How Do You Judge Directing/Acting

Apr 5, 2019 2:23:38 GMT Eλευθερί said:

Apr 5, 2019 1:15:17 GMT lenlenlen1 said:

Directing and acting have little to do with writing.

Directing is about using film language to create art, and an emotional response in your audience. If you can use direction over actors, cinematography and editing to push the boundaries of film language then you've done something special.

For example, in the horror genre the masterpieces Psycho, The Exorcist, Jaws, Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1st) and Halloween (1st) are movies unlike anything that ever came before them. Each one of those movies practically re-wrote film language in their genre.

In acting, I need to believe that the actor is actually doing the thing their character claims to be doing. I need to believe the actor is really feeling that emotion, that they really sound like that guy, that they look like that guy, that they are that guy even though intellectually I know they're a famous actor.

Having a really well written script can help those things, of course, but they're independent of one another.

I agree with mortsahlfan that it starts with the writing.

But part of that has to do with what exactly is in the writing. Is it just a very thin outline that communicates a general idea of a story? Or is it a detailed, scene-by-scene screenplay that prescibes in detail how a scene will look along with what actors will do and say. (eg, "Camera zooms in to a close up of Mary's face. Tears begin to stream down her face. Fade to black.")

Of course, the rest of the team have their essential roles to contribute, as well.

You're describing two different things:

The first is a synopsis.

The second is a shooting script.

Either way, they have little to do with directing or acting.

The synopsis/outline is for the producers and studio heads, so they have an idea what they're looking at. The shooting script (along with cinematics and storyboards) is for the director, cinematographer and production department heads so they know what they're actually shooting.

The most important thing a director can have is a clear vision of what he wants to communicate and the ability to use all the other departments to do so.

If the writing were so important they'd be the ones making big money in Hollywood, and we all know they're not. As a matter of fact its pretty clear that Hollywood kinda considers them low man on the totem pole. Some of our favorite directors can even be quoted as saying "I don't even let them on the set", and at awards show's they're always made fun of. I honestly believe that most producers and directors use the script as nothing more than an outline. Three separate directors could shoot the same script and you'd get three totally different movies.

Now that's a shame because clearly a well written script can be the thing that makes a movie great. But in movie making, its really all about the directing. If he/she fails in communicating an inspired vision... the movie fails, great script or not.