How A Talented Actor Can Be A Problem For A Director by Mark W. Travis & Michael Hauge 

Brilliant description of the directors struggle.

Every new director should have to take a master class with Mark Travis.FINALLY, someone who articulates the REALITY of directing actors. The reason directors are intimidated by actors....GOOD actors is because it makes them realize the reality that, like most directors, they are WHOLLY UNQUALIFIED TO DIRECT ACTORS. They like making movies and are often amazing Technicians themselves(especially nowadays), but they have no idea what the "WORK" (captial "W") is about, nor have they done any of the "WORK" themselves. They only know what they "like" and what they "like" is based on today's culture and today's movies which exist in the "No-Risk" Filmmaking Industry that has dominated since the mid 1980's. That's not to say that there aren't good, sensitive filmmakers out there, but the majority have no clue about, let alone any desire to create, anything AUTHENTIC. It's more about "getting the shot". Who cares about the shot if there's nothing Real or Dangerous about it?

Absolutely right. I direct but when I'm on set of other people's projects I see a lack of fundamental directing. Directors don't understand the language and are too specific when directing actors. That compromises the actor's creative process and prevents an organic performance. That is basic psychology.

This is exactly what I faced while directing few senior artist during a short film... This video helped me to introspect better and work towards it... Thank you film courage for bringing up this video

How to talk to your actors-never seen on any 'behind the scenes', ever.

He just summed it all. I can't believe how open and honest this man is. Wish I was one of their students. That's what true art is about. And you can apply that to every kind of visual art. It's the why and the real feelings, the psychology of the character with a talented actor, not a crappy one that makes wonder WTF. It's so true that a great actor could left the work high even if they are playing a solo scene.

I've become better at working with actors over time. Part of what helped with that where two elements. First, was casting myself, and letting me leading man direct me. Second was working with actors who realized that felt that it was part of their job to reach out to me as a new director and find ways of helping me to communicate with them. They didn't wait around, wondering if I was ever going to get it. They could see that I knew the script, and that I had a vision of what I wanted it to be. They also new that I was using the script as a foundation, rather than a literal step by step. A good actor needs to be a good communicator, just as much as the director does. Actors and directors also need to be available to each other ahead of time, before the shoot, because once you're on set, there isn't as much time as everyone wishes they had to figure out the character's motivation for the day.

I've heard one time on a Full Metal Jacket making-of retrospective an actor talking about Stanley Kubrick wanting to again reshoot a scene and saying something like 'What does he wants?' and Stanley hearing that from a distance answering : 'what about better acting?' .. ha ha ! if i can find that again i will put a link.

This blew my mind as a budding actor! Which guy is Hauge and which is Travis? Because the guy in the black blazer said it all. He hit on the nail indeed throughout but especially starting at 4:00. He's a Soothsayer, I say. #PsychologicalVsMechanical, bam!

This guy is the real deal! Bloody Legend!! Every try hard director should take note.

I love this video series!

I don't know how most directors feel about working with actors, but I can imagine feeling frustrated. Ask five different actors what they want from a director and you're likely to get five different responses. Each of the five wants--and expects--you to pander to his unique process. Often without bothering to let you in on the secret of what that process is. Actors are often EXTREMELY passive aggressive on sets. As a DP, I watch this happen all the time. They're frustrated, but they refuse to express the reason for their frustration to the director. They won't divulge the process. They won't ASK for what they want. It's completely ass-backwards.

Hit the nail on the head.

So watching this two things come to mind. If the director wrote the script and does not know his characters well then what does that say about the writing? I write, so the characters I create live and breath for me in a very real way. Its not some idea i just jot down and sit going over a list, like ok add this here, then add that, don't forget the catalyst, oh yea and maybe toss in some of this. I Imagine a world a situation and let the characters take me into their reality so they are imbued with emotions that I can relate to and feel... I mean when I read a book if it moves me, I can forget time and space and suddenly its morning. If a script is just some scenes tossed together, [something that as an actor in an audition can be exasperating, because there is so little there to really dig into and you have to go with the directions and descriptions given, brief as that may be], because the words the scene itself doesn't really paint a clear picture. I want to really understand the character I am taking on, in order to move beyond the superficial to an authentic space, slipping into the skin and becoming someone else. I want to disappear. As a director I try to look at the whole picture from each of those perspectives. So if an actor whether really good or just beginning to show promise, is somehow able to see and feel the characters they are meant to portray that is something I feel on some level I should be able to see in their performance.. That then means I don't have to work as hard to shape what they do, because it just comes to life. I will see the breathing embodiment of the characters and the world I wrote come into being. When they are not sure of the character my approach is from actor and director.. I share what I see and feel and I ask them what they see and feel If something in the direction feels less real to them I ask why and together we solve the issues.. I am not talking about the mechanics, like walk or how they talk unless there is a distinctive accent or movement game leg etc. The motivation is in the script, the story is in the script the characters choices are in the script but how the actor dons the role fits into the skin of it, to get there that's the collaboration. One should never be afraid of that.

This is why directors need to take acting classes and if you can direct some theatre.

I've been directing for over 40 years. What's being described is generally a first-time or inexperienced director. I think anyone wanting to be a director should take an acting class. It will teach you how to communicate your thoughts to actors in a clear fashion. Actors who challenge directors are just insecure. The .best actors are not a problem. "BACK OFF MAN...DON"T MAKE ME USE THIS" (Holding up a copy of The Actor Prepares: My second feature had Klaus Kinski in it. After that, I was "good to go". Chuckle.

I'm surprised at how honest the guy is about the guy directing the film in production

Directing sounds complicated