Dear Tongal,
Any tips for new filmmakers on directing actors?
- San Jay, Tongal community member since 2020
Dear Diffident Director,
Welcome to filmmaking!
While the learning curve can be steep, there are a few things you can do to be more comfortable when you’re starting to work with actors. The first step is to spend a hundred grand on an expensive education at a top tier school—just kidding! You absolutely do not need to do that because filmmaking is a collaborative medium, and you’ll learn the best directing lessons by attending the school of experience and actually practicing your craft.
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Step 1: Study
A good place to start is by reading books on directing. These will help arm you with more tools and ensure you have confidence when you step on set. Here two of the ones I recommend the most:
Directing Actors by Judith Weston is a personal favorite of mine because it teaches you how to communicate with actors and provide guidance that the actors can actually use. For example, you might think that telling your actor, “I think your character is disappointed/in love/frightened/angry/etc.,” will help your actor “play” that emotion, however Weston explains that direction like that is not playable. She explains that you can’t “give” an actor an emotion and have it feel believable— the actor must actually feel the emotion you are wanting him to convey. The book is a gold mine; this nugget is within the first 20 pages. I can’t recommend it enough.
On Directing Film by David Mamet casts a wider net. While it covers directing actors, it also talks about filmmaking and film production. Aside from providing concrete advice specifically about actors, this book is an excellent resource for all the hats you wear as a director. For instance, it discusses how to communicate with other members of the crew so you and your Director of Photography are on the same page. Plus, it gives advice on how to maintain collaborative conversations with your producer. Mamet taught at Columbia University, so consider this book a crash course without the Ivy League price tag.
I would also recommend perusing your local bookstore or a library’s self-help section and checking out books on communication. As the Director, your number one job is communicating your vision, so the more concisely you can relay what you want to say, the better off you’ll be.
Step 2: Analyze
Okay, you have books in hand, you’ve studied them—what now? Now, you direct!
But I wouldn’t start by blowing your savings and creating the short film or feature you’re dying to make. Instead, start by improving your craft.
Choose a scene from your favorite movie.
Break it down into the shots the director chose. Now, you have a blueprint for what you’re going to shoot.
Gather some friends, put someone in charge of filming, and actually direct your guinea pigs.
This exercise will give you first-hand experience with directing people who aren’t professionals, so you’ll get to practice the advice you’ve read from Weston and Mamet. I recommend shooting the scene shot by shot first as in the original material, and then with your own personal take—so you get to see how changes you make affect the scene.
Then, take your footage, and start editing. See how different directions change the tone of the scene, or how a different angle adjusts the mood. Watch to see if the directions you gave made a difference in how your actors reacted, and consider what you could have said or done differently to get the performance you were looking for.
How did it turn out? What did you learn? And, most importantly, are you ready to shoot your project now?
If the answer is yes, the next step is casting.
Step 3: Casting
You could say casting is where a lot of your movie is made. If you cast well, you will have a smoother production. Here are some tips to try during casting to find out if you will be able to truly communicate with your prospective actors.
When the actor first enters the casting room, use the sound check and exchange of hellos to ask them a question or two that might help you find common ground. Asking what their favorite restaurant is or what their favorite travel destination is lets you gauge on a non-acting level if you can connect with them. If you can’t connect with your actors, you’ll never be able to direct them. Keep in mind that their actual answer doesn’t matter. If they love seafood and you’re allergic, it doesn’t matter. What matters is the ability to make a connection with the person in front of you.
Obviously, you’ll be able to eliminate people based on their audition, but let’s say the next Brad Pitt just delivered the best reading possible and you know you found your lead actor. You might be tempted to clap and call it a day, but restrain yourself and give Brad Jr. an adjustment. Something small or something big, it doesn’t matter. What you’re looking for at this point is to make sure the actor responds to your direction and knows how to make adjustments. If the actor doesn’t change anything in the reading, then you will probably struggle on set to get any changes.
Step 4: Production
Once you have your cast, production can begin. The best thing you can do for yourself before cameras start rolling is to rehearse with your actors, especially as a newer director (or even as a seasoned director.) Rehearsal allows you and your actors to work through a scene together without the pressures of lights and an Assistant Director reminding you of the time. Really give yourself some time to rehearse and experiment. Give adjustments and tweak things like you would do if you were actually filming to see how the pieces of the scene will fit together.
Rehearsal also allows your actors to voice their feelings and share their opinion. This is a collaborative medium, so if you railroad over your actor’s thoughts, they will be less responsive to any adjustments you want them to make. You don’t always have to accept their opinion about their character, but you should at least consider it and discuss it with them.
Hopefully this helps your directorial debut go a little bit smoother. While you can’t always re-shoot a scene you’re unhappy with, you can always keep learning and keep improving your craft for future projects.
Thanks for the great question,
Advice from Amanda
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Note From Tongal: "How Can I Get Comfortable Directing Actors?" is part of a series of Tongal Community-written blog posts that were originally sourced in the Tongal Blog Open Call Project. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Tongal. Read more Tongal Community-written posts here and then Pitch us a topic you'd like to write about for the Tongal Blog!
