Directing Actors - 24 Filmmakers on Writing, Casting, Prep, and Shooting

Directing Actors Pt. 2 - a collection of directing advice from 24 of the best directors, including their approach to writing, casting, preparation, working on set, and more.
How to Get the Best Performance from an Actor ►► bit.ly/da-p2
StudioBinder Blog ►► bit.ly/sb-bl
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Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction to Directing Actors
00:51 - The Director’s Job
02:22 - Chapter 1: Writing and Casting
07:47 - Chapter 2: Preparation
16:04 - Chapter 3: Working on Set
23:29 - Takeaways
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DIRECTING ACTORS PT. 2
In a previous episode, we heard from some of the best film directors about how to direct actors. In this video, we’ve assembled even more directors with even more nuggets of wisdom on directing actors. Topics covered include writing for specific actors, casting, preparation and backstory, and the inner workings of working with actors on set.
WRITING AND CASTING
Some directors are also writers, so the question becomes, do you write for specific actors or not? Wong Kar-Wai says he prefers to customize the role for the actor to maximize their strengths. Nancy Meyers will keep photos of her actors nearby to help get her unstuck while writing. Other directors like Pedro Almodóvar like to keep the screenplay “pure” and then find the right actors for each part.
HOW DIRECTORS WORK WITH ACTORS TO PREPARE
Directing actors can begin long before they step onto the set. Working with actors in the preparation phase can take many forms. Richard Linklater likes to work with actors in rehearsal to make the actual performances on camera feel spontaneous. Guillermo del Toro likes to provide his actors with extensive and detailed character descriptions. Filmmakers like Robert Eggers, who has so far worked in period films, will often give his actors primary sources to research the history of the time period.
HOW TO DIRECT ACTORS ON SET
After the casting and rehearsal stages are complete, there’s nothing else to do but get on set and do it for real. Famously, David Fincher likes to do a lot of takes to get his actors so comfortable with the material, that it feels like second nature. On the other hand, filmmakers like Michelangelo Antonioni prefer only three or four takes per shot to keep the actors fresh. The atmosphere on set is also a critical factor. Jonathan Demme advises to keep the actors as comfortable as possible on set.
Hopefully, these lessons resonate with any beginning filmmakers trying to understand the craft. The lesson here is that the best answer to how to direct actors comes from you and how you work best.
#FilmTheory #VideoEssay #Filmmaking
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♬ SONGS USED:
"Indians Jones Main Theme" - John Williams
"Ferris Wheel Love Theme" - BT
"The Fly Main Theme" - Howard Shore
"Conciliation I" - Jung Jae-il
"Chance of Rain" - John Brion
"Quantum IV" - Makeup and Vanity Set
"Got to Give it Up" - Marvin Gaye
"Touch Me" - The Doors
"Jacob and the Stone" - Emile Mosseri
"The Artifact Living" - Michael Andrews
"Sonovabitch" - Mark Korven
"Mulholland Drive Theme" - Angelo Badalamenti
"Munsters Theme Song" - Jack Marshall
"Bulletin Board" - Howard Shore
"Spirals" - Hanan Townshend
"Edge of Seventeen" - Stevie Nicks
"Insane in the Brain" - Cypress Hill
Music by Artlist ► utm.io/umJx
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Music by Soundstripe ► bit.ly/2IXwomF
Music by MusicBed ► bit.ly/2Fnz9Zq
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[@StudioBinder]

Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction to Directing Actors 00:51 - The Director’s Job 02:22 - Chapter 1: Writing and Casting 07:47 - Chapter 2: Preparation 16:04 - Chapter 3: Working on Set 23:29 - Takeaways

[@StayFractalesque]

I just watched Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down for the first time the other day and was riveted.. ..an at once alarming and charming film, with a teeter-totter tone that had me totally invested into how our dual protagonist's wholly unique conundrum would pan out.. a new cult classic anti-hero / anti-heroine on-screen duo in my book!..

[@jeevanrajan4613]

Can u tell about intime moive making screenplay wirting 😊

[@iglobal0]

Why this video dosen., t translate into Arabic 😢

[@pignna]

I think this series is the most useful to me personally, simply because as much as I love working with actors, I avoid directing as much as I can because I’m not very good at directing them. I think that’s the only reason why I’ve always sticked to being a DP

[@StudioBinder]

Everyone has their speciality!

