Directing Actors

Direction is one of the most important functions of content creation. It's about the journey of a script being visualised and executed to reach on screen to the audience. One of the key role areas of a Director is to direct the artist. The artist may be a trained actor or untrained actor

The key with directing actors is to tell them what is really happening in the scene over and above the dialogue itself. This is known as Subtext. The heroine tells the hero that she hates him, but what is she really saying?  Does she actually hate him or does she in fact love him? The character's true
intentions will make a difference to how you direct the actor. If the heroine actually does hate the hero, you will direct her one way conversely, if she loves him despite the fact that she says she hates
him, you will direct her another way. Subtext is absolutely vital in content making. Subtext is simply what a character really means, which is not always the same as what the character says.

Sometimes even with talented actors they are not entirely clear on what the  wants director wants  and their performance goes in entirely the wrong direction, making it necessary to do some heavy-duty directing.

If the actor is really getting it wrong and you need to give detailed direction, get close to the actor, do it with a low tone of voice so that no one can  overhear and always be polite and positive. Being hot-tempered with anyone on the set is NOT COOL.

Directing Raw/Untrained Non-actors:

In your journey as a visual story teller (read director), one of the mosts useful skills you will pick up is the ability to take out a decent performance from virtually anyone.

We are  not expecting a
phenomenal actor to pop out of someone who has never been on camera before but gentle coaching and patience will usually get you good results.

Directing Child Actors:

Develop some genuine rapport with the child actor in advance of the shoot.  Hang out with them, rehearse, discuss the part and develop a relationship of
mutual trust. I believe this is much more effective than simply promising cookies if they do what you say, because they are then focused on the material reward and want to get to it as quickly as possible, when in fact
it is much better when they really like you and want to do thier best.

One final remark - you must
absolutely insist that at least one of the parents is present at all times
on the shoot, even if they say that they will simply drop them off and then pick them up later.

Key Points:
* Assess the Situation
* To Prompt or Not to Prompt
* Make the Talent Feel Comfortable and Safe
* Never Never EVER get Frustrated
* Fix it in Post
* Have Fun

Any thoughts or feedback, write to me on aditi.gosalia@gmail.com