what is the best direction you have ever given on a set to an actor?

To many to count. Im notorious for baiting actors into getting the performance I need. I have belittled, screamed, fired, you name it. I've done it. lol At the end of the day, everyone understands my motives, and usually thank me for getting the most out of them. Of course, it's a very fine line to walk, because I could potentialy lose one. That would be a major backfire fail. heheh. I say do what you got to do. Actors, like everyone else have good days and not so good days. When working with low budgets, you don't always get the best actors, thats why it's the directors job to get the most out of an actor you can.
 
"Stand as if you're waiting in line at the DMV" (observing a petty argument).

"Take a sip of your coffee first" (delivering a break up line)

"Deliver it as if you just stepped in a large pile of dog crap" (the line: "my life sucks."

"Listen to one another, change the lines if you need."
 
1. if you say the line like i said i will buy you a house by the sea.
2 im not kidding - this gun is loaded.
3 i'll give you the writing and directing credit if you just listen to what Im saying.

those 3 usually do the the job
 
As an actor who also directs (never at the same time...learned that lesson the hard way) I would say the best advice I have given actors is find whatever makes the scene feel real to you, if that mean listening to music, or changing the lines a little bit to fit yourself, or even do some abstract exercises, do what you need to to get into the moment. Sometime the actors need quiet so I give them quiet on set...sometimes they do need to be hit...so someone will hit them, its all about what approach will allow for the actors emotions to come out in their rawest and most believable form. That said, if the actor just isn't getting it or isn't listening to suggestions because their ego is in the way, I remind them that there is always the possibility that the writer could accidentally write a dying scene for them in the next scene. lol jk jk kinda :)
 
Directing at the scene level is not rocket science. If you (as the director) know the script well and who the characters are, and your actors are comfortable with their roles (and properly cast for the character,) directing at the scene level ought not be a terribly difficult experience. Table-read the scene first...listen to the actors, get them to ask questions...and answer them fully. Then rehearse the scene with the script, and then go off-book. When you run into points in the scene where you aren't getting the performance you want, go into detail about where the character is at that moment, why, and then address the moment's significance within the context of the film... If you have to give a line read, 9 out of 10 times that means you have failed somewhere along the way.

Now, you need to be precise when you talk to your actors about the character's motivation at various points within the scene, and certainly the ability to describe this motivation in a way the actors can relate to is a skill to be developed.

Lots of people in this thread have made jokes about the best direction being "cut" or some sort of abusive statement toward the talent -- this may sound funny, but if you, as a director, are being driven to that point -- you either don't understand the story you are telling, you are working with terribly, terribly miscast actors, or you have no business directing period -- treat actors with the respect they deserve (you have no product without the acting talent,) know your story well and you will get better performances.

All of the above relates to scene-level direction. Don't forget that directing is not just about the scene-level stuff. As a director you are also the manager of a team, and it's your job to make sure that you pay attention to what's going on on-set with all the actors and crew, you must manage all these relationships and make the cast/crew feel valued, appreciated and respected for what they bring to the table -- pay attention to them, work hard to make sure the set "vibe" is positive, this will make the scene-level direction much easier. If everyone on set is irritated and pissed off, getting good performances is going to be very difficult -- it all comes down to respect and if your actors don't respect the way you run a set, they are less likely to trust your scene-level direction, and at that point the game is lost.
 
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