Directing for performance
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The document provides tips for directing actors in a film or video production. It suggests that actors should appear natural, not like they are acting. It also discusses how to help actors overcome self-consciousness or issues with lines by allowing rehearsal time, keeping movements simple, and breaking long speeches into brief shots. The document advises reminding actors to not look at the camera and to stay in position after a shot finishes.
Directing for performance
- 1. Warm Up What are some things that are involved in planning for a production?
- 3. Actors and Performers To be believable, the performers should not appear to be acting, but simply living and behaving normally while the camera just happens to record them.
- 4. Actors and Insecurity Camera fright is a form of stage fright: a fear of subjecting yourself to public attention, of placing yourself under a spotlight for critical inspection by the audience. The nice thing of about camera fright is that you can re-shoot until you have a good performance.
- 5. Helping Actors Overcome Self-Consciousness Allow plenty of time for rehearsal. The more familiar the performers are with the material, the more comfortable they feel. Sometimes amateurs will perform more naturally if they think they are not being recorded. To reduce physical awkwardness, keep actor movements simple and natural. Ask them if anything feels awkward to them.
- 6. Helping Actors with Lines If a performer cannot read aloud convincingly, the easiest solution is to allow him or her to improvise. Break down long speeches into several brief shots. Remind performers that only the best take will be used in the final product. Use cue cards if needed.
- 7. Looking at the Camera You need to leave about 3 seconds of extra footage at the beginning and the end of each shot for editing transitions. Remind the actor not to look into the camera when the shot finishes, they need to stay in position for a few seconds.
- 8. Helping Actors Express Emotion If an actor is overacting, show them some close-ups of their work. Back away from overacting. The closer the shot, the more intense it is. If an actor is having trouble changing emotions in a scene, separate the different emotions into different shots.