Directing Actors - 25th Anniversary Edition

1. Connect with actors: Build trust and creative intimacy

"If you want people to trust you—trust them!"

Building trust. Directors must approach actors as collaborators, not as pawns to be manipulated. This requires openness, honesty, and a willingness to be vulnerable. Establish a connection by:

• Sharing personal stories and experiences related to the material
• Asking questions and genuinely listening to actors' ideas and concerns
• Using the language of permission, not enforcement
• Validating actors' choices and building on their ideas

Creative intimacy. Foster an environment where actors feel safe to take risks and explore their characters deeply. This involves:

• Providing private time for one-on-one conversations
• Encouraging actors to keep secrets about their character choices
• Respecting actors' processes and giving them space when needed
• Being present and attentive during rehearsals and on set

2. Understand the actor's world: Vulnerability, risk, and honesty

"The very best actors make it look easy. Their technique is invisible. You can't see the work."

Emotional exposure. Acting requires a willingness to be emotionally naked in front of others. Directors must appreciate the courage this takes and create an environment that supports vulnerability. Key aspects include:

• Recognizing the fear and insecurity that often accompany performing
• Encouraging actors to embrace mistakes as opportunities for discovery
• Praising honest, unguarded moments rather than "perfect" performances

Risk-taking and honesty. Great performances come from actors who are willing to take risks and be truthful in the moment. Directors can foster this by:

• Giving explicit permission to fail and experiment
• Focusing on the process rather than the result
• Encouraging actors to trust their impulses and instincts
• Valuing authenticity over technical perfection

3. Master the art of listening and responding in performances

"Listening is everything."

Active listening. The key to believable performances lies in actors truly listening and responding to each other. Directors can cultivate this skill by:

• Prioritizing connection between actors over individual performances
• Encouraging actors to focus on their scene partners, not their own performance
• Using exercises that develop listening skills, such as improvisation

Creating chemistry. What appears as "chemistry" between actors is often the result of skilled listening and responding. Enhance on-screen relationships by:

• Casting actors who are good listeners and responsive to each other
• Rehearsing off-camera scenes to build relationship history
• Allowing actors to surprise each other with their choices

Moment-to-moment work. Help actors stay present and alive in each moment by:

• Discouraging pre-planned line readings or emotional states
• Focusing on intentions and objectives rather than results
• Allowing for spontaneity and unexpected discoveries during takes

4. Utilize powerful tools: Verbs, objectives, and emotional events

"Verbs are everything, adjectives are for critics."

Verbs and intentions. Replace result-oriented direction with active verbs that describe what characters are doing to each other. This approach:

• Focuses actors on their scene partners rather than their own performance
• Creates dynamic, moment-to-moment interactions
• Allows for greater emotional range and spontaneity

Examples of powerful verbs:

• To seduce, to challenge, to comfort, to provoke, to reassure

Objectives and needs. Help actors understand what their characters want in each scene and overall. This provides:

• A through-line for the performance
• Motivation for actions and reactions
• Clarity in relationships between characters

Emotional events. Identify the key emotional shifts in each scene to:

• Guide blocking and staging choices
• Focus actors on the most important moments
• Ensure the scene is moving the story forward emotionally

5. Conduct effective script analysis to uncover subtext and meaning

"Clues are beautiful because I believe we're all detectives. We mull things over, and we figure things out."

Dig deeper. Approach script analysis as a detective, looking for clues and evidence to reveal the deeper meaning of the story. Key strategies include:

• Identifying mysterious lines and exploring multiple interpretations
• Examining character relationships and emotional history
• Uncovering the subtext beneath the dialogue

Ask questions. Generate insights by constantly questioning the script:

• Why does this character say or do this?
• What's not being said in this scene?
• What happened before this moment?

Create layers. Build a rich understanding of the story by exploring:

• Character spines (core needs driving behavior throughout the story)
• Themes and metaphors
• Emotional events that shape character arcs

6. Embrace rehearsal as a collaborative process of discovery

"Rehearsal is a chance to try out choices for spines, intentions, metaphors, as ifs, for beats and transitions, for emotional events."

Create a safe space. Establish ground rules that allow actors to take risks and make mistakes without fear of judgment. This includes:

• No unauthorized recording or outside observers
• Clear communication about physical boundaries and intimacy

Explore relationships. Focus rehearsals on developing character connections rather than perfecting individual performances. Methods include:

• Improvising off-camera scenes to build history
• Working through relationship arcs chronologically
• Exploring different choices and "what if" scenarios

Work in steps. Approach rehearsal as a process of discovery, not a quest for perfection:

1. Read-through to get familiar with the material
2. Discussions to share ideas and ask questions
3. Improvisation to explore character and relationships
4. On-feet work to develop blocking and physical life
5. Scene work to integrate all elements

7. Create a safe, supportive environment on set for actors to thrive

"Make your set a safe place."

Establish clear communication. Ensure actors receive feedback from one source (the director) and have a private channel to voice concerns. This involves:

• Filtering notes from producers, writers, and crew through the director
• Scheduling regular check-ins with actors
• Creating a "no gossip" policy on set

Maintain connection. Stay engaged with actors throughout the shooting process:

• Stand near the camera during takes, not at video village
• Speak privately with actors before and after each take
• Use non-verbal cues (eye contact, thumbs up) to show support

Embrace the process. Foster an atmosphere that values exploration over perfection:

• Give actors permission to fail and take risks
• Celebrate unexpected moments and discoveries
• Frame multiple takes as opportunities to go deeper, not fix mistakes

Adapt to challenges. Be prepared to maintain connection and creativity even in difficult circumstances:

• Use technology (e.g., Zoom) creatively for remote rehearsals
• Find ways to connect despite COVID-19 safety protocols
• Stay calm and solution-oriented when facing time or budget constraints

Last updated: August 12, 2024