Tag Archives: observation

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March 13, 2023

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Behind the Scenes, Filmmaking

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A Director’s Take on Auditions

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Auditions are a critical aspect of the filmmaking process, and as a director, it’s essential to know what to look for in actors during these sessions. The audition process can be lengthy and challenging. Still, a director can find the perfect fit for their film by focusing on three key areas:

  • Observe the actor’s capabilities
  • Determine the actor’s chemistry with cast members
  • Ensure the actor can take direction and explore collaborative choices

Observing the Actor’s Capabilities

One of the most crucial things a director should look for in an audition is the actor’s capabilities. This involves examining the actor’s range, ability to convey emotions and portray characters accurately.

To assess these capabilities, directors can provide actors with monologues or scenes that challenge their acting skills. The scene can be a simple interaction between two people or involve more complex emotions and conflicts. The goal is to get the actor to play and interact in a manner that reveals their capable range.

During the audition, directors should look for the following traits in the actor’s performance:

  • Authenticity: Actors should be able to embody the character they are auditioning for and make it believable. They should be able to evoke the character’s emotions, mannerisms, and speech patterns to make the character come to life.
  • Versatility: The best actors have a deep range and can take on different roles and genres. Look for actors who can perform different emotions and characters with ease.
  • Presence: Actors should have a presence that commands attention. They should be able to captivate the audience with their performance and hold their attention.

Determine the Actor’s Chemistry with Cast Members

Chemistry between cast members is vital for a film’s success. Actors should be able to work well together, establish trust and rapport with one another, and create believable relationships on screen.

During auditions, directors can pair up actors and see how they interact with one another. Directors should look for actors who can create chemistry naturally and authentically. The result of strong chemistry appears in the form of challenging tension and natural acceptance.

The following are some factors to consider when evaluating chemistry:

  • Compatibility: Directors should look for actors who share similar energy and can complement each other’s performances.
  • Communication: Actors should be able to communicate well with each other and create a sense of camaraderie.
  • Adaptability: Actors should be able to adapt to each other’s acting styles and make changes to their performance if necessary.

Ensure the Actor can Take Direction and explore Collaborative Choices

Directors should look for actors willing to take direction and explore various solutions to a scene. During auditions, directors can provide actors with feedback and see how they respond to it. Actors who can take direction and make changes to their performance show they are open to collaboration and willing to work towards a shared vision for the film.

The following are some factors to consider when evaluating an actor’s ability to take direction:

  • Flexibility: Actors should be able to adjust their performance and adapt to the director’s vision.
  • Creativity: Actors who can explore different ways of performing a scene can offer new insights and ideas that enhance the overall film.
  • Collaborative Spirit: Actors open to feedback and working with others can create a positive and productive working environment on set.

The audition process is a crucial step in filmmaking, and directors should know what to look for in actors during this process. Observing an actor’s capabilities, determining the actor’s chemistry with cast members, and ensuring the actor can take direction and explore collaborative choices are all key factors in finding the right actor for a role. With these factors in mind, directors can make informed casting decisions that result in compelling and authentic performances that bring their film to life.

Copyright © 2023 by CJ Powers

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June 30, 2016

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Creativity

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Leveraging the Creative Subconscious

CreativeAfter watching a dozen documentaries about screenwriters, designers, directors and editors, I’ve come to the conclusion that these artists, at least the good ones, know how to leverage their subconscious. The art they create not only has a footing in reality, but their perspective is greatly enhanced by a highly creative filter from deep within the right side of their brain and their heart.

The most exhilarating creative ideas that pop into my head come early in the morning or at times when my mind is off playing or well rested. The pros take advantage of those moments to strengthen their work and bring new entertainment value to bear. This same moment allowed me to write this blog in the fraction of time it normally takes.

To leverage this strength, my friend David did creative work in the morning and analytical work in the afternoon when logic ruled his mindset. That’s not to say he was never creative in the afternoon, but the level of creative play was typically reduced after hours of exploration and work.

There are three commonalities among professional creatives that are worth understanding.

