I want to know about the role of a director and asked the same question in a Facebook group before, leaving the typical response of going to work on a production shooting as an assistant and watch how they work.
I know I want to experience it, buy I want to reinforce when in direct my own projects and communicate with the team.
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I'll be in My Trailer: the Creative Wars Between Directors and Actors -- John Badham
It's about giving the actor/actess a safe space so they can be creative, but not too save, as a director you have to stay in control. Also give them a chance to act out a specific situation, as long as it stays within broad given lines.. The book has some great anecdotes of stars that didn't want to come out of their trailer anymore.
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M, I would not be surprised to see that Judith Weston's book and John Badhams book are much alike. I immediately recogniced your thoughts about "Directing Actors." Besides that grimmy picture it draws, also explains the directing techniques that you talk about; but I agree, it's not the first book you should read
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I recommend watching Clay Liford's Stage 32 class called DIRECTING 101. Here's a link so you can check it out: https://www.stage32.com/classes/Stage-32-4-Part-Class-Directing-101
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M LaVoie - I agree that Judith Weston's is really valuable.
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I remember Making Movies by Sidney Lumet being particularly good. Not sure how it holds up. Rebel Without a Crew has so much to offer. I liked the Roger Corman Book a lot. Lloyd Kaufmann’s books are hilarious as well as informative (Everything I know about filmmaking I learned from the Toxic Avenger). Film Directing Shot by Shot is the big blue bible of technique.
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Outside of books, I have to recommend the Ron Howard Masterclass. In the last section, he takes several actors through a mock film shoot (scenes from Frost/Nixon). He shows how to block, how to get good performances. Even how to run-and-gun when you’ve run short on time. It’s incredibly eye-opening.
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Gabriel, I think also, once you have some information, find a script you'd want to direct and go through a mock breakdown of it and how you visualize it, by shot list and coverage of the scenes. From being a 1st AD, I've stood next to a lot of directors and each one has their own way of preparing. But I think until you're put in that position and have to make your own plans, to "practice" doing the directing could be helpful.