When a director acts in his own film

PaPa

PaPa

Major Contributor
Hey all. I've been wondering something for a while now. Typically, when I'm directing a project that I'm also acting in, I bring a Co director on board.

My question is, is it necessary to share 50% of the title/success with someone who is simply there to make sure my vision is being realized on the day because they can watch the monitor when I can't?

When you spend all the time in pre production, re writing the script, tailoring it to your vision, getting your locations, actors, storyboards, have had rehearsals to set the tone and pacing and the million other things a director is responsible for, it's hard to split the credit 50/50 when they simply show up on the day.

So is there an alternate title for such a position? Does such a position exist or is it simply how I've been doing it?

Thank you!
 
Co-direction is co-direction. You share the credit.

Though I'd highly recommend bringing a co-director onboard earlier in the development and pre-production process to ensure you're both on the same page before entering production.
 
HEy grug,

I do very much appreciate the comment, and you are absolutely right. But if there is another answer that follows more of the route that I take, then I'd love to hear from the board. Generally speaking I am a good collaborator, but sometimes I have a very specific Idea of what I want and I don't necessarily need another cook in the kitchen when I'm in pre production, but definiteyl someone on set to watch the monitor. Some projects I can bring them on much earlier and collaborate, but the project I'm doing now, for example, is not inviting for a second brain during conceptual phases. I just need someone to help me get what I'm after on set. Does that change anything or is it still a co-director?

Or let's look at it this way, what if I was directing something, acted in 2 scenes out of X number in the piece and needed an opinion behind the monitor for those scenes only? Does that change anything or no?

many thanks.
 
Last edited:
Well either they're directing the scenes or they're not, I think that's pretty clear cut. If the direction, blocking and construction of the scene doesn't factor in, and they're really just commenting solely on performance, you could theoretically have them there as a 'dramaturg', 'acting coach' or 'dramatic consultant' something like that.
 
Josh Bass said:
isnt that what the assistant director does?
Click to expand...

Nope. The 1st AD's job is to schedule the shoot and run the set. Performance and the creative side isn't part of their job, they're the ones that make sure it all gets done in time.

Now I know plenty of ADs who would probably make quite good directors. But that's not their responsibility or specialisation at all.
 
My mistake...I thought in addition to all that I had heard that an AD should be able to take over the director's job should the need arise.
 
Definitely not 1st, 2nd ... etc AD or even Assistant to the Director. It's also not a Dramaturge. That's a research and development role. I'd be reluctant to call it Acting Coach unless they were actually coaching. Maybe Assisting Director is more to the point.
 
I agree, the AD doesn't direct the actors or camera however they do direct background. The AD has a very hard job and doesn't have time for anything as frivolous as directing actors ;)

I have directed in things that I'm in. I don't see why you need someone to direct at all. You direct. Think Ben Affleck. Do the setup, block, rehearse for camera, and then let your camera crew do what they've been doing all along. You can count on your DP for framing, make sure the take is technically OK. If you're an actor I am sure you'll have a sense of how the scene went performance-wise.

If you need someone at the camera, or monitor to make sure that you got it, that's your producer who shares the vision and has been there all along. You don't need a co-director unless you've had one all along and have been collaborating since the start. Your DP will make sure you got the shot and your producer will let you know you got the take, and then like any director would, you say "great, let's go see" and you roll that take from the camera.

Also, I have co-directed and did not find that a very good experience, especially with the actors. One voice is best there. As an actor, I'm sure you know that on set the primary thing to help an actor is to be clear.
 
Last edited:
Nope. If they're directing, they're directing. Set your ego aside. If you need a 2nd director, use one and credit them appropriately. If you don't want to share the credit, don't use an additional director, but you'll only be hurting the project. If you want the extra work you put in to be recognized, find a way to give yourself an additional credit (some type of producer?) or have it be reflected in the pay. But don't take credits away from people who earn them, just because you feel you've earned them more. It's not like you have a limited supply of credits.

Also, just throwing this out there (try not to take it too harshly) it sounds like maybe you're not appreciating someone who's showing up to co-direct. They're still the director. Even if just for that day. And it's still a difficult task that takes a lot of skill. They need just as much respect-- JUST as much-- as you when you're not acting.

If all you're having the co-director do is blocking and tell people when to roll cameras, that's a different story. But if they're actually directing, respect that.

And finally, if they're just directing one scene-- and they've got full control over it-- you can credit them as guest director.
 
PaPa said:
My question is, is it necessary to share 50% of the title/success with someone who is simply there to make sure my vision is being realized on the day because they can watch the monitor when I can't?
Click to expand...

Is that all they're doing? Watching the monitor to see if the shot's set up correctly when "action" is called?

You don't need a co-director for that. Just ask the DP if the shot is good, and call "action." For the scene, play it back after the take, then make any adjustments needed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top