Directing Actors: Creating Memorable Performances for Film & Television Paperback – July 1, 1999

This book isn't just for directors. It is an invaluable resource for actors as well. I've taught film and video acting for a number of years and never found a book that was worth having students read even part of. Until this one. Unlike most books on acting which focus on techniques that may work great on stage but are worse than disastrous on film, Judith Weston goes under the surface of acting and directing to the core of what a close-up camera needs to see. That, in a nutshell, is "lending the character your unconscious," so that absolutely nothing looks (or is) fake or "pretend." Even more importantly, she provides down-to-earth, extremely effective techniques for directors that support and demand genuine, affect-free performances. She discusses the creative process of the director at a level that is not idiosycratic or based on her personal "style" (as so many books for directors and actors do). Her advice is both common-sensical and deeply insightful, it's what every good director knows but often can't articulate consistently enough. Don't miss this book if you work in film or video, whether you are a director, actor, teacher, editor, DP, AD, or even a gaffer. After reading Weston, you will see every aspect of the actors performances more truly and clearly, and find yourself finding new ways to get the most out of every second on screen. One of those books that changes your life by telling you what you already knew more clearly than you ever thought it could be said, and giving you fresh new ways to put it into practical use. Highest recommendation.

Hands down one of the best books out there for anyone interested in film directing.Working with actors can often seem confusing or scary. and even for those who take many workshops and classes about working with actors it can still feel like there is this big divide between the director's mind and the actor's mind.This book helps greatly to clear that all up. with in-depth step by step and common sense looks at the actor's ( and director's ) craft this book helps to lift the haze and guide you to being a director actors will be excited to work with.For actors this book provides a wonderful look at how hard a director's craft can be when it comes to acting alone. How a director has to balance multiple actors to reach a balance in a scene.It also helps clear the air and make sense of where confusing or just bad direction.

Directing Actors: Creating Memorable Performances for Film & TelevisionThis is an excellent book that I highly recommend for any film maker either directing actors for the first time or for more experienced directors to gain a greater insight into the world of acting. I am a trained and experienced actor who has ventured into Directing and have found the book deadly accurate about what is going on for actors on a film or TV set. From the first script read-through to working on the shoot there are very practical and sensible tips and hints to make your directing duties much more efficient and focussed. The 'script analysis' techniques are very empowering putting structure into what can be a very hit and miss affair otherwise. Put this book in your tool kit and read it all the way through then again at each stage of production as you go(great bedside reading before each shoot day). This book is inspirational, readable, practical and helpful.

BUY THIS BOOK. YOU WILL BE HAPPY YOU DID.If you are involved with film or television production, you MUST read this book.I have been studying acting and directing for over two years now and this book is such a solid, thorough explanation of how actors work and how best to communicate with them as a director. Chapter by chapter I can recall how we touched on this or that in class or in my other studies and it has amounted to quite an impressive collection of technique, advice, anecdotes and examples, indeed.There is virtually no filler. Any examples given serve the case-in-point directly. Some pitfalls are addressed in most areas and explanations are given as to why they occur and why and how they are best avoided. Writers can even benefit from this book by understanding how theirs scripts are broken down, analyzed, and delivered and how a stumble in acting may truly fall back on the words on the page.This book will equip you with a knowledge of most ubiquitous technique and terminology such that you can fashion your own approach to each new role as either an actor or as a director who will help your actors deliver the best they can.Five Stars, hands-down.I am seriously considering purchasing a backup copy, this book is THAT GOOD.

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.

Ótimo para quem quer seguir na carreira de diretor de atores ou diretor.

The best book for directing, a true masterclass with incredebly valuable knowledge!!!

Great book. It has lots of very good exercises to learn Directing the actors. I liked the step by step explanation of the approaches to direct actors.

Je trouve que c'est un très bon livre sur la réalisation de film. Je l'ai lu il y a plusieurs années, et j'en garde encore un excellent souvenir.

Volume imperdibile, illuminante, pratico. Una vera bibbia per chi lavora con attori. Nozioni che per registi abituati a pubblicità e videoclip non potrebbero essere che trovate in questo libro.Incredibile scoprire quanto errori comuni si commettono nel dirigere gli attori... Prima di tutto la famigerata "regia orientata al risultato"!Consigliatissimo. Testo in inglese.