How does a good director instruct his actors?

Question

Does he give them specific instructions or let them do what they want? Does he coddle them or act stern? Does he accept their input without question or use them as instruments?

Answer 1

I personally believe that directors should have a friendly, civil and respectful relationship with their actors - accepting their imput and advice, and at the same time also being prepared to say "I want to do things this way". One director I greatly admire is Robert Rodriguez. He has an uncanny ability to convey what he wants to his actors. So yeah, I believe the director should try and explain what he desires, but also be flexible with things like improvisation and the actors own interpretation.

Answer 2

I've been directing for 20 years. Over the year I have found that I direct in a Socratic style. I ask questions of the actors. I want them to make discoveries and "own" the answers. I just phrase the questions so that I usually get the response I want.
If I want an actor to feel the character should be angry, I might say, "This is the third time she has done this to you. How do you feel? What would be the gut reaction?" I rarely have to tell an actor what I want.

Answer 3

A good director creates an environment where the actors can do thier best work. A directors job is to keep everyone "in the same show" working in a unified vision.

But my style is a collaborative one. I encourage suggestions from the actors. Some will fit into the unified vision and make the work better. Some won't. We use the ones that work and I veto the ones that don't.

Answer 4

One of the best directors I've ever worked with was Ciaran O'Reilly. Ciaran listened very carefully and watched very carefully during rehearsals and created a work environment where experiment and exploration were encouraged. As an actor made discoveries, Ciaran encouraged the development of those that fit with his vision of the play and gently suggested that the actor go farther along those lines. As a result, the entire run of the play was full of invention and discovery and real life.

Answer 5

I tend to treat my actors as clay... something I'm trying to mold into my vision of the character they are playing. If I'm too stern, some of the clay gets broken off... if I'm too gentle, it never takes form.

Something else I do, at the first rehearsal after the read-thru... is ask each actor who their character is... I find it's important to know how they have interrupted the character so I can either build on that, or try to steer them in a different direction.

Answer 6

He give them specific instructions or let them do what they want, depending on the situation, depending on the level of skill and maturity of his actors. He coddles them or act stern depending on the situation, depending on the level of skill and maturity of his actors. He accepts their input without question or use them as instruments, depending on the situation, depending on the level of skill and maturity of his actors.