Product Description

Directing film or television is a high-stakes oppucatiopn - the white water rafting of entertainment jobs. It captures your full attention at every moment, calling on you to commit every resource and stretch yourself to the limit. But for many directors, the excitement they feel about a new project tightens into anxiety when it comes to working with actors.

Directing Actors is a method for establishing creative, collaborative relationships with actors, getting the most out of rehearsals, troubleshooting poor performances, and giving directions that are briefer and easier to follow.

The following issues are discussed:
* what constitutes a good performance
* what actors want from a director
* what directors do wrong
* script analysis and preparation
* how actors work
* the director/actor relationship

Directing Actors is the first book of its kind. Judith investigates in detail the sometimes painful, often frustrating, but potentially exhilarating relationship between actor and director. It provides simple, practical tools that directors and actors can use immediately - and takes the reader on a journey through the complexities of the creative process itself.

Although one chapter is entitled 'Result Direction and Quick Fixes', the tools and suggestions of the book are now superficial band-aids or facile jargon; they are radical excursions into the perhaps most misunderstood artistic collaboration - that of director with actor.

Judith Weston brings to this book twenty years of professional acting and nine years of teaching Acting for Directors. Her students include academy Awards and Emmy winning directors, writers and producers of studio and independent feature films, television episodics and MOWs.

KEY FEATURES:
* The first book to directly address directors about working with actors
* Offers practical techniques in managing the director/actor relationship

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9033 in Books
• Published on: 1999-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 314 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780941188241
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Amazon.com Review
This is essential reading for anyone interested in directing or acting. Judith Weston's brilliance is to recognize that directors, actors, writers, and technicians are involved in a process that is at essence a collaboration. In order for them to have the best shot at creating something true and meaningful, they must share a language and a method of exchange that fosters creative cooperation. Weston rightly sees the director as the central figure in inspiring the energy of a production's harmony. She advises the prospective director on every aspect of a stage or film production, showing how the director can draw the best performances possible from actors.

Review
The focus on creating memorable performances for film and television provides explicit acting advice and examples rather than the usual generalities. From the initial reading of a script to casting and rehearsing techniques and developing or understanding relationships between actors and directors, this is packed with practical considerations. -- Midwest Book Review

About the Author

Customer Reviews

Though a bit Touchy-Feely
Though I felt that this book was a bit too touchy-feely for my own taste, it did have a lot of valuable insights into the actors mind and how to work with them in a collaborative sense. If you are a director that does not believe in running with the actors own take on a character, then this book would be painful for you to try to read. Nevertheless, if you are looking to have a truly collaborative experience (not all of us are), the advice contained within is very solid.

Weston breaks the process of working with actors down to how to give concise words to help get a performance. She further spends time developing adjustment techniques. I think this book is particularly strong in its discussions on script breakdown, and having multiple approaches to playing a scene. It gives some helpful advice on casting as well, and really challenges a director to cast the best person in a role as opposed to the one that they feel "nailed the part" based on ones preconceived notions.

The biggest weakness in this book is that really favors the actor over the director at times, and leaves me asking (as a director) why would I want to have this relationship. I do not believe, as Weston proports, that a director should always allow the actor to find the voice of his or her character without explicit direction. Nevertheless, it certainly challenged my own technique, and I am a better filmmaker from having read it.

The Only Book on Directing I Have Ever Loved
Completely unpretentious. Thoroughly knowledgeable and confident. Allows you to discover the concepts yourself, rather than spouting them at you. And yet...also completely able to be referenced.

In other words... the best book on directing I've ever read. The only I will ever recommend. To actors and directors alike.

I hate to call it "hype," but after reading the book feverously (which, for a book on directing, is almost unheard of), it is safe to believe it here. All the endorsements on the back cover from people working "in the industry" no longer ring of marketing salesmanship, but of complete honesty. There are few things in this world I would endorse, given the chance. This is one of them.

I don't want to say it "changes you." But I will say I had more thoughts and ideas OF MY OWN while reading this book that ever before. The reason? It's like any craft: if you sit down to make something, you usually don't really know what to make specifically until you get to know your tools. Then--once you know what you can be done, what things are available to you to use, the ideas of what you can do with these tools start flowing.

I'd like to thank Ms. Weston for introducing me to some of the tools. Actually, I have thanked her. She called me back. I'm still floored by that.

This is an EXCELLENT book on the subject!
Judith does a masterful job of educating on the fine art of communicating effectively and constructively with actors. Many of her insights and recommendations translate very easily into the "real" world, allowing you to not only practice these techniques more frequently, but also hone you communication skills with those around you. A series of "quick fixes" are offered up that are effective ways of getting you to think "outside of the box", and each is elaborated on and folded into more in-depth techniques. All in all, one of the best of MANY books I have read on directing and communicating with actors!