PLAY

Deadlines and pressure never increase creativity, but the opposite magnifies the creative flow. The strongest fuel of imagination is play. It’s made up of the same elements we explored as children and allows our inner child to come out to have fun. It can’t be taught or demanded, it can only be given a safe environment in which to let go so the creative can be free to pretend.

Play allows hearts to touch or bond without being romantic, which non-creatives don’t get, as they’re convinced something more has to be there, but its not. Play also allows passion to rise and solidifies why a work of art is important. Without it, people can’t understand what the artist saw in the work.

PROCRASTINATE

Non-creatives who have watched the procrastination process of the artist assume the person is lazy; not realizing their mind is going a million miles per hour. The percolation process is what gives flavor to the creatives’ work. A long bought of what appears to be boredom turns into aggressive workflow that can easily go late into the night or until the creative has to flop onto his bed.

Many creatives will plan ahead for their moments of procrastination by determining in advance the item they want to ponder. Most find their breakthrough by morning or in the drifting of their mind. Harnessing this natural phenomenon gives professionals an added benefit of what appears to be a secret weapon of the imagination.

OBSERVE

The best writers I’ve met or learned about through blogs and short films take time to watch a movie every day. They also peruse scrapbooks, magazines and other mind stimulating products. Not only do the myriad of observations fill them with ideas, but it also helps them to know what to avoid because it has already been done.

The most fun is watching others live their lives. People have the funniest idiosyncrasies that inspire. While some might suggest these oddities are a sign of the person’s weakness, the artist sees it as their humanity emerging in a unique fashion. These peculiarities make the person wholly them.

Being able to leverage the elements that feed the subconscious, the creative can explore matters of the heart like no one else. The more this process was protected by society, the greater was the renaissance of the time. It’s no wonder that most movements were birthed in the church, which at one time was a protected place for many hearts before the decades of judgment that ensued.

Over this weekend, as America celebrates its Independence, find time to play, procrastinate and observe. See if anything arises within your soul that must be reduced to some form or expression of art. Take this weekend to determine if being more creative will give you insights into humanity and a wisdom found by few.

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March 23, 2016

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Creativity

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Drive-by Creative Games

Ole Lady MobileI recently learned a new game from an administrator at Disney. When she has a long hard day, she likes to do something out of the ordinary. She likes to stretch her creative juices and explore story from a new standpoint on the fly. Playing a simple game with those riding in her carpool exercises her creativity.

The rules are simple. The goal is to create a story one phrase at a time. She goes clockwise and each person shares a phrase of the story. The key is that the story must include everything the person has recently observed.

For instance, let’s say Person One notices birds fly out from a tree, railroad gates go down, and a loud horn honk. Person One might say, “Birds flew from the trees as the railroad gates blocked traffic and a sinister horn echoed down the rusty tracks.”

Person Two must continue the story where One left off and it must reflect what he observed. Let’s say it was a train, school kids, and an irate driver stuck at the railroad gate. Person Two might say, “The loco train, known for attacking at a moments notice, chugged past the gates and angered a man who was blocked from seeing his daughter leave school.”

Sometimes people only observe a single item that stands out unique from the day’s normal activities. Person Three might say, “The swirl of dust in the alley behind the bakery swooshed up into a super hero ready to protect the student.”

By the time the train passes, Person Four might have captured her observations. She says, “Fearing a great loss from the micro burst, the loco train chugged out of sight, leaving the girl unharmed.”

The story continues for several more rounds until all enjoy a great story. Even the first four phrases suggest a story that can entertain, while developing the skills of a creative person. Here is the compilation of the first four phrases in story form:

Birds flew from the trees as the railroad gates blocked traffic and a sinister horn echoed down the rusty tracks. The loco train, known for attacking at a moments notice, chugged past the gates and angered a man who was blocked from seeing his daughter leave school. The swirl of dust in the alley behind the bakery swooshed up into a super hero ready to protect the student. Fearing a great loss from the micro burst, the loco train chugged out of sight, leaving the girl unharmed.

The beauty of a creative story game is that there are no wrong answers or phrases. Each person can impact the direction of the story and its implications. Conflict is naturally increased within the story based on the process that forms the content. And, everyone can enjoy numerous laughs as the story weaves in and out of its form.

© 2016 by CJ Powers