[@vegardpedersen]

same with me, but we have to start somewhere. I did my first short film as a director this summer. I learned a lot, and I was not very good at it. Now the next time I will know what NOT to do as I see what worked and what did not work. I believe in you, I know you can do it :-)

[@DavidZorrilla22]

Dude and me as an actor I would love to be a DP… way cooler and more interesting. The acting habitat is disgusting.

[@DFMoray]

The most practical thing for me has been to give them “verbs” especially with line delivery. Like “beg” “accuse” etc

[@alext.9833]

Give the editor a hug for me, this was edited so freaking well

[@BadKarma714]

The voice is back I would like this guy to narrate the beginning of my short film, I wonder how much he charges. The days that he’s gone he’s probably on vacation or maybe working on other projects for future films, which is well-deserved so they need to bring a substitute every so often to give this guys voice or rest. It’s all good.

[@StudioBinder]

👌👌

[@James-to2ic]

Paul Gregory I think

[@rebelcat9956]

It's unbelievable see how every filmmaker have their own approach with their actors and actresses, it's like have a blank sheet and every each of them decide how to paint a tree. I love it.

[@KabiesiAdemola]

It's Art afterall, paint what you can sell and what you think people will want to see or what you love to see

[@CaptainZachofEarth]

this is the my absolute favorite narrator on studiobinder. please dont ever stop.

[@StudioBinder]

👍

[@janlichubilla6995]

I remember William Wyler, the best director who has the ability to bring the best out of his actors may it be in the speech patterns, mannerisms or facial expression he knows how to fix or make it more profound and layered. Bette Davis, Olivia De Havilland and Audrey Hepburn all have iconic performances under his impeccable direction. A true legend indeed.

[@StudioBinder]

💖💖

[@ThomasDavis5213]

Im getting GREATNESS from this channel

[@atlanta2076]

I'm in the process of getting started for my first feature. Much planning ahead still. And this was INVALUABLE! ♥

[@StudioBinder]

Happy filming!

[@EddieLensweiger]

Thank you very much for this great insight, the research and for including Antonioni, Bergman, Lumet, Leigh and Dreyer! omg 😍😍😍

[@StudioBinder]

Happy to!

[@rayancedrichaddad1197]

Thousand Thanks StudioBinder for this Inspiring Masterclass. One of the Best Video you made. How to Direct Actors is An important process to make Masterpieces.

[@StudioBinder]

Agreed!

[@DelightLovesMovies]

This was my fave episode of StudioBinder. Please do more shows like this about directors and actors. Its so interesting because there aren't enough of them when compared to all the shows there are about things like effects, cinematography, and sound. Thanks for sharing on youtube.

[@StudioBinder]

What else would you like covered on the topic?

[@vegardpedersen]

Could you make a video with the basics of directing actors for new filmmakers that have never done it, and maybe with actors that are not professional as a lot of us are starting out small? I would benefit a lot from a dedicated video for new people making shorts etc.@@StudioBinder

[@DelightLovesMovies]

@@StudioBinder I would love to see more about how directors interact with their actors, the good ones and the bad ones.That would be so great.

[@FILMDABBA]

Thank you studiobinder for the class I asked.❤❤❤

[@StudioBinder]

Hope you liked it!

[@hii9918]

I think every actor has a uniqueness to his acting style, and the director should allow him the freedom to bring it to the fore, instead of being too much dictatorial.

[@StudioBinder]

Actors like to be directed

[@urstepdaddy007]

Thank you as always for free content 🤘💚

[@StudioBinder]

Thanks for watching!

[@marvelfoxmorty5057]

Very awesome video. Thanks studiobinder

[@StudioBinder]

Thanks for watching!

[@BlenderNoob633]

Thanks so much for this amazing video and including some of my favorite directors. I've really struggled with directing actors in the past and that's why I usually am a DP... I hope this video will help me become more confident with directing actors... Thanks!

[@StudioBinder]

Good luck!

