Here are a few quick tips for anyone wanting to be a director.  Directing is more than just telling people what to do.  You play an intricate part on set as the leader, making sure that everyone is happy and working well together.  On smaller sets you have to make sure that you are running on time, that people are fed, and that no one is just standing around doing nothing.

    Directing actors however, is the most important job for the director, and that is what this quick tips is about.

TAKE ACTING CLASSES

    First things first, take acting classes.  Not only will you meet great actors that would love to be in your films, but you learn what acting coaches/teachers tell actors, and you see how actors are trained.  Once you have this insight you can better direct with actors because you can talk their language.  This will help you connect with them better.

    USE EXAMPLES

    Second, use examples to tell actors what your looking for.  Reference books, movies, plays, or even do the movements/voices yourself, what ever it takes to get them to understand what you want.  Work with them on it before putting them on camera, so that you will waste less film/time, and they can do a much more confident performance on camera.  I once was making a sword fighting film and had to actually choreograph a fight scene.  To show the actors what I wanted I actually picked up a sword and showed them exactly what it was I wanted.  Another time examples is useful is if you want an actor to say something a certain way.  It might not be enough to tell them you want it to be said with sarcasm.  Maybe you want a word said a certain way, or emphasis on other words.  The best way to get your actor to do this is to actually do it yourself so they get the gist of what you want.

GET THE ACTORS INTO THEIR ROLES

    Third, get the actors INTO the role.  If I have a scene that is sad and dark, I will take the actor aside, and talk with them.  I will pull from them sad experiences they have been thru.  A death of a family member.  Watching an accident or seeing someone getting hurt.  This puts their whole being in the place and the role.  If its a happy joyous scene, crack a few jokes, get the mood light.  If the person needs to be angry, get them angry before they get on camera.  Push them around a little if they are okay with that.  Annoy them.  Do whatever it takes to get them actually into their character.  In Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, director Michel Gondry actually tricks Jim Carrey into looking lost and confused by pulling Kate Winslet away when Jim Carrey is looking in another direction.  In Psycho, the horrible scream from when the girl gets stabbed in the shower was achieved by turning freezing cold water on when she wasn’t expecting it.  Do whatever it takes it get the performance you want.

KEEP THEM IN THEIR ROLES

    Fourth, and in my mind most important for indy films, keep your actors in their role.  After you have gotten them into the role and mindset you want, do whatever it takes to keep them there.  One time I was filming a monologue for an actress friend of mine for her reel.  She had to dig really deep and get into a very sad face.  After the first take, which she nailed, the camera man got really loud and excited and was giving her high-fives and compliments.  This got her completely out of character, and we had to spend more time getting her into character.  Talk with your crew so this doesn’t happen to you.  Make sure they save compliments and the like until after filming all the necessary takes.  If a scene is running long and people want to take breaks, its up to you to decide if you want to spend extra time after the break to get the actors back into character.  Sometimes its better to film long and have a break late so that a scene can be finished.

nicholas WEBER