6 Tips For Directing Actors: Everything A Director Should Know

What is directing actors? More specifically, how do you direct actors? In this article, I provide an overview of this art.The director is the person who has the final say in how a film or a stage production will turn out.

A good director knows what he or she wants and has the ability to communicate that vision to others.

He or she gives direction to the actors and crew, helps them to realize his or her vision and make their performance the best that it can be.
 

What Is Directing Actors?

There are many different ways to go about giving directions to actors. Some directors can yell at the top of their lungs until they get what they want, but nothing gets done without a little help from your friends (the cast).

It’s important for a director to work with actors so that everyone is on board with his or her vision. The director should be able to explain what he wants an actor to do in terms that he or she understands.

The director should also be able to express expectations in concrete terms that can be objectively judged by the actor (i.e., “I expect you to cry more,” “I don’t think you’re coming across as angry enough”).

Directing Actors Don’t Bring Up Other Actors

Directors often don’t know how to direct actors, because they are not actors. Sometimes they don’t know what questions to ask an actor or they try to direct the actor with their own experiences.

This is where you run into a problem because asking an actor to do what you would do in a scene is not always the best way for them to perform their best. Coaching an actor to “be angrier” is not helpful. Try, instead, asking the actor what’s going on for him or her and use that information to help them tell the story. If you’re working with anger, your job as a director is to help the actor find his or her inner anger so it feels real.

Example: A director was working with an actress who was playing a scene in which she had just discovered her husband was cheating on her. The director asked her to be more upset and didn’t give much direction other than that. After the actress finished the take, I asked the director how he handled this situation and he said he told her to get angrier.

I then asked him if he had ever been cheated on and he said yes. I asked him how angry he was when it happened and he said, “Furious.” Then I asked him

   

Directing Actors Create A Positive Environment

Directing actors create a positive environment to work in. This is more than simply creating a good mood among the cast and crew. A happy set is one that is free of tension and anxiety. There is an old saying that “An actor’s job is to make others look good.”

It’s the director’s job to make sure that the actor creates an environment in which he or she can do this. Actors are very sensitive creatures who are vulnerable in front of cameras and microphones every time they perform.

They have to get into character, and they have to be able to let go of their egos enough so they can fully inhabit their roles. When everyone around them is contentious, hostile or competitive, it makes it much harder for them to do their jobs well.

There are many ways that the director can create a positive environment on set: Be present – This may seem like a no-brainer, but many directors spend so much time working on the shot list, communicating with the crew and cast members, or staring at monitors, that they forget how important it is to be physically present with the actors during rehearsal and shooting.

Directing Actors Keep Your Direction Clear And Concise

Directing actors is a lot like directing animals. The one thing you never want to do is lose the actor’s interest. The moment an actor becomes confused or loses focus, you’ve lost that actor for good. So keep your directions clear and concise.

If you’re lucky enough to work with a seasoned actor, crafty enough to figure out what you actually want for themselves, then this may not be a big issue for you. But if you’re working with relatively new actors, then you’ll need to help them by being extra specific in everything that you ask of them.

First and foremost, let the actor know exactly how they should feel with every direction that you give them. If the scene is supposed to be funny, then make sure they know it’s supposed to be funny. If it’s supposed to be sad, make sure they know that too. If it’s supposed to be dramatic…you get the picture.

It can be distracting for an actor when they are listening for their cue but don’t hear anything because the director is still talking about something else. It’s best if you can give each direction one at a time and then allow the actor to respond before transitioning into your next direction. In other words, start with the first line of dialogue.

Directing Actors Encourage Your Actors

Directing Actors Encourage Your Actors

Directing actors can be a little scary, particularly if your only directing experience is in the theater and you’re stepping into an environment where the whole production is shut down just to capture your one shot. But, as with anything else in directing, you’ll find that you’ve been doing it all along.

Directing actors is really about telling them what to do and helping them take their performance to the next level. By being gentle but firm, encouraging but not condescending, you’ll find that your actors are eager to work with you—both on camera and off.

When you’re trying to get a scene right, you have to set the right tone for everyone involved. If people feel like they’re being pushed around or talked down to, then they won’t enjoy their work and it will show in their performance. This will put a lot of pressure on you because the director is usually the one held responsible for making sure the scene works.

So how do we get around this?

The best way to set an atmosphere where people feel comfortable enough to give their best performance is by creating a safe space for them. 