[@myman8458]

I find all this tips very useful... thank you

[@StudioBinder]

Happy filming!

[@herbertsuarez3756]

excelente video, Gracias por compartir buena información, saludos desde Bolivia

[@bollywoodfightactionreacti9189]

Superb video for film making ❤

[@StudioBinder]

💕💕

[@freddyjosereginomontalvo4667]

Cool video as always say man I love this channel ❤

[@StudioBinder]

Love our viewers!

[@TsvetanVLife]

Am I the first one here? I loove your videos guys!! :)

[@StudioBinder]

Welcome!

[@dushyantsingh244]

Good job team ❤❤❤

[@StudioBinder]

Cheers!

[@lordmoe9102]

Great info

[@StudioBinder]

Thanks for watching!

[@vikasraj2797]

Cinemas is just all about acting - Orson Welles

[@StudioBinder]

He also thinks directing is overrated, though it's his favorite job in filmmaking haha

[@ryanhowell4492]

I love this

[@StudioBinder]

🙏🙏

[@steve_santiago]

The voice is back!

[@Spiker985Studios]

You got to it before me

[@StudioBinder]

👌

[@keamogetswe6629]

I recently subscribed, I am a TV student may you please show us how to complete a budget template and music que sheet

[@vegardpedersen]

Great video, very valuable. What I take away from it is that it is not one right or wrong way to do direction. Everyone needs to find a style that works for them. Question: do you think a director hasa style of for example shooting just a few takes or like the example of the one touching the actors. Do you think some actors will not take a role because the style of directing does not match to the actor?

[@StudioBinder]

Yeah for sure, every great director discovers their method that they've realized consistently gets the performance they need from their actors. I don't think it's style as much the director themselves that makes the actor decide

[@vegardpedersen]

thank you for answering the comment :-)@@StudioBinder

[@prakashshetty5189]

🎉🎉Amazing🎉🎉

[@StudioBinder]

Cheers!

[@gigerbrick]

12:01 "Because I am genuinely am Interested in.., WOW that's Interesting!"

[@DelightLovesMovies]

Hi StudioBinder.

[@StudioBinder]

Hello!

[@HumbleHerman]

Directors have to know enough about everything to hire the appropriate people -- and LISTEN TO THEM. This applies especially to directors like Stallone and Nolan and Cameron and Spielberg who think they're writers but are not. Nolan, because he's better educated, is probably closest, but close doesn't count!

[@StudioBinder]

Great leaders have a great team

[@brain_respect_and_freedom]

Cool!👍

[@StudioBinder]

🙏🙏

[@gregorylagrange]

It would really be a good thing if you made the titles of the movies you're using clips from to be more legible. You make them far too translucent. And when you use the cursor to take the video back in the time line, the title is place at the same level of the timeline and the chapter heading at the bottom of the video. Your channel is very good at coming across movies I've never heard of before and would like to see. But it's hard to see what movies they are. And on top of that, the title might be on either side of the video.

[@StudioBinder]

👌

[@Filmpoint_offl]

Terrific voice really superb Hello studio binder can you please tell me this voice is real or ai generated.

[@StudioBinder]

Always real

[@Detonated66]

6:38 Which movie is this?

[@StudioBinder]

Names are on the bottom left hand corner!

[@disisfunny88]

Hey studio binder the only negative thing of ur channel is that ur videos don't have download button so that we can watch them offline

[@StudioBinder]

👍

[@deeds203203]

The British guy is back!!! Yes! It’s not the same without him.

[@StudioBinder]

Thanks for watching!

[@Swissvmillie1]

TELL ME CAN I MAKE A ANIME SERIES WITH MY IPAD AND LAPTOP AND HOW CAN I FIND PEOPLE TO COLLABORATE WITH ON KZbin ?

[@StudioBinder]

That would be difficult

[@antonfrancisnotario3352]

Hello Sir. It's been a while since I last watch your videos on your channel. I also want to be like you and actually I have something in mind on making a film, it's called Book of Tobit. I want to do some Cecil B. DeMil Cinematography Techniques but a colored film. It's just that it's very hard to come up on ideas on how to capture the place so that will look realistic. You have something in mind sir? Any suggestions, etc.? Pls. Comment down below on my comment section sir😊. I await on your feedback. Thank You 😊❤

[@MwayiComfort]

Dad's voice is back 😅❤

[@StudioBinder]

👌

[@medardbitangimana4580]

Thank u for mixing household names with directors with little-known ones.

