Rehearsal

There are directors who claim they prefer not to rehearse their actors.  They are liars.  Rehearsal happens, people.  The question is, do you prefer to rehearse in front of the crew on set or in prep? Obviously, you'll get a better end product for less time and money if you rehearse during prep.  Of course you know that and it makes perfect sense.  The only reason you wouldn't rehearse before coming to the set, which is dressed and lit or waiting for you to finish turning a blocking rehearsal into a full on rehearsal, with an entire crew standing by, is because someone somewhere put it in your head that you shouldn't or wouldn't need to rehearse with actors.  It's a lie. Rehearse during prep. Create your shot list and schedule, during prep. Do everything you can- during prep! As Keith says, " Fix it in Pre" !

small part, big help

The actor who is playing the neighbor is SAG; he has set experience. He understands run n gun productions with micro budgets. He knows to be prepared, come in, hit it and leave. He knows to be a calm, quiet, presence, let the crew do their work, then nail his performance in one or two takes. I don't have to work with him at all- he'll show up exactly as needed.
This is the sort of actor that makes you go, "Phew".

Characters develop

Turns out I am not that different from a male screenplay writer. I write from my genders perspective. My stories are female character driven. My female characters are not the type that build their lives around men or are overly dependent on men. The male characters in all of my scripts are currently not very well developed. They are the boyfriend who she makes out with in one scene then sends off (in one of the features) the predator who lures her in and attacks (in yet another script), the supportive friend who has 2 or 3 lines, etc. They are minor players: the boyfriend, the menace. They often don't even get a name. Just like many male screenplay writers write women. I can't tell you how many scripts I've read with a character like, "buxom woman" or "Leggy Lady". Interesting, huh?

SO,
Last night the actor who is playing one of the male characters, formerly known as the Driver, came by to rehearse.We developed his character (he has a name now) and added some dialogue.

I've learned and grown from this experience and I wish the same for other screenplay writers.


NOTE to all actors and actresses- You have an opportunity to help develop your character when you are working with the director. Go for it- with respect. Your character is not the only character, maybe not the lead, so be realistic, but, go for it. The film benefits.

Fight scene

Usually a fight scene is choreographed by a stunt choreographer. There is often a stunt coordinator who acts as a director of the fight scenes when the stunt women and men are fighting. Especially when they are fighting with an actor. The fight scene in our film will not have stunt people. It wouldn't have stunt people if we had a bigger budget either, it's not that type of scene. However, if we had a bigger budget I might have had a stunt choreographer helping choreograph and give notes about shooting the scene. Lack of funding makes us all resourceful though doesn't it? The other day, one of the actors and I choreographed the scene. It was actually pretty easy. As high energy as that actor is, he focuses extremely well. What I find with people who others might call "hyper" (I see high energy) is that they can be super open and they can "hyper focus" simultaneously. The ability to hyper focus and channel are incredible gifts for an actor to have.

Did I mention how blessed this project is?

The fight scene has been choreographed by the male actor and I (I have a couple tiny bruises to prove it). The actors are being rehearsed separately. Next week the 2 actors who have a familial bond in the film will meet and bond.

It's super blessed.

She can act!!!!

Phew, my instincts were right. The actress I've just cast for the lead role can act for film! I had a friend come up from the OC to video tape her audition, mostly to see if she could be natural with a camera rolling. She can! Thank goodness!

Let the rehearsals begin!

I love ACTORS!!!

I'm considering 2 different actresses for the part of Hope in the short film I wrote and am directing. One of the actresses just got the script yesterday and seems to "get it". She has very little experience acting, so it's a matter of her ability to be directed and how she shows up on camera. The other is SAG, I have seen her on TV (she had one line in a show I watch), which is what inspired me to ask her to try out for the part of Hope.

I'll give the younger, less experienced actress a few days to rehearse it, then direct her through an audition. If she needs more work, a mutual friend (her godmother) is going to coach her (she is an acting coach) and we'll audition her again. She really has the look I want, she has something energetically that Hope has and she looks like she could be the young mother of the daughter I've chosen for the film.

I cast the male characters. One is pretty simple, just a few lines. The other is going to be a stretch. I saw the actor at a showcase though and just know he can do it. He doesn't realize what a great, naturally talented and skilled actor he is. Looking forward to having him become a character that is so very, very, very different than who he is.