Trust and the Art of Directing Actors

You paid them.  They showed up.  They memorized their lines.  Why can't they just do what you want??

I see it all the time with unprepared directors.  They're on set about to roll as the actor looks at them to figure out what to do.  The director's eyes dart to the script for answers.  "Make sure you're really warm and friendly," he says with a big smile.  The actor nods her head, hiding the fact that she has no idea what that means.  The director painfully watches on as the actor performs her interpretation of what she thinks the director meant.  She pushes through the scene, forgetting the subtext she pulled when she initially read the script.  The director bites his lip knowing it's not what he wants.  Lunch is in 20 minutes and they still have two more setups to get.  This will have to do.

This has probably happened to every director sometime early in their career.  Having a language and a rapport with your actors is one of the most important aspects of your job as a director.  I've seen so many directors painfully storyboard out scenes with their DP, analyzing every dynamic of the visual world of a story.  They often get to a point where the DP knows the visual vocabulary the director wants, and knows what the director wants before it is asked.  What is it about acting that seems so straightforward that directors don't feel the need to prep at this level with their actors?

Acting requires a level of openness and often times honesty that is completely unnatural to normal human behavior.  Bad acting is obvious when someone is visibly attempting to emulate their character by trying to approach it externally.  Getting into character requires an actor to open up and expose themselves.  Often times they must be emotionally vulnerable.  This process is delicate, and for many actors it requires them to be in an environment that feels comfortable and safe to them.  The last thing they need is to be directed by a total stranger that hasn't earned their trust.

Like every other aspect of filmmaking, it's all about the preparation.  Prepping doesn't always mean rehearsing either.  What is important is that you take the time to get to know the actor.  Have dinner with them.  Grab a cup of coffee.  Grab a beer.  Give yourself the opportunity to understand who it is you are working with.  

Every single actor is different and their processes will always vary.  By learning who a person is, you can feel out what makes them tick.  Knowing what both drives an actor, and what repulses him are key to unlocking what is at the core of their performance.  When I meet with my actors I am always very open about myself, which gives them the breathing room to do the same.  I am always very open about my directing process and what I'm hoping for in the given production.  We often share our favorite films and why we love them.  This is a great way to get a common ground for creating art.  

Don't just depend on your instinct on how to work with a specific actor.... ask them!  Often times when having a drink with an actor for the first time, I'll bluntly ask them about their process.  Now listen. Absorb what they're telling you.  

"The first thing you should do with an actor is not sign a contract with him.  
Take him to dinner.  And then take him for a walk afterwards".  - Elia Kazan

There was one instance I remember where I had a chat with the female lead a couple weeks before we were going into production.  She told me that she worked best with a certain amount of external reality to play to.  After this, I was always trying to find that slice of reality for her throughout production.  In one scene, the script called for her to kiss a character who is not expecting it.  It's a first kiss, it's awkward, and it needs to be spontaneous.  It was a pretty straightforward scene to block and shoot, but it was a key scene for her character.  I made two decisions in pre-production that were tailored for her acting style; we'll shoot this on the first day, and she won't know we're shooting the kiss until right before the take.  Front loading the schedule with this scene made the most sense for the journey of these characters; they don't know each other yet, and it's  awkward.  

When we arrived on location I pulled the actors aside and told them we were cutting the kiss.  I could see a bit of relief in their eyes.  Our blocking rehearsal didn't include a kiss, and I think we rolled a couple takes without it.  I then pulled her aside making the excuse that I needed to see her makeup.  "Kiss him", I muttered to her in full seriousness.  "What?  Does he know?" she asked, eyes widened.  "Nope" I replied with a grin.  Before she could compose herself or make sense of what she was about to do, we were rolling.  There's a moment of hesitation where she takes an extra moment to try to think. Then she goes for it, flinging herself at him without regret. He's stunned, but goes with it.  Perfect.  She naturally went through the range of emotions the character was meant to without forcing it.  We couldn't have rehearsed this kind of result.

