How to Fix Bad Acting (6 directing tricks)

Directing actors is simple with the right bag of tricks. Here are six directing tips to immediately get better acting in your films.

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I've been making short films for 20 years, starting at age 11. I directed my first feature film, Bad is Bad, in 2010. Made for only $6,000, the film went on to reach over 7 million views and garner critical acclaim. More recently, my short film, Will "The Machine", screened and won awards at film festivals around the world. Released online in 2019, it reached over 1 million views in just a month. I also work as a video editor, cutting ads for clients such as Apple, Netflix, and Beats by Dre.

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[StandardStoryCo]

Filmmaking advice coming in weekly - Drop a comment if there's anything you want to learn about!

[swerdnagk]

Tip 3: Is a great idea for auditions too. I once held auditions in a literal library study room, and the sides were for an angry argument on the street... So, I told the actor that they should try it this time as if they were in a library! It was great because it helped us stay quiet, and I got to see the range of the actor as well.

[robertr]

Something that always helps: Ask the actor if they know what the character wants. A lot of times, the actor might not understand the character’s objective, or what reaction they want from their scene partner.

[nikocvitanic]

That was so digestible and effective. That was literally an entire directing class in 8 minutes

[DanielBrasher]

The best directors I’ve worked with work don’t tell you how to do it but why. Keep it simple and just work from the script and identify the character’s objectives.

[billg]

I don't know if I'd call this a tip, more like a happy accident I had while making something.
I had left the camera running on my actor that I was shooting, but I was giving direction to other actor off camera.
When I went through the footage later, I found all these great natural reaction shots that I was able to cut into the scene that improved the scene.
This happened multiple times, all by accident.

[evertonpereira]

One essential trick I think is important is to try being a actor someday, every director should experiment to be directed and learn more about acting tecnics and styles. When you go directing it makes a real big difference.

[jkswanepoel]

Please don’t stop doing these videos I get a lot out of them thank you

[DeJesusVanegas]

Finaly!!! dude you dont see this kind of videos ANYWHER, Ive been waiting for something like this on youtube for 10 years, all filmmaking channels only talk about gear or cinematography stuff

[trevscribbles]

After you gave your first nugget of advice I was immediately thinking "It would be kinda cool to privately tell each actor their attribute/issue so they unknowingly play against each other naturally". I'm quite chuffed with myself for hopping ahead to step 6 hahaha

[ndd]

Thank you so much, I found that the problems I've encountered while filming is that the actors are just too neutral of each others. I can't believe it's as simple as telling them to be the 'opposite' of what they're acting - it's so much more satisfying to be able to illicit their reactions to exactly what you're envisioning rather than getting a mundane performance of the bare minimum.

[etothemajor]

I watch a lot of filmmaking videos on YT but not enough focus on one of the most important things for a director to do: direct actors! I love this video and the advice you give. I've used some of these tricks myself.

[leakytelevision]

That last tip👏🏾👏🏾 all were great but i especially liked that one as an actor myself

[aliensoup]

One problem I've noticed with inexperienced actors, is that they often rush their lines. They are simply trying to get the lines out, and if they are excited, they will run words together and it all comes out as mush. It's not good enough that they simply memorize the words - they must understand the meaning behind the words and internalize them along with the emotions they define. Ask the actor to describe the scene and paraphrase their lines. Make them rehearse the scene with action and physical emotion but no dialog, or use nonsense words instead of their lines so they are thinking about the emotions not the words. They need to become so confident and relaxed with their emotions that the words are secondary and come out naturally.

[magic.marmot]

Stellar advice. I like giving direction as "it's like you just found your mother's secret box under the bed" kind of prompts, but I've mainly been doing ADR and voice stuff.

[soapyyy.]

This has really helped me in my acting journey!!! Timeless video thank you!

[TRIOStories]

This is INCREDIBLY useful, especially the last tip. I feel like adding those levels of context and 'insider knowledge' to each of the characters can really level up a scene. Thanks so much for this vid!

[sarahcadol]

As an Actor and Director, this is a very helpful video! Thank you!

[alexlee]

I’m currently binging your videos as I find them super informative, concise and to the point with a good rhythm. There’s a bit of humour too, which just makes them fun to watch.

A few months ago I had an “aha, I want to make films!” moment. After buying a few bits of the basic equipment I need, I have already watched countless videos on how I can realise that vision and I have to say that your videos are the most helpful source I’ve come across to date. Thank you, and I hope to see much more of your content in the future!

[lawrenceclemens]

You forgot to add what great directors have actually told their actors. Kubrick: "I'm waiting to see something interesting." William Wyler: "It's not quite working. Let's try it again." James Cameron: "Somebody call the acting police!" And my favorite from legendary John Huston to Gregory Peck while shooting Moby Dick - Peck said about Huston's direction: "I remember one scene on which all [Huston] said was 'Feel the camera on your face, ' which merely confused me. And in an important scene in which I had a long speech beginning 'If there is a God, there must be a malevolent God, ' I was told, 'Kid, if you ever deliver the goods this has to be the time.' Is that direction?"