what can you tell me about actors being given "notes" by a director...?

Question

does this apply to theatre or does it happen on film shoots as well?

Answer 1

Being given notes happens most often in theatre, particularly during rehearsal times. At the end of each rehearsal, occasionally during it, the play's director will comment about the actors' performances, interpretation, movement, emphasis, anything that will help make the presentation more effective, more true to the director's vision of the playwright's text. The notes usually take the form of suggestions, reminders, questions for the actor to think about while the character is being created. Examples might be:
"Palmer, on your line about goldfish, could you take a step closer to Angela?"
"Catweazle, in your monologue, imagine that Waldo is overhearing you and you want him to squirm with embarassment..."
Neville, if you don't have your lines memorized by Saturday, I'm going to kill you. Right?"
..and so on.
In making movies "giving notes" takes on a whole new meaning---since movies are filmed essentially shot-by-shot, with very few long scenes or takes, the actors are expected to come on set already prepared---there is very little rehearsal time, usually a brief run-through to set movement, and the "marks" the actors must begin and end on; and for the most part, the director must depend on the actors' skills to have their characters already formed and ready to be filmed when he/she is ready to shoot. In cases of problems, the scene is completely re-shot, several times, if necessary, to get what the director wants. in between shots the director may suggest or request specific movements or variations in performance from the actors, but nothing as comprehensive as the notes given in theatre.

Answer 2

It happens in every situation. The director needs to get what he/she wants from the actors so they have to give notes. In theatre it's either done on the spot or at the end of rehearsal in detail. In tv and film it's always done on the spot so the scene can be reshot and done to the director's satisfaction. The way a director gives notes can vary from something very general to an our and out line reading, it depends on how well the director and the actor in question communicate.

:-)

Answer 3

I cannot speak for films having only worked in the theatre . Paticularly during early rehearsals , the director will give each actor notes as to movements he/she wishes them to make . Changes may be made later and actors will write it in their script after rehearsal .