How Do Actors Like To Be Directed?

I’ve been directing for over a decade and I was wondering how actors like to be directed. Do you have any tips? I have found that actors who don’t care for direction are usually resistant to change and insecure about their abilities. Actors who don’t like to be directed typically have one of two main issues (or both).

They’re not sure why you want them to do something a certain way and they aren’t confident enough in themselves to try it despite their uncertainty. They think they already know the best way to play the scene, so they resist your ideas because they want it their way and they don’t trust you to know better.

As a director, it’s your job to first and foremost, get performances out of your actors that are truthful and real. If you can accomplish that by directing them, great! But if you can accomplish that without directing them, even better!

The most successful directors I know are constantly working towards creating an environment on set where their actors feel free to experiment with ideas in order to find the right performance as opposed to doing something dictated by the director for no other reason than “the director said so.”

How Do Directors Direct Actors?

Directors direct actors. It’s their job to get the performances they want from the actors and actresses in their films, and there are many techniques that directors use to achieve that goal. Some directors are very hands-on and will even give lines while filming, while others prefer to stay out of the way and let their actors develop the character on their own.

There is no right or wrong way to direct actors, but some techniques are more effective than others. Telling vs. Showing Directors who tell rather than show often talk through the entire performance with the actor, explaining how each line should be delivered.

This technique can work well for small parts where only a few lines need to be delivered, but it’s not effective for larger roles because it steals focus from the actual film rather than enhancing it.

Telling also prevents an actor from developing his or her own character — they’re only following orders, rather than creating something new with you.

Executing vs. Informing

Some directors like to tell their actors what they think of them and how they should perform certain scenes and lines, while other directors leave it up to the performer to find his or her own way through the scene. Both methods have merit, but it boils down to personal preference.

Directing Actors Be Familiar With Your Actors

A director needs to know who is in the film and what their capabilities are. It’s important to know every actor, who they are and what kind of a career they’ve had so far. This will help you direct them better; knowing their strengths and weaknesses.

But sometimes you meet an actor for the first time on the set. This can be a problem if you need to work closely with that person all day, because you need to know how they react under pressure. But don’t worry, there are ways of finding out about your actors before filming starts.

When you’re casting a film you want everyone cast in it to be right for the roles they’re playing. If there’s an actor that is perfect for the role but hasn’t got much experience then a good option is to hire someone that was in a similar role previously.

For example, if you needed someone for a comedy role who didn’t have much experience but was mostly known for being dramatic then it would be worth looking at someone who has been in comedies in the past.

This will give you an idea of their comedic timing and what kind of things they can do well, which will allow you to make them look better as an actor on screen.

Directing Actors Include Your Actors In Your Method

There are many ways to direct actors and many techniques that can be used. The best technique is the one that works for you and your actors. Here are some tips on directing actors to help you reach your end goal of a performance or scene.

The first thing you have to do when directing any actor is to look at their strengths and weaknesses. Know what they can do, know where they shine and where they struggle. You have to know what each actor wants out of the scene and the performance.

Determine how much direction (if any) they need from you as a director so that you can get what you want from them in the final product. The next thing is to make sure that every actor knows exactly what’s going on in the script and what their character wants. This can be done by discussing it with them individually or in group meetings, depending on how many actors are in the production.

The more specific the actors are, then the more real and interesting the performance will be for the audience. If it’s not clear who the characters are, then what they want and why will not be clear either.

Directing Actors Don’t Make Actors Wait

Directors don’t make actors wait.

I don’t care if you’ve never directed anything before in your life. You need to learn this rule, because it will save you from making actors hate you and making them not want to work with you. Treat actors like they’re the most important people in the room–because they are.

Treat them like you understand that their time is valuable–because you do, even if it’s only a small amount of time.  Treat them like they’re kings and queens, and they’ll repay that respect by giving you their best work.

Here’s what happens when directors make actors wait:

They get into hair and makeup late. This is a big one, because it means they’re going to be starting late on set, which means the whole crew will be behind schedule and less prepared for the day.

Actors get bored waiting around between takes. This builds up a lot of ‘dead time’ where actors aren’t engaged with the process or working toward anything. This can lead to problems in the performance (because they’re not as present or ‘in it’) as well as problems getting them back into character between takes (it’s hard to argue that getting an actor back into character.

