How New Directors Can Achieve Success When Working With Actors

A film director wears many hats! From coordinating the crew behind the scenes to real-time discussions with creatives, a director has to keep quite a few plates up in the air as they work towards achieving their artistic vision. One of the most crucial aspects of this, is working with actors.

Unlike theatrical productions, the relationship between director and actor on a film set tends to be more hands-off. Many directors focus primarily on each shot’s aesthetic features, such as framing and lighting. Consequently, this means that the quality of the acting can, at times, be neglected. On the other hand, some directors, especially those from a theatre background, can make the mistake of over-directing their actors.

In this article, we’ll be highlighting some essential tips on how to work with film actors successfully. Using this guide, you can begin to facilitate great acting on set without unintentionally stunting your actors’ performances.

 

A Note About Casting

The importance of casting can’t be overstated. You risk hiring actors who might struggle to ‘find the character’ without a careful casting process. It would help if you looked for actors you already believe on camera during the audition process. If you select actors who seem to embody the role effortlessly, you’ll immediately make your job easier when working with actors.

 

What Makes Good Film Acting?

To help your actors act, you must first understand what constitutes a good screen performance. Many directors elect to take an ‘acting for directors’ course to learn the basic principles.

A great place to start your study of acting is with the Meisner technique. Sanford Meisner was an American actor who created his own system of acting based on the practices of Stanislavsky. His approach is often taught at film schools, as it focuses on helping actors to generate real emotions and deliver ‘spontaneous’ performances that are free of any pretence. Meisner famously said, “acting is behaving truthfully under imaginary circumstances.”

Use your knowledge of ‘acting for directors’ to look at your actors’ performances intelligently. Ask yourself if the performances are truthful. Or, can you sense your actors ‘trying’ to generate emotion? To facilitate good performances, focus on creating conditions where actors can be spontaneous, intuitive, and free. Let’s discuss how to create a cohesive set when working with actors.

 

Make Time for Rehearsals

Many productions won’t have the luxury of rehearsal time; however, if it’s possible to carve out some time before the cameras start rolling, you’ll be doing yourself a huge favour! Rehearsals will be your only real chance to do some serious work with your actors. This time will be an opportunity to work on the characters’ relationships, backstories, and journeys through the film. If your film is character-driven, rehearsal time can be invaluable.

Some directors take extreme measures to ensure their actors can prepare for filming. For example, in the lead up to Greta Gerwig’s Little Women, the cast spent two weeks in rehearsal learning about life in the 1860s and working on delivering the film’s precise overlapping dialogue truthfully.

Rehearsals are essential for learning etiquette and vocabulary if you are directing a period piece. For a film that centres around a family, this kind of Gerwig-esque relationship-building rehearsal period will help your actors develop unique chemistry that will be unmistakable during their performances on set. Learn more about the directing and acting style of Greta Gerwig here!

 

Share Your Creative Vision With Your Actors

Ideally, the rehearsal period will give your actors more confidence going into the filming process. This time will also allow you and your actors to establish common ground. You’ll be able to discuss your artistic vision for the film and where each character fits into this vision. By sharing your storyboards and test shots with your actors, they will enter the process with a clearer understanding of how they can serve the story you are trying to tell.

 

 

Discuss Process When Working With Actors

If you want to know how to direct actors well, you need to understand how to collaborate with them as individual artists. If you’ve ever worked with actors before, you’ll know that acting processes can vary drastically from actor to actor. As the director, it’s not your job to dictate an actor’s process. Instead, it would help if you aimed to facilitate their process so that they can give the best possible performance.

This means sitting down with each of your actors and discussing their unique processes. Some actors won’t have a complicated process and will be able to jump in and out of character without a second thought. Other actors may need peace and quiet between takes to stay in character.

Some actors may even request that you speak to them in character. Working with actors is a dynamic process. By being open and accommodating to different methods from the offset, you’ll make your actors feel comfortable doing what they need to do to give their best performance.

     

Don’t Be Afraid to be ‘Hands-Off’ On Set

Many directors, especially those with less experience on film sets, imagine that directing is mostly about telling actors what to do. However, good direction should mostly be hands-off when working with film actors – this is an essential tip if you’re learning to direct on a film set. Because most actors do hours of preparation for each scene, they arrive on set already knowing their approach to the scene. Too much hands-on direction can confuse actors and hinder their ability to perform.

