Hello everyone
"Discuss your experiences working with directors and fellow actors". That's what it says under the heading for this particular section of the board.

Directors' styles vary as much as Actors'. I think it would be interesting to hear about different ways Directors have coaxed the best performance out of us. Let's have a fun and positive thread here! I'll kick it off.

One A list film Director, after a particular take, conferred with the DP, asked for quiet, and ready to call action, turned to me and said matter of factly, and in the same breath, "Jim, that sucked!" and "Action". (He wound up using parts of both takes). Before another take, he prompted an extensive and emotional conversation, then told me we had been rolling the entire time, and to go into the dialogue.

On another gig, this one for TV, another character approaches me, protesting my presence. Although it is common to 'shoot the rehearsal', I wasn't aware he was doing so, and that's fine with me. Thing is, as I later found out, he told the actor to 'really shove me'. Kind of pissed me off at the time, and boy, did it read. That's the one he used.

In another scene, the same guy had the star opposite me accuse me of despicable things. Of course the accusations didn't make the cut, but the reactions did. I love being off balance, getting hit with the unexpected.

I'd love to hear about some other experiences.

Who's next?

Jim