[@gimovies8260]

See in you tube kannada movie A . movie name is A. In their director working differently.

[@StudioBinder]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[@ghosted7450]

is Robert Rodriguez the most versatile director?

[@StudioBinder]

Not necessarily

[@jamesdean8785]

Don’t think many, at least mainstream films, can buy a weeks rehearsal let alone months

[@StudioBinder]

Wouldn't mainstream films have the most opportunity to rehearse, given they have the biggest budget and resources?

[@lazougre4229]

4th comment less goo!

[@StudioBinder]

Welcome!

[@luis.a.sanchez]

Did they AI the narrator???

[@StudioBinder]

Never

[@weyuopa-bw7uf]

Why are you always showinhg us Indiana Jones

[@StudioBinder]

Good movie

[@GUNpowderBIRD]

Where's the old Narrater ???

[@StudioBinder]

This is him...

[@bobholidae]

What's up with all the distractive adds?

[@StudioBinder]

What do you mean?

[@successsystem2468]

This is padded out back patting for kids disguised with a posh English voice. Nothing useful first 3 minutes. All the best screen performances had nothing to do with the director. Eg. DDL in There will be Blood, Pacino in Scarface, Nicholson in anything.

[@impmoviechannel3052]

What a bunch of self-aggrandizing cliched Hollywood mythology hokum, talked into minutia, signifying nothing... If any of this was "true" then why are the vast majority of films so awful, inclduing most of the AFY Top 100 Films of All Time? Why keep repeating the same things in the same way and getting the same results? That's not creativity. Please...Rehearsing "spontaneity"? For example: People keep pointing to "Daughters of the Dust" as being something worthy but all I see is a preachy, low budget, contrived, highly staged, corny, tedious pontifications from amateurish actors who are almost impossible to understand. Ed Wood is more entertaining, and his filmmaking was at least honest -- a satire of all the bull shown in this video. It's not brain surgery, folks.

[@brandonscullion]

You seem like a fun person.

[@StudioBinder]

So how do you direct actors?

[@impmoviechannel3052]

I don't do rehearsals. I teach as I go -- eyelines, framing, composition, blocking, intentions and motivations (such as fear, doubt, guilt or shame). I teach surprises and reveals. I teach voice modulation and slowing down, thinking. I give them a list of movies to watch, similar in style and tone, examples. I HATE a bunch of nonsense talking which confuses them, drains energy. I don't do storyboards or shot lists -- the script IS all that -- and I shoot in order, so they are telling the story in sequence, know where they are at and why. I act the part out while they watch the monitor and point out decisions and choices. I ask for suggestions. I let the camera run before and after a take, just in case they do something I can use as an insert. I suggest homework such as writing a character backstory or compare and contrast. I call them on sloppiness and bad habits, such as stage actors learning to listen (which people mostly don't in real life) and to stare at the other scene person the whole time. I make sure they have no reason to be distracted such as people standing around on set who do nothing, plenty of healthy snacks and water, convenient bathrooms, privacy to gather their thoughts. The main goal is to learn craft (not be a passive populace employee), not build ego, unrealistic expectations, and reflect on the experience itself, forget the audience and what other people think. The goal is critical thinking, a platform for both expression and collaboration, not pleasing the director or second guessing, which is what most actors are trained to do. I always do a take just for them and their ideas, free to do whatever they imagine, even if it's "nothing", just "being" As a director, I would feel tremendous guilt to show up on set and THEN decide what the shot is, making everyone else wait. That's not fair to the actors or crew or budget. Thank you for asking.@@StudioBinder

[@shanequastunningbrave5376]

What's with all the mask wearing nonsense, it ruins your videos.

[@StudioBinder]

What do you mean?

[@shanequastunningbrave5376]

@@StudioBinder all tye BTS with directors wearing face blankies. There's millions of hours of footage from film sets to use where people aren't looking ridiculous