Directing Actors: Creating Memorable Performances for film and Television by
Judith Weston.
Michael Wiese Productions 314 pgs.1996
This book is a necessary tool for every director. It is helpful and full of information, so that a director would be missing out if they didn’t own this book. It is a useful reference book, covering many problems and solutions in directing actors.
It has chapters that teach directors better communicating techniques with actors. It has a chapter on script analysis, which presents a thorough treatment of breaking down a screenplay. Generally, breaking down a screenplay consists of circling props, stunts, characters and such to organize and catalogue them, or it is the breaking down into shots. This book proposes breaking down the screenplay into creative choices for the actor.
It has a chapter on casting, explaining how to make wise decisions in casting. It also has an extensive chapter on rehearsal. Then there is the chapter on shooting. Her techniques are not radical, but they are extremely effective and powerful. For these reasons I strongly recommend reading this book.
