Film Directing 120: The Director-Actor Relationship

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Film Directing 120: The Director-Actor Relationship

 Be kind. Be generous. Be specific.

In the book, 21st Century Film Student PRIMER, all students are encouraged to take an acting course or acting workshop so they can better understand what actors do. Why? Because you’ll be a better director.

Memorizing lines, keeping it fresh, staying ‘in the moment,’ and taking direction are tall orders for most people. Once you’ve walked in the actor’s shoes, you can better relate to the process of acting and being directed. 

The craft of directing is an ongoing learning experience.

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Film Directing 104: Script Analysis II

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Film Directing 104: Script Analysis II

Script analysis fundamentals for the writer/director

In film school, more often than not, you will be tasked with writing your own script.

As the writer of the story, you still need to do a script analysis from the director’s perspective. Because of your expectations and writerly knowledge of the story, taking on the role of the director can create its own challenges.

Remember this: you will work just as hard to make a bad film as you will to make a good one. Good films start with a good script.

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Film Directing 103: Script Analysis

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Film Directing 103: Script Analysis

Script analysis fundamentals for the beginning director

As a director you receive a script written in a screenplay format. This is the whole story with all of the scenes and characters. Your job is to turn that into a film.

In order to have a powerful and unique visual interpretation of the screenplay you need to know the story inside out; the characters, the dialogue, the subtext, the conflict, the story arc, the genre — and a thousand more details.

It can be exhausting. That’s why they’re gonna pay you the big bucks!

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ARRIVE PREPARED

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ARRIVE PREPARED

A good, do-able story is key. This can be a major stumbling block and the cause of endless frustration and sleepless nights - and it can be solved before Day One of film school. It takes a lot of time and effort to make a film, so you want to make it the best it can be. Planning ahead will help you produce work of merit.

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