Lee Cohn, co-author of the essential A Practical Handbook for the Actor, has now written an equally important book exploring the director’s process in working with actors. Cohn cuts straight through the nonsense which too often pollutes the Director-Actor relationship, and provides clear, concise, and practical tools toward the cultivation of stellar, effective performances – the heart-and-soul of any drama. Reminding us that acting choices must always serve the story, he provides directors with a workable framework for script analysis, rehearsal preparation, performance vocabulary, and real-time direction designed to ensure exciting results. In simple, straightforward prose, Cohn demystifies the process, and offers a cogent roadmap for navigating any directorial endeavor. Directing Actors: A Practical Aesthetics Approach is a must-read for both beginning directors and seasoned professionals, and serves as a valuable addition to the exploration of this too-often slippery topic." Encourage collaboration and respect between actors with different styles. If you can create a sense of teamwork and mutual respect, it can help actors with different styles work effectively together. For example, say you have a scene in which a character should display sadness. Your actor is struggling to present the emotion and you want to bring the sadness out of him. It would not be wise to say “try and look sadder”. Directing actors can be a little scary, particularly if your only directing experience is in the theater and you’re stepping into an environment where the whole production is shut down just to capture your one shot. But, as with anything else in directing, you’ll find that you’ve been doing it all along.

Don’t assume your actors are mind readers. Illustrate how you want your scenes to unfold because as director, you call the shots. Actors are expecting you to lead the way.

A good director will arrive at the beat through other indirect means. “Why don’t you try sitting down when he says that?” may result in an actor naturally playing a scene more dejectedly, for example. How to direct actors on set Directing actors in rehearsal Directing Actors: A Practical Aesthetics Approach is the first book to apply the Practical Aesthetics acting technique to the craft of directing. Directing Actors: A Practical Aesthetics Approach is a must read for directors in film, television, and theater.　A clear and concise breakdown of how best to use active language when directing actors. Refreshingly 'no nonsense' and to the point – Lee Cohn explains exactly how to get the most from your actors and craft grounded and truthful performances. Truly invaluable."

As a director, it’s your job to first and foremost, get performances out of your actors that are truthful and real. If you can accomplish that by directing them, great! But if you can accomplish that without directing them, even better! When hiring an established actor you may want to adopt a level of transparency you can’t provide the other actors. Let’s be real, they’re a lot more experienced than you, have higher star power and potentially have the power to get you fired from your own film. Be flexible. In your preparation, always come up with more than one way to understand a character’s dilemma, or a scene’s emotional event. That way you won’t panic if you get to the set and your favorite idea doesn’t work. The questions are more important than the answers. Bringing characters to life is not a matter of connecting the emotional dots. It has to do with creating sparks and provoking engagement. During your script analysis, question all your assumptions, and let the questions lead you to deeper ideas. When talking to actors, ask them questions, to engage their imaginations, rather than giving them instructions.Determine how much direction (if any) they need from you as a director so that you can get what you want from them in the final product. The next thing is to make sure that every actor knows exactly what’s going on in the script and what their character wants. This can be done by discussing it with them individually or in group meetings, depending on how many actors are in the production.

Not only does this experimentation produce something spontaneous, but it produces something authentic which ultimately connects with an audience. Actor’s often experiment and play off of one another which leads us to our next directing tip. How to Direct Actors for Film 9. Utilize other actors for real reactions

Look at things from the actor’s point of view. If actors feel that you understand their problems, they will have fewer complaints about your direction. In my books I try to give directors guidance into the actor’s world and the actor’s tools. But a wise director will learn how actors work and feel by taking an acting class yourself. No one likes to be compared to anyone, so don't tell your actors to "act like" or "be like" a certain actor, or give a performance similar to one of theirs, because you're not inspiring them, you're actually just insulting them. Adrienne:I’m going to eat soup while we talk. Musicbed: Please do. So how did you end up becoming a director and a directing coach?