Now before you close this window demanding this would never work with actors you've worked with, remember this was tailored for this actor only.  I never would have tried this if I didn't chat with her about her process.  She never would have been OK with this if she didn't already know me and trust me.

I could go on with more examples, but the most important thing here is to know your actors and have them know you.  Do everything in your power to spend time with them before a shoot.  Whether they're a nervous first timer, or a seasoned veteran, be sure to take the time to feel them out.  The actor may be a diva and not feel they need a director.  Fine, but try to figure out what they know they have, what they want from you, and what they don't know you can offer.  

Don't be afraid to put yourself out there.  Trust me, most actors are just as timid as you are when it comes to starting this process.  It can seem as difficult as approaching a total stranger, but it gets easier when you remember this is part of both of your jobs.  At the end of the day, many actors are wonderful people that are an absolute joy to work with.  Having a close collaboration with them creates an exciting and fertile space to create great work.

If you have any thoughts or questions, let's keep the conversation alive in the comments section!

The "Redemptive Presence" Dilemma

It was sitting on paper staring me in the face.  At the time, I wasn't exactly sure what it meant, but I knew it was something profound.  I re-read the phrase... "redemptive presence".

Before I began taking on my position as Vice President of Lakeview Productions, I met with Chris Gearhart, the company's president for months leading up to my hire.  Think of them as job interviews... only they weren't.  I would drive from central Indiana to Chicago on weekends or even weekdays after work, and we would sit in a restaurant or coffee shop and just talk about our ideas for directions we could take the company.  

On one such occasion we were finishing up a discussion on the specifics for the hypothetical first 12 months of my employment.  He put a sheet of paper in front of me that listed what he called the core values of the company.  It had all of the pillars that creative companies strive for; creative excellence, client relationships, professional fulfillment.  These were things that I hoped for in an employer.  But one of the values struck me as a little odd: the two words "redemptive presence".  

I looked at Chris nodding my head as if I knew exactly what he was talking about.  Redemptive of what?  Did Lakeview Productions screw the pooch in a past life and now we're seeking redemption for a past mistake?  Chris then said something that really stuck with me after the meeting.  "We should strive to be the redemptive presence of the industry", he explained.  "In the way we do our work, in the work we do, and with the people we work with."

I was probably nibbling on a french fry or sipping my coffee when it hit me how bold of a statement that was.  We strive to lead by example.  Holy crap, we're not just talking about doing our best and striving to please our clients... we're striving to be the shining beacon of light that others lean towards!

At first this type of pledge seamed overzealous.  This kind of declaration puts much more on us than making a goal of delivering good work.  Heck, creating great work might not even be good enough for this kind of aspiration.  No buddy, this was the mother of all ambitious goals.

Months later I started working for LVP, and with that I started to embrace the mantra of striving to be a redemptive presence.  I began to realize this philosophy is what sets us apart in our industry.  Now let me clarify that I'm not claiming that we are the redemptive presence of the film industry.  Instead, our pursuit of this elusive goal is a defining attribute which us different.  

It forces us to ask ourselves at any point in a project if we're on track to fulfill that goal.  Are we doing everything we can both creatively and professionally to be on track to be a redemptive presence?  Can our work "cut through the clutter"?  

When you're striving to be a redemptive presence, the industry standard is not good enough.  It's the business equivalent to a "what would Jesus do" bracelet.  

To be a redemptive presence we are challenged in the way we work with others.  In the way we work with clients, and treat each other.  It demands honesty with ourselves and others.  It requires we value relationships higher than any one project.

It changes the way we consider the projects we choose to take on.  It tasks us to ask ourselves if a project will be of artistic or creative value to ourselves, the viewers, and our client(s).  It's a challenge to take a project to a higher level than originally intended.

This is only the beginning.  Will we ever be the redemptive presence we strive for?  To me that's not important.  It's the pursuit of that goal that matters.  It's the way it challenges us to be bold and be fearless.  It's the way it pushes us to take risks.  To try to be different.  To find our creative potential.