Directing Actors: On-Set Communication and Performance (FILM 3205 R)
Term: 2026-27 Academic Year Fall
Description
Directing actors is one of the most essential skills a filmmaker can develop—because performances are what audiences remember. This directors-focused workshop will be a deep dive into how to communicate with actors on set in ways that unlock truthful, specific, compelling work. Students will build a practical, performance-based toolkit: script and scene analysis, a shared vocabulary, playable direction, efficient rehearsal strategies, and methods for creating a set where actors can take risks and do their best work under pressure. Directors will also gain hands-on experience with casting—how to audition, evaluate, and choose actors who can bring the story to life. A key component of the course will be that students rotate roles as director and actor. Getting in front of the camera changes everything: directors gain firsthand insight into vulnerability, clarity, and what kinds of notes actually help (and what immediately shuts the work down). Course work will draw from film/television scenes chosen by students and/or original material. For conference projects, students will complete either an original short filmed outside of class or two reimagined scenes from a film or television show of their choosing.