Review & Feedbacks for Studio Shoot Exercise

Seems like i performed worst amongst 3 directors : (

Feedbacks from our directing lecturer, Kym:

Actors can't relate to the story and their performance (for me shoot).

Need to sit down and go through with the actors on the story of the scene A (for me shoot).

Remind the actors of what their objectives in the scene (for me shoot).

No need to talk too much to the actors. Be brief and observe (for me shoot).

Break and rehearse sections by sections of beats if the scene is too large/complex.

Try to put actors in a risk situation when necessary -> not to put the actors too much complacency -> letting go their emotional freedom for their roles in that particular scene.

Work more on character movement (for me shoot).

Discuss the circumstances of the scene -> who are the people involved, what's happening in the scene, when as in day or night?, why and where is the locality.

Characters need to evaluate their speech/actions (in their heads) with every conversations in the scene -> so as to give better reactions.

Give notes to all casts even if one actor has performed well to ensure sponeity in the acting -> even with good performance, try to comment something that can enhance their acting for the next take.

Practice 'Cause & Effect' to earn better acting rather than asking an actor to be guilty in terms of expression -> the reaction and expression will not be as authentic as the guilty mood is not emotionally evoked in the characters.

Always introduce entrances and exits for all actors.

Ask questions to make the actors think -> that will help them indulge better in their roles.

Use playable actions to express emotions that can't be really verbal.

Pay attention to props/set designs to enhance the moode/feel.

Climax graph serve to act as a reminder of how the actors perform in that scene with respects to the overall story and how it can gel with their performances in scenes prior to and after.

Be wary when directing casts if they are seated comfortably -> nothing much gonna happen cos they're too relax! Ask, if it is necessary for the actors to seat? Justify it!

Although it's the last directing lesson we had with our lecturer, it is still as refreshing as it was in the first lesson. There are just so much knowledge to learn frm him. Well done Kym if you're reading this thread. You're good! Thanks mate : )

We just have to keep fingers crossed that he will be coaching us for the next semester *fingers crossed!*

Bits of Directing knowledge

Dont overplay music with visuals that can possibly upset the overall rhythmn of the scene/film.

Change of shot doesn't govern rhythmn.

Rhythmn is 'paragraph' that appears in-between beats.

Tempo of rhythmn is essentially rhythmn of the shot.

Establishing shot need not be a wide-shot where screen geography can be easily established mid-way or towards the end of a master shot (pan/dolly/steadicam).

Do's & Dont's after Narrative A project

Just some collective experience and feedbacks earned from our Narrative A projects as a director.


Do's

1. Shoot more cutaways/inserts for more editing options.
2. Perspective/Depth of angles.
3. Transitions (out of/intro).
4. Motivate a moving shot.
5. Work actors in frame.
6. Keep planning in lighting.
7. Keep DOP in line with the story and overall feel of the film.
8. Check sound from the camera direct.
9. Try to do away with too much dialogues by using actions to tell the story instead.
10. Use simple verbs so as to better enable actors to relate to experiences for specific actions (e.g. "as if... or like...").
11. Focus on the character running the scene.


Dont's

1. No flat acting.
2. Compromise on the details within a shot.
3. Shoot in small rooms.
4. Spend too much time on dolly shots when it's not justified for a single shot that does not have much significance/importance in the film.

Ways of directing actors in a scene

Just some notes taken off in a lecture.

Two ways of directing actors in a scene:

1, Get the actors to cheoreograph and set the camera angles with respects to the actions and movement of the actors.
2. Block the actors in the scene with respects to what the director wants to see in the shot.

Basically, the actor with more lines will attract more attention off the audience. A thought to consider in blocking...

Another important factor to take note in framing a shot with actors:

1. Two eyes in a shot -> powerful frontal shot.
2. Four eyes in a shot -> even more impact.