Directing Actors Author: Judith Weston | Language: English | ISBN:
B003VQQFV8 | Format: EPUB
Directing Actors Description
Demonstrates what constitutes a good performance, what actors want from a director, what directors do wrong and more.
- File Size: 2400 KB
- Print Length: 314 pages
- Publisher: Michael Wiese Productions (January 25, 1996)
- Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
- Language: English
- ASIN: B003VQQFV8
- Text-to-Speech: Enabled
X-Ray:
- Lending: Not Enabled
- Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #73,141 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #11
in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Humor & Entertainment > Movies & Video > Video > Direction & Production - #11
in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Humor & Entertainment > Movies & Video > Direction & Production - #45
in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Arts & Photography > Performing Arts
- #11
in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Humor & Entertainment > Movies & Video > Video > Direction & Production - #11
in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Humor & Entertainment > Movies & Video > Direction & Production - #45
in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Arts & Photography > Performing Arts
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.
By Thor Vader
A practical, technique oriented introduction to directing actors. It's really from an actor's perspective, and has a very condescending attitude toward directors. But this is useful. The anecdotes are really enjoyable. Not a substitute for acting and directing experience, just one set of possible tools to try to put into practice. Harold Clurman's "On Directing" is of the same aesthetic perspective, but at the same time broader and more succinct, and more sympathetic to directors.
By A Customer
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