ACTORS WORKSHOP

Reflection on Actors workshop
with Nigel Bristow





It was a two-bit part workshop that spanned over two weeks every Wednesday, all day. This workshop was primarily focused on our ability to conduct actors professionally on set and to enhance our terminology in order to provide a clearer understanding of the actor's when explaining a directors vision. It also gave us the opportunity to discuss issues and questions raised during the workshop with two professionally brought in actors that have experience in this area.

During the actor's workshop, I learnt a few interesting pointers when guiding actors on set and becoming efficient when casting them too. below there are bulleted pointers made during the workshop that I took down, in hopes they'll guide me through my projects.

- Actors cannot expect one director to be a straight minded director with one idea only or a curved director who is too flexible with the changes, with no clear vision. It's more prudent to adapt to counter the levels of risks that might arise.

- Be suggestive to how you phrase a scene to an actor. Verbs and terminology are key!

- When necessary be ready to use the magic 'As if.'

- Make words definitive and ensure emotion is conveyed exactly how its intended. Stay cautious not to overdo it with the interpretation of the scene. Sometimes the little the better can give the scene the impact you need.

- Create status to bring in the attention

- When hiring actors you must take seriously when deciding what role they'll be playing. The higher the skill level the greater the chance of doing a better job. You can't have a comic based actor playing a serious drama role if it isn't what you're going for.