Zachadoodle
Well-known member
How do you the director deal with an actor who shows up not knowing what the script or movie is about or having had read it or know what the scene is like or your style as a director?
What do you do when an actor shows up who never read the script or know what the movie is about?
- Thread starter Zachadoodle
- Start date
CharlesPapert
Director of Photography
You simply direct them into it. Directing actors in most cases boils down to choosing the right words to best communicate your intent to an actor, this is just more of the same. What is the most concise way to sum up the story, who the character is, what approach you are looking for with the performance? As a director, one needs to have enough familiarity themselves with the material to manage this scenario without hesitation.
I had that happen on a short I shot in February. It was not as bad as you described. He understood the scene, but did not know his lines. I thought it was going to be a disaster. I had the crew break for dinner. I got the script and started rehearsing with him and the other actor. He picked up quickly, but not good enough to shoot. But I figured I had to get moving to get the shots done that were scheduled for that night and maybe he would warm up quicker with the camera on him. I also thought I would be able to get a good scene by piecing bits of each take together. I got the crew back together and started to do some takes. He turned it around pretty quickly once the camera was on him. I took 3 or 4 takes of each setup and figured I had enough material to make it work. I edited it and ended up with a nice scene.
paulears
Veteran
In theatre, it happens all the time. Some arrive word perfect, and with 100% understanding. Others dont appear to have even opened the script. The majority just read their own lines and sort of know them, but only read the scenes they are in. The real test is of the Director. Good ones just cope and go with the flow. The ones that need perfection get wiped out quickly. My role is to take the Directors rants and get the actors to try to perform. Over the years i have lost a couple of Directors, and never lost an actor, even when they just dont know what is going on. Their names sell seats, nobody knows who the director is!