5 Tips for Directing Actors | The Film Look

[@samcomer183]

One tip I heard (forget where) was to have your actors rehearse a scene a few times without saying the dialog. This would force them to incorporate body language into their performance in order to help portray the feeling/emotion of the scene and provide cues for the next line. Then put the dialog back and you have a more complete performance that expresses the feeling of the scene with more than just the words.

[@TheFilmLook]

That's a great tip! Will be using this next time we rehearse!

[@imiy]

That's interesting. But how they know where it's his/her line then? I mean, for example, if we have 2 actors.

[@TheFilmLook]

@@imiy I think the task of removing dialogue is more to give everyone a limitation and to see if you actually needed that line of dialogue or if it can be expressed through body language and action on screen.

[@jw_film]

Can't underestimate the rehearsal process. It's key to bringing the performances to life before the cameras roll and to working out what's working and what's not. Thanks for posting guys!

[@TheFilmLook]

Cheers James!

[@lucastefanvasileberde6656]

Rehearsals are gold in my opinion , especially if you don't have pro actors, but also for what you guys pointed out, which is to check if what you have on page actually works on screen. I've done this on my short film The Second Target and there were tons of changes that my actors wanted to make, because they felt they're characters wouldn't say certain things or that it broke the pacing and urgency of some moments! There are very few videos explaining these things on youtube. Most of them focus on camera direction and all that stuff. I appreciate that you guys are approaching subjects that aren't touched on on youtube! Great stuff!

[@TheFilmLook]

Thank you for the feedback! We are trying our best to tackle the subject which are important yet almost untouched i.e. this video. We are planning a series of directing 101 (hopefully for next year). Let us know if there are any subjects you'd like covered.

[@lucastefanvasileberde6656]

Oh my god, that would be gold! I'm not sure about very specific aspects yet, but definitely diving in both camera direction, shot-listing, translating scenes from the script and all that stuff should go hand in hand with more in depth directing actors and problem solving on set. By problem solving I mean aspects that you see don't work but don't quite know why and thus how to solve them, while still having to look like you know what you are doing! :-) Ps. I realized that is fairly specific! :))))

[@TheFilmLook]

Awesome, we'll certainly try to cover these basis!

[@TheKingMacgregor]

Great video. Thanks very much for this.

[@TheFilmLook]

No problem!

[@asianjared]

Another fantastic video guys. This will be very helpful for me in the coming months! Writing a couple short films ;D

[@TheFilmLook]

Fantastic! Shoot us the link when they are online :D

[@actingacademy7465]

Really good video guys. All the best directors have a clear mental map of what the day's shooting needs to achieve and can communicate that to cast and crew. Sad to say all the bad directors tend to waffle!

[@TheFilmLook]

I don't think I even have the vocabulary to waffle haha. Thanks for the feedback!

[@ghoutilakhdar3132]

What software did you use for the storyboard?

[@TheFilmLook]

No proper software. We shoot our storyboards using photos and screenshots from test shooting. We have an episode about it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5O3ZquEg52EoaM Then we just put them in a sequence using word/photoshop with some space for writing notes.

[@martysmith8]

Cracking video yet again guys! Gold dust information.

[@TheFilmLook]

Cheers Martin! Thanks for tuning in!

[@bahiaproductions125]

this is great!

[@TheFilmLook]

Hope it helps!

[@HackMyControlSystem]

Congrats on becoming a R0de reel technical finalist.

[@TheFilmLook]

Cheers!

[@cinnamon4605]

Can I make money from short film?

[@TheFilmLook]

We haven't yet, so we really can't tell you how! Sorry Cini

[@cinnamon4605]

@@TheFilmLook that's fine. having a editing software is good or having an Colourist is good??

[@cinnamon4605]

See I'm shooting in my Canon 200D and they are like raw footages.. I don't know how to give them film look? What do you suggest??

[@TheFilmLook]

@@cinnamon4605 We always say getting the film look is more than just colour grading and fancy shots. Your costume, lighting, and certainly the actor's performance, will give you a "film look". Once you have the footage, you need to add contrast. Any raw or log file will be very milky. There are plenty of tutorials on KZbin for colour grading, give them a search and find something you think will suit your film.

[@cinnamon4605]

@@TheFilmLook gracias. are you guys aspiring to become a feature film director?

[@NativeEarthlingAI]

Am I taking Directing tips from a 16 year old?

[@TheFilmLook]

No a 26 year old. Rob is 29 just so you know.