How to Deal with Actors: Indie Films

Video Transcript

"Dealing with actors. You know, when you're doing a production, let's say you're doing a drama or you're doing like a horror movie that has a dramatic scene in it, you're going to have to direct these actors. You know, a lot of these actors are from theater backgrounds, you know, especially local actors that you get. That's the only thing that they've acted in are plays. And that's a little bit different than when you're video taping a scene, because actors project. They're in a theater watched by hundreds of people. So, they're a little bit louder, they're gesturing, they're just a little bit more, a little bit heightened in their reactions and stuff. So, when you're shooting like a dramatic scene where it's supposed to be quiet, I always find that I'm telling them to do it lower, to quiet down, not to have as much expression. And they have to kind of tone down everything because the camera picks up everything that they do, especially if it's like a close-up. You see everything on the actor. And they don't need to act as big, as it were. So, you're always kind of toning actors down, I find, especially if they're from a theater background. And then, some actors, you know, they have different methods of working. Like some are like classical actors, and will act a scene. Say they are a serial killer or a monster or something, and they'll be into that scene. They'll do a really good job. Then the camera's off, and they're "Boom!" right back to how they normally are. Well, I've had actors that are method actors, and they stay in their character the entire time. So, if you have like a character that's like really bitchy, we'll make her a vampire or something, or somebody who's really unpleasant as a character. Well, I've had these actors maintain that same persona even when they weren't shooting. And if you're not used to that, it's like really, really strange. So, you feel like you're kind of tiptoeing around them and stuff. So, that's kind of my experience when you get those actors. It's kind of funny. And those guys really tend to do a really good job, too. So, it's kind of good with the bad, with that. Another thing with actors is, they'll always come up with ideas. They're like, "Oh, why don't we do this scene better? We could do it this way. I interpret it. We should do it like this." And sometimes, just to humor them, I'll do a scene, I'll do a take like that because it kind of shuts them up, and they're happy. And you want everybody happy on the shoot. So, tape is cheap, just shoot a scene how they want. But sometimes I would just get tired of that, and they'd have a suggestion, and I'd turn to them and say, "Oh, you know, that's like a great idea! It's a fantastic idea. But that's a different movie." And that would totally shut them up, and they'd not bug me anymore. But just, when you're dealing with the actors, and you're dealing with the crew, if anybody has a question, and you're the producer and you're the director, you always have to have an answer. Even if you don't really know, you're the one who everybody comes to for answers. So, you have to have an answer to everything. You've got to know everything that's happening with your production because you're the one who's holding it all together. You're like the focal point of it. So, with actors and crew, just know. Just be the one who has all the answers."