John Badham On Directing - 2nd edition

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John Badham. John Badham On Directing - 2nd edition

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I always felt the essence of cinema was the coming together of acting and writing. There are many books on the topics related to directing, but I feel that John Badham’s first section on acting is worth its weight in gold. There are many skills involved in making a motion picture, but few so important as working with (and understanding) the actors. That’s probably why of all the migrations possible to become a director, few are as successful or plentiful as that of actor to director. This book clearly lays out truthful principles in helping an actor achieve his goals in a way I’ve never seen before. The other two sections are full of helpful tips as well, but Part 1 is essential for anyone who is serious about directing.

—Francis Ford Coppola, Producer/Director (The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, The Conversation)

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Very importantly, never neglect the day player who is there for only one or two scenes. They are more nervous than anybody. They may only have one line, but they are Jell-O inside. They probably don’t know the other actors. If you got to audition with them, you at least are a friendly face. You are their lifeline. Ask them how they see their scenes today. Of course, they will try to do it any way you want, but ask for their thoughts. They’ve agonized over it quite a bit and may, just may, have something worthwhile to contribute. They are a collaborator, too. You cast them because they had a good handle on the part. Take advantage of what they bring to the party. Listen to them.

“How are you feeling about the scene today?” is always a safe question. “When you were thinking about the work last night, how did you see playing it?” You hope their vision agrees with yours. If their thought is different from yours, there are three possibilities:

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