What does a good Director do?, esp. in terms of working with actors? What do Spielberg, or Scorcese, or even Peter Jackson do that apparently Lucas and others don’t?
All you Dopers who have ties to movies and/or theatre – and I know you’re out there- I hope you can help me with this question. And I’m asking seriously, not in a snarky way. I’ve never had any connection with acting or movie or play production. My role as far as the performing arts go has always been “Audience”.
Well, just to get you started on why the acting in episode III might have seemed a little off, you might want to read this review. Short version: Crappy writing tends to lead to crappy performances. If the director wrote the crappy lines, that’s two feet in the grave and the best directing in the world probably can’t do much to help.
Apparently, Lucas doesn’t give much to any direction to his actors. I don’t have a cite on me, but I remember Harrison Ford saying that the only direction Lucas gave him was “faster.” So just giving the actors any direction at all sets them apart from Lucas.
Other than that, I’m not completely sure. There’s the stereotype of an actor asking “what’s my motivation?” but I’m sure that does actually help with a performance if the actor knows the characters mindset and background more than just what is in the lines.
I’m not a theater or movie person so I’m sure someone in the business will come along and give much better information.
It’s hard to explain, really. I think first of all you have to choose actors with whom you can work. You have to rehearse with them and let them know what you’re looking for. You have to make sure they understand what’s supposed to be happening in the scene from an outside, structural point of view, and at the same time they have to understand what’s going on in their character’s heads and act as if they don’t know where it’s going, when of course they actually do. Screen acting is harder than most people think it is in this regard. Also, when you’re acting on stage, the play develops a natural flow. That doesn’t happen on a movie set, where nothing happens in order and the actors are always in “hurry up and wait” mode while the lighting, set, and camera angles are worked up. I think you have to make the actors comfortable and listen to what they have to say. If something’s not working, ask them why. If the line is reading stiff or unnatural, change the line. If an actor comes up with a good improv, go with it. Don’t rehearse on the set. By the time they get there, the actors should know what’s expected of them.
For the last movie I made, we would do the early takes very straight–just like we did in rehearsal–and then freed everyone up (cameraman included) in the later takes to improvise and get a little looser. The final take, when I thought I had what I needed to edit the scene together, was the “over-the-top” take. I’d tell the actors to go for it and let the consequences be damned. The results were always…interesting. We used the over-the-top take on at least two occasions that I can recall.
The key is communication. It has to go two ways. You have to listen to what they’re telling you and you have to make sure they understand what’s expected of them. From what I’ve read and the anecdotes I’ve heard, that’s Lucas’ problem–he doesn’t tell his actors in detail what’s expected of them. There’s a famous story about the filming of Star Wars where Lucas ’ only directions to the actors were “faster” and “more intense.” That leaves out the “why” and “how” that actors need to know. Look at Natalie Portman. She sucks in the prequels, but has put in some really great performances with directors that know how to handle actors.
Easily done.
:eek: Was I in the bathroom at that point?
:eek: Episode 2.5: Padme Does Degaba
Sorry, couldn’t resist.