The Great Acting Blog: “When Direction Is Futile”
On the few occasions I have had to direct other actors, I have found the most exhausting aspect to be the articulation of my ideas for how I think the scene should be approached. It requires absolute precision of articulation and must be said in such a way that it is useful to the actor practically (this is the weakness of some directors: their direction is interesting but useless). I look for cause and effect, to see if my words have the desired effect on the actor when they play the scene. If they have had the desired effect, then the heart leaps, if they have not however, it can be harrowing.
Nothing destroys the soul more than working with someone who ignores what you say or doesn’t understand what you say. It’s worse when they pretend to agree with you then completely ignore what you have said when actually doing the scene. The instinct here is to explain again, and keep explaining until the penny drops. But it is draining. With some actors it seems that no matter what you say, no matter what tools you use, they just don’t respond, they nod and agree with you but then their efforts in the scene bear little resemblance to what you just talked about. And you can go over and over it without making any progress.
Perhaps the problem is not them, perhaps it is you. Perhaps, despite everything, you failed to explain clearly what it is you want (even if it may be crystal clear to you). Perhaps you haven’t sold it to them, ie – they don’t believe in what you’re saying, or don’t believe that acting out what you say is in their own best interests, they don’t trust it.
Or perhaps they’re just not very good and you need to find a different actor.
