How To Be A Good Film Director: From An Actor’s Perspective

Directing beyond the camera angles is incredibly important. Work effectively with actors as their performance is what ends up on screen.

Written by

Jenna Rodway

Published on

BlogFilmmaking

As a director on a film set, there can be so much to think about, from the production crew to your camera angles and storytelling skills. However, one of your top priorities should be to develop good relationships with your actors. Your actors are the members of the team that give life to the characters in the story you’re trying to tell, and their performance is crucial to the quality of your film.

Yet, many directors in the film industry don’t always know how to effectively bring out the actor’s best performance. Whether you’re a new feature film director or just graduated from film school looking to make your own short films; understanding what an actor needs will boost your success. Their performance can make the difference between a good story or a flop and managing this sets apart an amateur and successful film director.

“When you say cut; they will all look to you to see what you thought. They’re acting for you. They are, just acting only for you when you do that. So don’t be in another room.”

Quentin Tarantino

How to be a good film directors for actors

1. Be respectful

One of the most important directing skills is being respectful towards your fellow workers. First of all, it’s important for a director to be respectful towards their actors’ boundaries. This will create a safe and productive work environment. It will also make you actors feel comfortable enough to be more creative in their work. A successful director understands that being respected will reduce stress on set overall and allow everyone to do their best work.

2. Create a supportive environment

Often, the director is the person people look to in order to set the tone for the on-set environment. Always set expectations for on-set behaviour in order for everyone to feel safe and respected. Creating a supportive environment also includes making sure that everyone has the specific support they need to work, for example, accounting for accessibility or hiring an intimacy coordinator. 

Hiring expertise is a luxury usually only a feature film or more advanced short films can afford. However, a smaller budget should not stop great directors from preparing their supportive environment from pre-production to shooting. Top tips for supportive film sets:

  1. Send a shooting schedule in advance and be respectful of long working hours.
  2. Start the day with a director’s speech so everyone is on the same page for the day and expectations.
  3. Check with the actors how many crew members they want in the room for intimate scenes and try to accommodate the minimum required.
  4. Encourage everyone to respect each other and work together.

3. Appreciate the actor’s process 

Many of us have an idea of what an actor’s process is and many of us are completely wrong – even if we know lots about the process of filmmaking! It can be really worth learning a bit about the actor’s process in order to speak to your actors in a language that makes sense to them. It could be beneficial to take some acting classes yourself or pick up some books on acting methods so you can learn about any new techniques your actor may need to use.

4. Understand the characters and the circumstances 

Chances are, your actors are going to want to come to you with questions about the scene or the characters they’re playing. In many cases, directors are working with other people’s scripts and someone else’s story. A big part of learning how to be a good film director, from an actor’s perspective, is to know the script inside out, as well as know your vision for the film. Some directors participate in the screenwriting process to have full control over the story.

There may be times when your actor is unsure whether they’re heading in the direction you want, or if they understand what the scene requires of them. Having a deep understanding of this will help you to give them the guidance they need. 

Martin Scorsese on The Irishman was able to deeply talk to his actors about their characters, lines, intent and artistic choices. Reading scripts and analysing them will ensure you are able to direct more than just the camera shots.

5. Direct with kindness 

Actors can feel very vulnerable when doing their work. Often, they are connecting with a lot of deep emotions and experiences and then put them on display for other people to see. A successful director deeply understands this and uses interpersonal skills to direct with kindness so that actors will feel safe on set. This means they will feel more comfortable working with you and they will feel more able to be vulnerable and open up in order to deliver their best work. 

Many actors practice mindfulness in order to be able to achieve the level of presence and emotional vulnerability required. Film directors who can hone in on this will be able to work closely with the actor.

6. Use clear and open communication

As a director, lots of people rely on you in order to know what to do. This can feel like a lot of pressure, but the simple solution to this is to use clear and open communication. This will enable everyone to have a shared vision and work efficiently. Being open in the way you communicate will also allow others to approach you with questions that need answering. This will allow everyone to feel at ease on set and help problems to get solved more quickly. 

