Auditioning Actors

How do you prepare for your audition? What are the physical resources you'll need? What are some other great tips that you've learned in this video?

In order to holding a casting call, you must know the script front and back. It is important to know all the terms and setting of the scene. You must list the specific information about the casting and production as well as story setting of the character. The audition should be well organized and assume that many people will not show up to the audition. Booking several people for a certain time slot is smart so that the casting manager will not be too bored. The atmosphere, rather than the location, is important for the actors. They should be comfortable in the waiting room and be able to audition in a blank space. A large role should be around 3 pages while smaller roles could have a page and a half. Is is important to record them so that you don't forget their performance.

The Trap of Assumption

What is the trap of assumption? How can you deal with your assumptions?

The trap of assumption is to assume that others will have the same reaction to a certain work a you did. Something can be clear to one person and can be difficult to understand for someone else. At the end of the day, what someone feels is going to be different for everyone because a script is nothing more than a cumulation of words. Assuming that everyone's reaction to a piece will be the same is a trap that must be avoided when directing. The director will know how the scene will play out but it must be conscious that his assumption is right but the opinion ultimately do not matter. In the end, the only assumption that matter in the scene is the assumption of the character.

Director's #1 Job

What is the directors primary job? What is the relationship of story and character in this? What role does "the machine" play into this?

As a director, the most important job is to be a storyteller. Everyone surrounding the director is supporting the director to tell that one story. They must take care of the story and tell the story in the most authentic way. At the end of the day, they must know that the character is telling the story. Performance can make or break the story. Casting is crucial to the film because the actor cannot interfere with the character. Finding someone that can fully act out a character is of great importance to a great film. The director can get distracted by all of the problems that they forgot that the most important part of the story--the performance.

Directing Characters

What is directing the characters? How does this work? Why is is a useful technique?

For a moment, the director must forget the character for a moment and interact directly to the actor. The director must find a way for the actor to find the same emotions that are within the same character. The director must face the fear of director and the actor must face their own fear. Having the courage to know that he is able to maintain authority over the actor while also communicating with them is important in the role of directors. Actors needs to give up their desire to control their acting and the directors need to give up their desire to control their directing.

Authentic Acting

What is authentic acting? Why is planning how to play a scene bad?

Authentic acting means that the actor is moving in accord to the complex emotions of the character. The actor should never have a plan on how to play a scene because the moment is only understood in the scene. The "performance" is in reality, simply a plan that becomes mechanical very fast. Thinking what the character is feeling will result in a more authentic acting. The director, in this case, needs to stop ordering specifics from the actor. The actor must think for themselves in how the character will think in the moment. Demanding an end result is confusing and infuriating to some actors.

How to Direct a Great Scene

What is the role of director in creating a great scene? What advice did you find most useful out of this video to help you direct a scene?

The role of the director is to dig deep into the intentions of the characters and the relationship between the characters. The actors must fully understand the context of the character in order to express the true emotions of the character. The scene can be enhanced by clearly identifying the objective of every single character. Every scene has a core moment that usually comes at the end of the scene. This could be a brief moment that identifies why the scene is in the movie. The core moment can help the character go through a transformation or the audience can go through a transformation that enhances or evolves the story in some way shape or form.

What Directors say to Actors

What is "creating a safe place" on set? Why is this so important? How can you do this with your directing?

Acknowledging the actor's work is important on set. Creating a safe place is important for actor because being approved for their work helps the actor to continue being open to the director. Even if the performance is not what the director envisioned, it still still important to continue praising them for their work. Sighing and saying "we have to do this again" creates resentment for the character that is detrimental to the acting. Positive reinforcement requires the "character brain" that interrogates the character themselves. The lack of plan is what makes the conversation authentic and effective to the audience.