Working with Actors: Part 1 (Personality Traits)
The first time a
director works with an actor is usually during the casting session. I
will talk more about the actual casting process in Part 2, but right
now I want to discuss what you need to know before you enter the
casting room...
Working with Actors: Part 2 (The Casting
Session)
When
a director first gets a script, you read it through several times to
get a feel for what the story is about and who the characters are. As
you read the script, you will get an impression of the characters. You
then have a meeting with the Producer(s) and the Casting Director to
share your ideas of the characters...
Why Actors
Must Continually Take Acting Workshops
Acting is a craft and like any craft, it has to be practiced. And if
you want to be the best, you need to be continually taking acting
classes.
Acting shouldn't be regarded as a hobby. It is a profession for most
aspiring actors and actresses and enrolling in several different
classes taught by credible acting coaches will help you learn more
about the craft, as well as the industry...
Script Breakdown - Script and Scene Analysis
There are many facets of a Director's prep on any film or TV show -
from location scouts and creative meetings to casting and scheduling.
But the first, and most
important part of your job, is to understand the script - what the
story is about; the themes; the story points; the characters...
Script Breakdown - Character Analysis
In this article, I will
focus on Character Development and Analysis. After reading the script
and working through the script structure and scene analysis, it's time
to figure out the development and objectives of the characters...
Blocking a Scene
Blocking is the first,
and most crucial, aspect of a 4-part sequence. When you first start
directing, blocking a scene can be one of the hardest - and most
embarrassing - parts of your job. Get it wrong here, and you could
waste valuable shooting time trying to get out of the mess you
created...
Rehearsing on the Set
When the DOP has
finished lighting, the 1st AD calls the actors back to the set for the
rehearsal. This is when all the elements of the scene are rehearsed
together - actors, camera, sound, stunts, special effects etc...
Staging and Shooting a Fight Scene
Almost every film today
has some sort of obligatory fight scene between the good guy and the
bad guy. In this article, I will share some tips on how to stage and
shoot a simple fight scene between two actors...
Quick Reference Directing List: Staging and
Choreography
Over the past 20 years,
I have read many books and articles on Film Directing. As I read, I
underline or yellow certain sentences or paragraphs that contain
valuable information. I then take these marked sentences and type them
into a Quick Reference Directing file on my computer where I sort them
into specific categories, print them out and keep them in my binder for
quick reference...
The Director's Prep - Episodic Television
The following article
is a basic breakdown of what to expect when you are directing an
episode of an episodic Television show. Every show works a little differently, but here
is a guide to follow...
Pre-Production Activities
Here is a quick
reference pre-production activity list for directors which includes
Location Scouts, Department Head Meetings, the Key Location Survey and
the Production Meeting...
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Peter D. Marshall/www.actioncutprint.com
pdm@actioncutprint.com
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