Directing Actors Pay Attention To Your Actor’s Needs

It is the director’s job to make sure that the actor is able to perform his or her best. Certain things such as room temperature and sound levels can be controlled by the director as well as the camera operator. The main thing that you need to concentrate on is your actor’s needs.

Directing Actors: Pay Attention To Your Actor’s Needs

If you want your scene to be shot in a certain way, then it is very important for you to tell your actor how you would like them to act. For example, if there are certain emotions they should portray then make sure they know what kind of emotions they need to have. Also, if you need them to move a certain way, then let them know.

If they are not comfortable with doing something in a certain way then it may be best for you to change it up a little bit. If you are going for a different take but your actor does not feel comfortable doing it again then it might be best for you to do it another way.

You also need to pay attention to where your actors are positioned on set and make sure that they are comfortable while performing their lines. For example, if they have a hard time remembering their lines then maybe they will need some ear buds.

Directing Actors Listen To Your Actors’ Senses

Directing Actors Listen To Your Actors’ Senses

One of the most important aspects of directing actors is listening to them. This is a hard thing for many people, directors especially, to do. They get caught up in their own ideas and lose focus on what the actor needs.

The most important thing to remember is that if you listen to an actor well, you will learn more about your character. Sometimes, the actor can help you out of a corner or point out something that wasn’t there before.

Other times, you may learn something about yourself as a director. Either way, it’s a good experience overall. There are a few things you must do if you want to be a good listener: Pay attention: Keep your eyes on the actor and listen to every word they say! Don’t get distracted by other things going on around you.

It can be easy to get lost in thought while they are talking to you, but make sure you are paying attention and not just half listening. The best way is actually just turn off all distractions.

Directing Actors Show Respect To Everyone On Set

In any film production, from the smallest independent movie to the biggest studio blockbuster, there is one person who has the ultimate responsibility of making sure that everyone involved in the production works together to make a great film. That person is the director.

A respected and popular actor can have a positive effect on a film’s success and profitability. Actors like Tom Hanks, Jack Nicholson, and Julia Roberts have been in some of the highest grossing films of all time, but that is not always the case.

Recent films like “Town & Country,” “The Majestic” or “Gigli” were all films featuring A-list actors who were bombed with critics and audiences alike. The reason for this can be explained by the lack of respect that was shown by the actors involved in these films.

Actors are people too! They have feelings and emotions just like everyone else. If they feel as though they’re being disrespected on set, they may have a tendency to act out or even become uncooperative. This is never good for a film’s outcome or its potential box office earnings.

If you want to be successful as an actor, you must learn how to show respect to everyone involved in your film, including your director, producer, crew members and fellow actors.

How Do I Get Better At Directing?

Directing is a very difficult job, there is no question. It takes a lot of talent and a lot of hard work to be good at it. The same with any other jobs, working in the industry will make you better over time. But how do you improve your directing skills? How do you get better at directing?

The best way to get started is to practice. Read books about movies and watch movies that you like and try to analyze them, think about what makes them good or bad, what you like or dislike about the director’s style.

Then start making your own short films, because only then will the whole process become more clear to you and you’ll learn that by doing. But if you want to start right now, then pay close attention to the below tips on how to be a better director:

Work on your script : A great script is very important for a movie, so if you are a beginner learning how to direct try to write a perfect one before getting into filming. You would have an easier time directing when there are no problems with the script.

Have pre-production meetings : Before filming, make sure that everyone involved in the film knows their role and is well prepared for it. Pre-production meetings are really important.

How Do Directors Tell Actors What To Do?

Directors have to be a little bit crazy, or at least a little bit of a control freak. After all, if they’re not firm with their actors, the whole production could fall apart. Attention directors and producers: Here’s how to tell actors what to do without making them feel like you’re giving orders.

The first thing to recognize is that you’re not directing actors because of your own ego. If you are, you need to find another career as quickly as possible, because actors are going to chew you up and spit you out. They’re only working with you because they love what they do, and they want to bring your vision to life.

As such, any direction from a director needs to be received as advice from another professional, who has the actor’s best interests in mind. That doesn’t mean it can’t be blunt or even harsh at times — but it does mean that it should never come across as barbs directed at the actor’s personality or character.

In order for an actor to respond well to direction, he needs to feel safe expressing himself creatively. If an actor feels like he’s free enough to explore his character on camera without fear of getting in trouble for taking risks, he’ll probably give a great performance.