Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with directing

How do I make actors comfortable during sex scenes?

Anonymous — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 23:31:03 -0800

How do I make actors comfortable during sex scenes? I'm about to start directing an adult TV series that features nudity and simulated sex. I've never dealt with this as an actor or a director before.

I know the basic ideas of closing the set and having robes handy, but I really want to make sure I cover all the bases and be as obliging and high-class as possible. Most of the nude scenes involve series regulars and I don't want to scare any of the performers away.

Does anyone have any experiences from the set? Any do's or don'ts?

Lessons from pornography will of course be welcomed, but let me reiterate that this is NOT porn. I'm not filming actual sex acts.

Filmmaker training, online?

pseudostrabismus — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 22:59:19 -0800

Suggest online or DVD resources for a new filmmaker to learn about lenses, film formats, shot composition, camera moves, dialogue staging, and other aspects of cinematography & directing? I'd like to get good at directing film, and learning how to do this using books seems old-fashioned.

I want so see examples of shots using different lenses, film formats, compositions, camera moves, camera angles, etc. I've read Film Directing Shot-by-Shot, which is pretty good, but I think that seeing this stuff as a moving visual would be even better.

Is there a website with video tutorials? Or a DVD course somewhere out there?
Other resources I should think about? And I'm open to more book suggestions, too.

Thanks in advance!

OK, so strike a pose I guess?

chrisbucks — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 05:51:54 -0800

Where can I find some good resources about modelling and directing models, for photographers? I'm a self taught photographer, and have just landed myself a few shoots with a local street wear company, although I've realised one thing... I have no idea how to tell the models what I want, or actually I don't even know what would be a good pose for them to do. Occasionally I demonstrate myself what I think would be good, but would love some kind of guide or help understand what would be the best way to direct people. Resources on the web would be most appreciated but books will do as well.

Hello, I am awesome and here is my portfolio.

lauranesson — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 13:11:54 -0800

Hey, creative sorts: I could use a little help with a theatrical directing portfolio for an MFA interview. I haven't a terribly long resume, and hardly any pictures to speak of, so I'm looking for ideas on what I might include. (I do have a very kind and sparkly recommendation from a grad program head at the interviewing school, which will help greatly, I hope.)

Ideas so far are prompt book and script analysis samples, stage layouts, publicity materials (a little sparse), and naturally a pretty resume. Would it be crass to include some write-ups from actors and intelligent audience members? I remain a little unclear on what the portfolio is meant to convey in a directing interview setting. Would it be silly to toss in a few samples of scenic painting from shows I've charged, as an example of leadership skills and professionalism?

I also plan on visiting a few classes beforehand (with permission, naturally), so with any luck, I'll meet the interviewing professors beforehand.

So, kind people, any ideas about content and presentation? I'll appreciate anything you've got to offer.

Getting others to work for you.

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 23:53:51 -0800

How do you get people to do things you tell them to do? Pretty much in any situation, I feel like I have trouble asking people to do things for me. If I need a ride, I feel embarassed asking my friends. I'm also scared, scared of them saying no. I hate it when someone refuses a request. It happens at work all the time, and it frustrates me to no end.

My theory is that I don't know how to get people to do things I want them o do. I always feel like I'm coercing them, and I feel like they resent helping me out.

I've read How to Win Friends and Influence People, it's pretty good, but I want something more straightforward than influence. I want to be able to manage people and direct and make things happen, in addition to being able to ask my roommate to do the dishes tonight.

I don't want to boss people around, I don't want to control them. But is there a book or something that will help me get the right kind of ideas about getting people to do what you want them to do?

When good mentors go bad.

cornflake — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 05:00:00 -0800

My mentor makes unhelpful negative comments when I ask questions, and gets snippy when I don't do as she suggests. What can I do? The artistic director of my theatre group recommended me to direct our Shakespeare production for the year because she wanted to take a break. She offered to mentor and support me through the process.

Now as things are getting going she's making negative comments to the effect of "well I would have done that by now" or "this should have been sorted out weeks ago".

Often, these comments are about things that are being discussed for the first time.

She knew my experience and background before recommending me, so its not that she believes me unqualified to do the job.

It would be "politically" unwise to exclude her completely from the production, but I'm starting to dread asking questions or advice.

To make matters worse, if I make a decision that isn't in line with her opinion I get a minor temper tantrum.

My options seem to be:

1. Continue as things are, effectively doing things 'her way'
2. Listen to her advise, but make my own decisions, regardless of the 'political' fall out.
3. Find a new mentor

or some combination of all three. Any other suggestions?

Beginning Film Hopeful

theholotrope — Fri, 26 May 2006 15:08:20 -0800

Where should I start for film directing? A friend of mine is interested in learning film and asked me if I knew where he could get some resources for that. I thought I'd ask you guys. From what I understand, he is not doing this as a career. He likes it and would like it to be a rich experience as a hobby and maybe as a semi-pro. Here is his question:

"Im interested in learning film directing. Never studied this, never
practiced it, but, I have always had this on mind. I would like to know :

-where to read about introduction to film directing.
-what skills are needed to start this journey.
-necessary equipment for beginners (cameras, computer)

These are the main things I'm searching on.

