
who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement,
and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly,
so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls
who neither know victory nor defeat.
I take a lot of praise but a lot of criticism to and I'd rather be in the arena than just commenting on it...
Cheers,
Stan The Man
not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles,
or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena,
whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly;
who errs, who comes short again and again,
because there is no effort without error and shortcoming;
but who does actually strive to do the deeds;
who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions;
who spends himself in a worthy cause;
who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement,
and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly,
so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls
who neither know victory nor defeat.
I take a lot of praise but a lot of criticism to and I'd rather be in the arena than just commenting on it...
Cheers,
Stan The Man
Tom Marshall
Actor!!!!!!
One piece of advice that I would offer is, as a director, make sure you have a DP that you can trust and has directed actors himself. He can help you out by keeping an extra eye on the performances and if anything is really out of place, let you know that you might want to go for another take (or more).
PaPa
Major Contributor
Very sound advice. constantly learn this the hard way over and over again. Even worse is directing/producing/DPing/acting. Not great... lol
Michele Seidman
Well-known member
Anyone notice the person who posted does not seem to have returned? I wonder if he has read any of the information everyone has shared?