5 Tips for Directing Actors that Will Make Your Film-Making Easier

Directing actors can be an incredibly challenging task. Understanding the nuances of human behavior, and knowing how to get the most out of your cast is anything but easy. However, once you understand the principles involved and follow a few handy tips, it will be easier than ever before. Working with actors requires you to have a strong emotional connection with them so that they feel comfortable in front of the camera. Most importantly, you need to establish trust with your actors from the get-go. If you want to create an atmosphere where your actors can trust that everything they do is going to help bring out their best performance possible, follow these five tips for directing actors at every step of production:

Your environment should match your actor's mood

When you are directing an actor in front of the camera, you are creating a piece of art with them. Your goal is to bring out what they already have in them, but the best way to do this is to be aware of your environment. The environment you are in will have an enormous impact on the process, so being aware of the environmental mood around you is incredibly important. The first thing you need to be aware of is the lighting situation. Establish a lighting scheme for your set that works best for the kind of shot you want to shoot. If you want to create a warm, intimate atmosphere, you need to make sure to light your set with warm lighting. If you want to create a more dramatic atmosphere, you need to make sure to use cool blue lighting. Next, be aware of the location you are filming in. Establish a location that works best for the kinds of shots you want to create then share it with the actors so that they can match that mood.

Create a collaborative environment

When an actor walks onto your set, they will likely be nervous and probably not know exactly what to do. The best thing you can do to put your actors at ease is to create a collaborative environment. This means that you and the actors need to be on the same page. Establish a set of common goals and rules that everyone can understand and agree on. This will help to create a collaborative environment amongst the entire cast and crew, which will ultimately result in a more cohesive, creative, and efficient shoot. One thing I like to do is talk with my actors before the day of the shoot and let them know my style of directing. I always use the analogy that the script is like a blueprint an architect created, but they are the construction worker building from that blueprint. You should follow the blueprint closely, but sometimes the blueprint is wrong, and you have to change things. This allows the actor to take ownership of their character better, and tends to give a more comforting approach.

Collaborate with your actors to find the best performance

The best way to know what is best for your actors is to collaborate with them to find out what the best performance is. You are going to need to have open discussions with your actors about the script and what the story is trying to say, as well as what their character wants in the story. Once you have a better understanding of all of these things, it will be easier to direct the performance. When you are collaborating with your actors, you want to try to keep things pretty open and honest. You want to maintain an emotionally professional distance from the actors, but you also want to maintain an emotionally professional distance from the scene you are trying to direct. You mustn't let your own emotions get in the way of directing the scene. This can lead to a less effective scene and can even ruin the entire film if you are not careful.

Establish a rehearsal process before filming

When you are directing actors and trying to find the best performance for them, it is important to establish a rehearsal process before filming. Establishing a rehearsal process before filming will help you to better understand what your actors are feeling and what their intentions are in the film and vice versa. This rehearsal process can be done in a few different ways. You can have an acting session with the actors where you explore their character out loud, or you can have an acting session where you are exploring the scene and looking for blocking ideas. You can also have an acting session where you are talking about the story and how it fits into the larger picture. By having these rehearsal sessions with your actors, you can better understand what they are feeling and what they are intending on doing. When you have a better understanding of these things, you will be able to better direct the performance.

Stay flexible and be patient while directing

Directing actors is not an exact science. The best you can do is to follow some guidelines, establish a collaborative environment, and work with your actors to find the best performance for them. When directing, you want to maintain a flexible approach to the entire process - in other words, be a gymnast. You do not want to be rigid or inflexible, but you also do not want to bend too much - you may break. You want to be somewhere in the middle. Create a line that you just won't cross, and don't be afraid to put your foot down to get what you want. Remember, it's your name in the credits where it says 'directed by'.

Wrapping up

Directing actors is a challenging and demanding task. The best way to make it easier is to follow a few tips, establish a collaborative environment, and work with your actors to find the best performance for them. Directing can be a very rewarding position. Just remember, it's not all about you.

by Eric Stalnaker