Being hands-off on set will give your actors space and freedom to do their job. Remember, you cast this actor in this role for a reason. Your job on set is to give them the conditions they need to interpret the character as they see fit. Sometimes, this will mean being flexible and open to options you hadn’t thought of before.

As filming goes on, the best way to remain hands-off in a helpful manner is to keep them involved. Let them take a look at one of the takes on the monitor. Ask them if they want to do another take. Ask if they need help.

   

Give Directions That Aren’t Controlling

Of course, it’s a given that you will need to give some ‘acting’ direction every now and then. While you want to be hands-off with your actors, you don’t want them to feel ignored or unsupported. When an actor struggles to find the right emotional level or can’t seem to achieve the right dynamic in a scene, it’s your turn to step in and give some one-on-one direction.

Giving an actor a piece of direction is a specific skill that’s easy to get wrong. The best method for directing actors is to suggest rather than tell your actors what to do. As you can imagine, an actor struggling to convey grief probably won’t find it helpful when you tell them to cry or beat their fists against the wall, and so on. Unless these actions can be found organically, they will always appear false on camera. This type of direction will also make it even harder for actors to find real emotion as they’ll be thinking about achieving a specific result.

Instead of telling your actors what emotion they should be expressing, help them find that emotion. Take some time to discuss why the character feels the way they are feeling. Or, try giving them a memory or image to help them. Another method is to examine the character’s objective with the actor. What is the character trying to achieve in the scene, and what are their tactics?

 

Give Praise Where It Is Due

Don’t be afraid to praise your actors when they’re on the right track with their performance. Try to keep your praise general and nonspecific. If you tell your actors that you liked something specific in their last take, the actor may actually become overly self-conscious and lose some of the spontaneity of their performance. Instead, stick with general comments like, “It’s going really well”, or “I think you’re on the right track,” etc.

 

Give Actors Time to Prepare For Difficult Scenes

Some scenes are easier than others when it comes to acting. Some scenes involve basic, everyday conversations, while other more dramatic moments require heightened emotions. When working with actors, be sure to approach these high-intensity moments with care and understanding.

Give actors plenty of information about how much time they’ll have to prepare for the scene. If necessary, give them extra time to do their preparations once the shot is set up. Find out if they need any specific conditions to help their process. Do they need 10 minutes alone, or would they prefer to film a few minutes of improv in the lead up to the big moment? Be as accommodating as you can so that the actor has the time and space necessary to achieve a natural emotional state.

If you are taking multiple shots of the scene, let the actors film their closeup first so that they don’t have to keep generating intense emotion throughout the day.

 

Try Going ‘Method’ When Working With Actors

Lee Strasberg’s ‘Method’ of acting is pretty complex and sometimes gets a bad rep. In many circles, ‘going method’ is shorthand for diving into the character’s circumstances and trying to live the character’s life. This version of method acting is about making the circumstances as authentic as possible so that the actor feels the same way the character would feel.

As a director, you can try creating a ‘method’ environment for your actors to achieve a greater level of reality. For instance, if a character is surprised by a face at a window in a scene, try giving the actor a real shock and capture their reaction. Or, if the character is hunting for a pen, hide a pen somewhere on the set and let the actor find it.

Always use your discretion about this method of directing. Always prioritise your actors’ safety and wellbeing.

 

Try Not to Keep Your Actors Waiting

On a more practical note, try to respect your actors’ time. Many shooting days are spent waiting for the shots to be set up. Be realistic about your schedule and keep your actors informed about changes throughout the day. This will keep actors content as the day goes on. It will also help them budget their preparation time before they’re due on set.

 

Working With Actors: The Takeaway

Becoming a confident and influential director of actors on a film set takes skill and practice. You’ll find plenty of tips on how to direct on set, but the most important thing to remember is that working with actors should be about helping them deliver the performance they want to deliver. Begin by learning what makes a good film performance – truthfulness and realness. If you can, spend time rehearsing with your actors to develop a communal vocabulary and understanding of the artistic vision behind the film.

Once you get on set, honour each actor’s unique process and prioritise, giving them the time and space they need to get into character. Avoid controlling directions, and finally, respect your actors’ time and keep them up to date. By following these tips on directing actors on set, you’ll find it much easier to help your actors deliver moving performances that serve the story and, consequently, your audience.