Directing film or television is a high-stakes occupation - the white water rafting of entertainment jobs.

Judith Weston's book Directing Actors was by my bedside all during the making of 'An American Rhapsody. Judith, an idealist with a passion to explore emotional reality, imagination, and the world around her through acting, found in Los Angeles a new creative path—teaching. There is an overwhelming amount of information in this audiobook whicb can seem a little daunting at times to listen to at a strech. For many filmmakers, collaborating with actors is the last frontier—the scariest part and the part they long for—the human part, the place where connection happens. Wrapping up, I hope these ten tips will help you effectively direct actors and models so they can give strong performances and contribute to your vision.Regge Life has written an easy-to-understand deep dive into the preparation essential for directors of theatre, film, and television to create their best storytelling.

But in practice, many beginning filmmakers (and even some experienced ones) find themselves lost when confronted with the query. I Dipped in and out of it across about 2 months and I was able to really use it as a daily dose of Direction education and it has been lovely. This is the only book that combines conceptual and practical instruction on creating polished and eloquent images for film and video with the technical know-how to achieve them.If an actor is unable to shift their performance based on notes, that’s usually not a promising sign. I’ve learned that the more prepared I was before stepping on a film set with a proper director’s treatment, storyboard, shot list, and scene breakdown in my back pocket, the more confident I was and the easier it was to give clear directions, allow room for creative interpretations, and pivot if something unexpected happened. When the scene is over, let the camera record for three to five more seconds and then cut the scene.

If you want people to open up for you in front of the camera, I believe you need to open up as the director to them. It’s a director’s job to help an actor hold onto those qualities as they channel them into the performance. I believe that thinking about what you want while experimenting and discovering possibilities with the cast and crew is okay, but nothing is worse for people than indecision. Her deep understanding of acting and directing as a laboratory of life has led to her reputation as "a detective of human nature" whose insights go to the heart of a scene, and to the soul of each individual artist.To recap the video, it is best to assume that most actors are trying their best with the information they have. Frequently Asked Questions About Directing Actors (FAQs) How do I get the performance I want from my actors?

Judith Weston brings to this book twenty years of professional acting and nine years of teaching Acting for Directors. In this article, I wanted to share ten filmmaking tips and techniques for directing actors based on my experience and best practices.

I hope these ten tips will contain a nugget of knowledge gold for you and help you ease this aspect of the filmmaking process and become a better director.