How to Direct Actors — Directing Advice from the Greats

How to Direct Actors for Film — a collection of directing advice from some of the best directors, including their approach to casting, rehearsal, giving notes, spontaneity, and more.

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Special thanks to:
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Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction to Directing Actors
00:54 - Director's Approach to Actors
02:39 - Chapter 1: Casting and Rehearsing
09:48 - Chapter 2: Giving Notes
14:14 - Chapter 3: Spontaneity
19:44 - Takeaways

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HOW TO DIRECT ACTORS FOR FILM

Ask ten directors on how to direct a film and you’ll get ten different answers. While there is no surefire answer to how to direct actors, there are strategies and approaches to consider. In this video, we’ve collected words of wisdom from some of the best film directors, past and present, on their specific approaches to directing actors. Topics covered include the casting and rehearsal processes, giving notes, and the importance of allowing for spontaneity on set.

DIRECTING STARTS WITH CASTING AND REHEARSAL

There is an adage in filmmaking that “directing is 90% casting.” Some directors, like the Coens, rely on the audition process to ensure that the actor is actually right for the part. Jordan Peele admits that he hopes the actor will understand the character better than he can. Greta Gerwig values the rehearsal process to work out the more creative elements of a scene, while Spielberg chooses to save the spark of the performances for the set.

HOW TO GIVE DIRECTION WITH NOTES

A set can be a stressful place, and tensions are high for everyone involved. How to work with actors on set requires a special set of skills. As a young director, Ryan Coogler couldn’t help but be direct and honest with his actors. Tarantino agrees: “It’s about being specific about what you’re saying because if you’re arbitrary, they’re a fish looking for water.” David Cronenberg likes to leave the actors alone as much as possible on set, having done all the prep ahead of time.

DIRECTING ACTORS & SPONTANEITY

Even with the weeks of pre-production and rehearsal, many directors advise leaving room for spontaneity. Directors like Kelly Reichardt embrace the variables that come into play when the uncontrollable elements influence the controlled elements. John Cassavetes was a huge advocate for improvisation, sometimes surprising his actors with notes and scenarios, capturing a more natural and unfiltered performance.

#FilmTheory #VideoEssay #Filmmaking

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♬ SONGS USED:

"Actors" - Lappel Du Vide
"Amok in Redo" - Cowboys In Japan
"The Hunt" - Max ll
"Main Title (The Player)" - Thomas Newman
"Love Remembered" - Wojciech Kilar
"Walk On By" - Dionne Warwick
"City Girl "- Kevin Shields
"Trinkets to Kill a Prince" - Hans Zimmer and Ramin Djawadi
"25 Years" - Jonny Greenwood
"From The Fire" - John Carpenter
"End Titles (Fruitvale Station)" - Ludwig Goransson
"You Can’t Wake up If You Don’t Fall Asleep" - Jarvis Cocker
"Journey to the Island" - John Williams
"Funeral March of a Marionette" - Charles Gounod, Lyn Murray
"Austin’ Surfboards" - The Tornadoes
"Sail Away" - Bobby Krlic
"Mrs. Doubtfire" - Howard Shore
"True Grit Theme" - Carter Burwell
"Endless Ocean" - Makeup and Vanity Set
"Happy Day" - Uncanny Alliance
"Safe Return" - Rob Simonsen
"Solomon" - Hans Zimmer
"No Regrets" - Makeup and Vanity Set

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[StudioBinder]

Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction to Directing Actors
00:54 - Director's Approach to Actors
02:39 - Chapter 1: Casting and Rehearsing
09:48 - Chapter 2: Giving Notes
14:14 - Chapter 3: Spontaneity
19:44 - Takeaways

[auguststafford]

a lot of amateur directors are either too afraid to simply ask for what they want from an actor, or they, as directors, just don't know what they want to begin with. being polite, professional, and direct goes a long, long way, and as they say: specific is terrific.

[IgorDoval]

StudioBinder is the filmmaker school we need. Thank you for everything. ❤

[kimi]

Quentin is a great actors' director. A lot of actors reached their peak when working with him. Uma Thurman got her only Oscar acting nomination, whilst Christoph Waltz and Brad Pitt won their only oscars, and many other examples.

[peterfrank]

Spielberg isn't just great at directing his lead actors, he could also make his extras so alive.

Speaking of which, I'd appreciate if there would be a video in the future on how to utilize extras or minor background characters.

[Osmone_Everony]

16:11 "Don't ask me. You as an actor should know more about this character than anybody else". That's a brilliant argument!

[movielover]

Frequent collaboration is one of the key aspects on any director might have because when I want to be a film director one day, I want to put my favorite actors on any of my movies in any genre.
🙂💯

[dr.dharmesh.bhadja]

In just few minutes, i saw greatest actors, directors, collaborators... such a nicely crafted video StudioBinder!

[JoshLangeD]

20 min from you guys is like an entire course

[harikrishnanu]

my favourite filmmaking channel ever exist, i will tell this through a mic on a stage, where there ill be the director of some films, who learn most of the thing from studio binder

[sheeara]

Thank you for this… this is beautiful. Someday, I’m going to work on a set, with people I’m grateful to remember for the rest of my life. I think, I’ll remember this clip on that day. I’m so hungry to learn and leave behind me, a memory. Thank you for this one. ~Sheeara, Alaska

[OzanBurada]

"I deny that I ever said actors are cattle. What I said was, "Actors should be treated like cattle." " Alfred Hitchcock. He really did give detailed instructions to the actors: Where to look even how to look. He explains more in Hitchcock/Truffaut.

[stephenwilliams]

That was excellent, StudioBinder. Thanks for including a tiny bit of the freeway crossing scene from Bowfinger, too. It is one of the funniest scenes ever captured on film. One of the greatest "making of" movies is, of course, Hearts of Darkness, the film about the making of Apocalypse Now. Watching Coppola trying to direct Brando is fascinating and excruciating at the same time.

[alarmclockentertainment]

A very much needed content. I was looking for it all over YouTube, and I am glad StudioBinder chose to make this episode. Thank you!

[smepable]

I ve Been watching StudioBinder for years now and the videos still have interesting subjects and the quality of Presentation ist second to none

[rayancedrichaddad]

Thousand Thanks StudioBinder. Definitely One of my Favorite StudioBinder Video. This is a Complete Audiovisual Encyclopedia Masterclass about Directing Actors Advice. Everything is Great on Working with Actors and Actresses to build their characters.

[lifewalklens]

I rarely miss any of your clip here on YouTube this is one best film school I need the voice over is so captivating that it gets me engaged all through from start to the end of every tutorial. thank you studiobinder

[lookintok]

Being a photographer for so many years I’ve learn how to give the best advice on directing my cast as much as I can. I believe you have to show your direction to your cast in order for you to let them know the vision you’re trying to capture.

[muhammadarish]

the amount of contribution Studiobinder will have in my filmmaking career and the inspirations following afterwards will be unmatchable even until I'm on the verge of dying.

[hii]

Wes Anderson is right at being more controlling, because his story demands to act funny in serious scenes, and act serious in funny scenes. It's a bit difficult for actors to grasp what he intends to bring.