I want to know about the role of a director and asked the same question in a Facebook group before, leaving the typical response of going to work on a production shooting as an assistant and watch how they work.
I know I want to experience it, buy I want to reinforce when in direct my own projects and communicate with the team.
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Directing Actors by Judith Weston. "Directing" is something you'll hopefully never have to do on set because you've cast the film properly. Even so, sometimes tone is off and you need to course correct. That's where this book shines. It's a toolbox of tricks and tips for helping actors get back on tone.
But it provides ways to explain that to actors without overstepping or offending them. Example. Instead of saying "Say that quieter" which is a 'result oriented' direction. You can say "Say that, as if the twins are asleep in the next room". Now you have effectively communicated to the actors you want them to whisper the dialogue softly. "As if..." is a great way to communicate 'process oriented' direction. You're trying to get them to arrive at doing exactly what you want through their own choices. Telling them exactly what to do will alienate and irritate many.
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I'll be in My Trailer: the Creative Wars Between Directors and Actors -- John Badham
It's about giving the actor/actess a safe space so they can be creative, but not too save, as a director you have to stay in control. Also give them a chance to act out a specific situation, as long as it stays within broad given lines.. The book has some great anecdotes of stars that didn't want to come out of their trailer anymore.
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Rutger Oosterhoff I'll second that. But if you're finding I'll Be in My Trailer, a useful tool, it means you've already gotten pretty far in your career. You'll be, forgoing the advice in a book like Directing Actors in favor of egostroking and psy-ops. Movie stars are not always trained actors. I'll Be In My Trailer paints a grim picture of dealing with divas, narcissists and egomaniacs rather than performers who put the work and movie before themselves.
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M, I would not be surprised to see that Judith Weston's book and John Badhams book are much alike. I immediately recogniced your thoughts about "Directing Actors." Besides that grimmy picture it draws, also explains the directing techniques that you talk about; but I agree, it's not the first book you should read
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I recommend watching Clay Liford's Stage 32 class called DIRECTING 101. Here's a link so you can check it out: https://www.stage32.com/classes/Stage-32-4-Part-Class-Directing-101
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M LaVoie - I agree that Judith Weston's is really valuable.
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I remember Making Movies by Sidney Lumet being particularly good. Not sure how it holds up. Rebel Without a Crew has so much to offer. I liked the Roger Corman Book a lot. Lloyd Kaufmann’s books are hilarious as well as informative (Everything I know about filmmaking I learned from the Toxic Avenger). Film Directing Shot by Shot is the big blue bible of technique.
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Outside of books, I have to recommend the Ron Howard Masterclass. In the last section, he takes several actors through a mock film shoot (scenes from Frost/Nixon). He shows how to block, how to get good performances. Even how to run-and-gun when you’ve run short on time. It’s incredibly eye-opening.
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Film Directing Shot by Shot
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Gabriel, I think also, once you have some information, find a script you'd want to direct and go through a mock breakdown of it and how you visualize it, by shot list and coverage of the scenes. From being a 1st AD, I've stood next to a lot of directors and each one has their own way of preparing. But I think until you're put in that position and have to make your own plans, to "practice" doing the directing could be helpful.