How to direct a movie

[Thomas JI]

I have arrived at a very critical time in one of my movies. It seems like everyone wants to pitch in ideas, and no one can agree on the same thing.

And when I try to shoot a scene for an abstract narrative, they have no idea what im trying to tell them. I just tell them to this and this, but all they do ask "why? Why do we need to do that?"

Do actors usually give filming advice? If not, how should it be handled? I need all the help I can get.

Thanks.

[mattias]

that's a sign they don't trust you. the most important part of directing actors is getting them to trust you in my opinion. actors are very self conscious and you have to be the storyteller, not them. if they feel they have to help you they get to a very insecure place very fast. now how do you get them to trust you? sometimes it's as simple as just telling them that they can trust you and sound like you mean it. another tool is to step forward and make decisions when nobody else will, even if you don't know what you're talking about. seriously. direct all self consciousness and anxiety towards yourself and you'll do fine. directing is often a painful experience in many ways but those of us who keep doing it are those of us who find the potentially great rewards worth it.

/matt

[Thomas JI]

here's an example for a sequence where the actors look over a blue print and plot their move. This is where my fustration really sank in.

me: how about we do this sequence in a garage, to make it more secretive
actor 1: no, about we do it at a construction site, to make it less obvious
actor 2: na, lets not go into a home build site
actor 1: about about a commercial site
me: those are locked off. I still think the garage sequence would be more duable than trying to find a place under construction.

and this loop goes on and on.

Its like everyone is the director.

[mattias]

don't say "how about". say "we need to do it here because it's the only way to really convey the supressed transient emotionality i'm going for". if they disagree you say "very good point but it's not exactly what i'm trying to do here". and so on. they *want* you to be the boss, i promise. this is not to say that you shouldn't listen. you should. but you have to make their ideas yours before you can use them.

/matt

[Evan Kubota]

From what you posted, it sounds like you're treating them as co-directors. That's why they seem to think their input has equal weight to yours.

Although filmmaking requires collaboration, you're still the director. The buck stops with you, so to speak. You have the sole power to make any aesthetic decisions regarding the project. If they suggest things, that's fine, but make sure it's clear from the outset that they are suggestions, not commands.

I've had roughly similar experiences when discussing project ideas with some friends, but at that point I make it *my* project. This doesn't mean I'm no longer willing to accept outside input - quite the opposite - but that their input doesn't carry the same weight as my firm decisions.

Some might say that actors need to know *why* in order to perform effectively. I don't necessarily agree - some of the greatest directors routinely gave actors specific directions, including how to wave, how to move their bodies, and so on. What is important is that if you use this technique, telling the actors *what* to do instead of explaining why or filling in an emotional background, you need to make sure the actions are detailed and realistic enough to substitute for the actors' instincts.

My current preference is to use 'non-actors' or people without a background in theatre performance. They tend to respond to direction well, and are more open to specific action suggestions without making them too affected. Stage actors are generally trained to ask "why" and are less able to trust a director in the manner required for filmed performances.

[Joe Gioielli]

I think you have gotten some great advice here. I'd like to share a few ideas.

Back in the day I used to do stage acting, mostly Shakespear. We were taught classic Method. You don't pretend, you become. If you are someplace, you need to know why. It may sound a little silly, but if all the actors know who, what, where, when, and why; it runs like clockwork. But don't underestimate how difficult it is for the actors. There's much more to it than memorizing lines.

It really is all about trust. No one wants to look like an idiot. My acting coach, who was also a director, used to tell us, "I'll march you to the edge, but I won't let you fall over." I used to play supporting roles, (I was the funny, fat guy) so I would be in tights and a jerkin, falling on my face, saying silly things and trying very hard not to feel like a flaming jackass. Insecure isn't a stong enough word! You have to trust your director.

Think "parent and child" relationship. You're dad. If you have confidence in you, they will have confidence in you. When they question you, tell them why it has to be done your way. Just like you would with a kid. "Because I say so," ain't gonna cut it. After all, you do have reasons for all the decisions you make, just sell the actors on your reasons. When they see that you know what you're doing, things will calm down.

Don't get frustrated, every time they mouth off they are just asking for more information. You can do it!

Joe

[pinata2000]

thomas JI, I thought that this might help http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... s&n=507846
it's a book i recently bought called Notes on directing, and has served as an absolute jem.