Actors: What are some problems you have had with directors?

Question

Problems
Issues
Missunderstandings
Dissagrements

Answer 1

This is a very broad question indeed.

The biggest problem I've had with directors is when they attempt to create my performance FOR me, rather than COLLABORATING with me on it. For an actor with any kind of background/experience, this is quite insulting.

In a situation like this -- when a director insists on spoon-feeding me every movement/inflection/pyschological motivation -- I usually just tune them out. When push comes to shove, I'm going to do it MY way, because it's MY rear end on the line in front of the audience every night, not his/hers. It's not a director's job to (in essence) "play" everyone's roles for them. A director is supposed to have an overall vision of the PLAY, but, within that, he or she has got to allow for each actor's individual creativity.

We call these folks "paint-by-numbers" directors. You know: go there, stand there, gesture here, say it like this...it's incredibly irritating. Demeaning, too. When I direct, I do my job, and take for granted that the actors will do theirs. When I act, I expect the same respect from my director.

The best directors, in my experience, are those who are entirely OPEN to actor input. Without disturbing their concept of the play as a whole, they find a way to weave in all of the good stuff that the individual players contribute.

If you want to read a very enlightened book about directing, I refer you to "A Sense of Direction," by William Ball. This guy has got it exactly right, particuarly when it comes to actor/director interaction.

Answer 2

Hi
I have been on both sides as a actor I have found some directors get too caught up in their own importance or some that see the "bigger picture" and forget that they have all the smaller elements to use to make it work.
As a Director I see actors wanting to add "bits" to make their parts stand out more and you have to take out some of that to make the whole flow better.
I am a BIG believer in the fact that you can not see yourself even on video you will always justify " I did it this way because" instead of looking at the performance as a whole that's why we really need direction the moment you stop taking direction you stop growing . that doesn't mean that the direction is always right but it means that we all need ( and deserve ) it .

Answer 3

I've had directors that
----would do child like shows for teenagers,
----direct people below their age range,
----wouldn't listen to additional ideas when time came 'round to tweak and perfect,
----wouldn't give any guidelines for the character, and yet not like what you saw,
----give different blocking from rehearsal to rehearsal that contradicted itself and confused,
----run out of rehearsals screaming and crying claiming that everyone just sucks

Hey the list only goes on, but in the end if you have a real love for theater you can look past it. Directors come and go, and they all have different techniques that produce different products that could indeed both be fabulous. It takes a lot to get an image from your head translated to movement on stage. Unless you are getting harassed it's better to stick with it, get the experience, and learn from it.

Answer 4

Lack of respect for the actor's process. Trying to force results too soon. Being belittling or yelling- not a good way to get the best work out of a performer. This has been the exception rather than the rule, fortunately.

Answer 5

Time off for sickness! I love my directers, you have to give them credit they have a vision and they get frustrated if not EXACTLY what they want!

Answer 6

He acted like he was the boss. I directed him to the nearest psychiatrist.

Answer 7

THEY WERE TOO SMART FOR ACTORS LIKE YOU