Cannot Take Direction

One of the worst decisions someone can make about you as an actor is that you cannot take direction. Drama school audition panel, casting director or producer, once they think that about you, you may as well be dead. And the worrying thing is that many experienced actors fall into this category.

From the outside, you seem stubborn, lacking in attention and unable to follow simple instructions. But none of them are true and you can do something about it.

The key is in finding out what causes this strange state. And I can tell you.

Inability to take direction is simply a lack of self awareness. If this is coupled with excess of self consciousness, you will be crippled as an actor.

Self consciousness is a critical commentary as you do something.

Self awareness is the ability to look at what you did, identify the problem and do something about it. This is active self awareness.

Developing your self awareness is not always painless. It means looking at yourself with honesty, not brutality.

If a director asks you stop waving your hands around and focus on really convincing the other actor and you get the vibe from them that you are not delivering what they want, you must have the self awareness to assess the difference between what you think you are doing and what they are asking for.

When you receive direction, listen for what is really being asked of you.

Bad directing can come from wonderful visionaries, so always try to listen for the ‘doing’ in the verbiage. The only thing you need to know is ‘what do I have to do?’

The director says be dog-like, you ask yourself. What is it they want me to do? Ask! “desperate, pining, whining, nuzzling, boisterous or growling, snarling, aggressive?”

Even asking the question makes it clear you are trying to take the direction.

The basic exchange between actor and director is one of ideas and pictures into doing. When you are aware of that process and aware of the impact of your own doing, you can take direction.

-COACH-