The most I've done in this matter is taped some 2 or 3 trips to asia, and
south america, edited them in Imovie, and started to use Final Cut Express.
I like editing and filming."

How to create a full work with the actors?

Sticherbeast — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 17:30:03 -0800

How to produce and direct an collaborative, actor-created work? A cohort and I are heading up a project in which we would like to gather a group of eight or so of the best actors we know and to create a script and a universe with them. Through improv, guided improv, working from outlines, and so on, we'd like to begin with filmed shorts and, eventually, a full theatrical work from our combined efforts to evolve their characters, relations, and situations, and blabbity blabbity blah and other poncey stuff.

Long story short: we'd like to create the characters and their relations with the actors, and then build plots from there.

Anyway, what I ask for is guidance. We've done many similar things in the past, but nothing quite on this scale. What are people's experiences with regard to such things, whether in film or theater? What techniques, structure, and exercises would you recommend? Or to avoid?

Any examples, pitfalls, words of advice, tricks of the trade, or plaintive ocarina tunes would be most welcome.

The mid-1960s change in films

rolypolyman — Wed, 29 Jun 2005 06:43:48 -0800

What caused the sudden paradigm shift in Hollywood films in the late 1960s? Films up until the early-1960s were generally black & white flicks populated by smokers wearing suits & ties, with lush orchestra accompaniment and a firm emplacement in the studio. Suddenly there were films like The Graduate with a very modern feel, popular music, and many shots on location. By the 1970s the "modern" look was firmly entrenched.

I'm not film expert and can't put my finger on what it is I'm seeing that swept in the modern look, and that's why I ask you. Was this just simply a reflection of sudden changes in our society? Was it a change in the artistic possibilities with the introduction of color? Or did a lot of the "old fogeys" writing & directing films retire? I could almost swear that the writing style at movie studios turned a full 180 during the 1965 to 1969 period.

Also has anyone written any academic papers about these changes? Does the change have a moniker? And was the change all that profound, or do 1970s films seem just as alien to you by today's standards?

3CCD vs. 1CCD?

nitsuj — Tue, 05 Apr 2005 07:36:38 -0800

I'm considering the purchase of one of Panasonic's 3CCD camcorders - is it worth it? I'm in the market for a new camcorder. I've done a boat-load of research on the subject, but I can't seem to weed through the millions of contradicting reviews and myriad of models, makes and features that today's market offers. I've been thinking heavily on getting one of the Panasonic 3CCD models, but I'm curious:

--Is the extra money spent for a 3CCD worth it?
--Why are there similarly priced cameras under different makes that offer only 1CCD?
--Would my money be better spent on a camera in the same price range, but from a better brand (say, Sony?) and only 1 CCD?

I feel that I mostly understand the technology behind 1CCD vs. 3CCD, but what I am lacking is real-world experience and side-by-side comparisons. I've found some reviews and messageboards with video samples comparing the two, but most of these were compressed for the web, thus hard to tell what the final product will look like.

I've attempted to visit local retailers who stock the Panasonic 3CCD's and other cameras, but my attempts to fully test the products in the store failed. (Best Buy sucks - they claimed they weren't allowed to hook the camera up to one of their TV's, and claimed that "the resolution you see on the LCD is a good representation of what you'll see on TV"!). Their return policy also prevents me from purchasing the camera and taking it home for a few hours. They have a 15% restocking fee.

I'm looking to do amateur shots, nothing professional, but a bit more than "family picnic" style shooting. I'd like a camera that, with the right lighting and directing, can achieve a broadcast-like quality.

This post is a bit of a mess, and I apologize... but I appreciate any advice you could throw my way.

Directing novice actors

cilantro — Sun, 12 Dec 2004 12:30:32 -0800

I'm directing The Vagina Monologues here at my university. Rehearsals are going well, for the most part. The younger women, all students, mostly theater students, listen when I speak, take direction well, and are basically a dream to work with. My problems are with the older women, who are all professors or health care professionals who have never acted before(MI).

What to do in early stages of actors rehearsing a film?

Keyser Soze — Fri, 09 Apr 2004 03:34:55 -0800

Continuation of my film:

I have a good passage written out, and I had my actors recite it today. It sounds pretty good, and I gave them direction during the rehearsal, but I still don't know exactly what I am doing. What should I make sure to do at this very early stage in rehearsing? (Script Inside)

Take one step to the left, then two to the right.

dhoyt — Sat, 17 Jan 2004 10:58:21 -0800

In modern screenplays written for movies and television is it acceptable to include a fair share of Direction? I understand it used to be more common but has fallen out of vogue. (more)