Criticism is always on the list of the bad things about being an actor but all actors want to constantly work on improvement. Leading people in the right direction takes practice but will make you a successful director.

7. Take a leadership role 

Directors are responsible for much of the overall vision for the project as well as being the person others come to with questions. Often, your directing skills will be what others look to for guidance. Others will also look to you to set an example in regard to conduct and attitude toward the project and your colleagues. For actors, when you display trust and confidence in the project, they will immediately feel more at ease and confident in their work. These are all examples of different leadership qualities you can bring add to your directing skills. Consider what kind of leader you want to be, and how it will help your cast and crew to work effectively.

8. Get to know your actors 

Julie Delpy - Directing actors is important

Getting to know your actors is a big part of how to be a good film director from an actor’s perspective. Building a genuine bond with your actors means you will be able to build trust and connection with your actors. By understanding the background and experiences of your actor, you can understand their connection to the character. It can also be helpful to understand their acting process. This will help you to direct them in a way that’s clear and meaningful to them.

9. Be open to experimentation 

While it’s important to understand your own overall vision for the project, it’s also important to be open to experimentation. The joy of working with actors is that they are able to offer their own unique human perspective of the character and the scene. Meeting your actors where they’re at will improve your collaborative working relationship, and help you to find a place where the performance works for both of you. You never know – what they offer you might be even better than what you had in mind in the first place! 

Martin Scorsese is always open to experimentation with his actors. Watch his masterclass on directing actors for incredible insights!

10. Be honest 

Sometimes as a director, it can feel difficult to say you’re not getting the result you want in a scene. We don’t want to hurt people’s feelings and so we avoid being confrontational. However, the cast and crew can often sense when something’s not working and the director is unsatisfied.

You will need to combine the directing skills with kindness and honesty when critiquing an actor. One of the best ways to do this is to use a “feedback sandwich”. Start off with some positive feedback. Then, explain what you would like to be done differently next time. Finally, close the feedback off with more positive feedback. This will help everyone to feel appreciated whilst still helping you achieve your creative goals.

Qualities of a good film director 

Quentin Tarantino - How to be a good film director

There are many different types of directors that work in many different ways. However, there are certain qualities that can teach you to become a good film director from an actor’s perspective. Think about how you can incorporate some of these in the way you work in order to improve your directing skills: 

  1. Adaptability: A good film director should have the ability to adapt to circumstances, as well as the needs of those around them.
  2. Empathy: The ability to connect with those you work with will help you to run a happier and more effective project. 
  3. Resilience: The ability to be resilient towards stress and on-set problems will keep the production running smoothly.
  4. Integrity: The ability to stick to your word and your values will inspire respect and trust.
  5. Passion: Enthusiasm for the story you’re telling is a sure way to run a motivated and positive set. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

How do you learn to direct actors for film? 

There are many courses you can take, including degrees, in order to learn to become a director. One of the best ways to learn is to jump straight in and start directing so you can learn through experience too. Reading Blooper’s post on How To Start Making Short Films is a great way to get started.

What should a director say to an actor? 

It is important for a director to give clear instructions to their actors. The most helpful thing for a director is to know a little about the process of acting so that they are able to use a language that resonates with the actors they work with. Taking acting classes or reading books on acting can be really helpful. 

Is it hard to be a good movie director? 

It can be hard, however, the more practice you get and the more skills you learn, you will find yourself more equipped to deal with the challenges that come along with this rewarding profession.

The takeaway on how to be a great director for actors

Understanding the actor’s perspective is an important element of becoming a good director. By learning how to be a good film director from an actor’s perspective, directors can communicate more effectively, offer insightful guidance, and enable actors to create their best work. The qualities in this post are guides to help you develop your directing skills and allow you to bring your creative vision to life.