Directing Actors for Screen - Day Four

Sarah Hallam and Brendan Cowell performing a tense scene.

Brendan Cowell is in da house!
Actor Brendan Cowell takes a break from Bell Shakespeare's Hamlet (he currently appears nightly in the title role at the Arts Centre Playhouse). Students were pleasantly surprised to say the least when Brendan dropped in on Thursday afternoon to perform their scripted scenes!

Actors John Brumpton and Georgia Bolton during a camera test.

Course participant James (writer of Two Twisted episode produced by Bryan Brown and starring Sam Neil) gives direction to Sarah Hallam and John Brumpton.

On Day Four, the four of us auditioned and cast a scene from our own film projects with the professional actors. The direction of the chosen scenes really start to take shape.

Actors included Sarah Hallam (Stingers), John Brumpton (Underbelly), Georgina Bolton (City Homicide), Ian Rose (Eastenders), and of course, Brendan Cowell (Noise).

Directing Actors for Screen - Day Three

Day Three, and we begin to learn from professional actors including Sarah Hallam (Blue Heelers), Samuel Johnson (Rush, Secret Life of Us) and Ian Rose (Eastenders) about actor/director communication and how to facilitate the best possible performances. We heard from actors on their personal approaches to screen performance & acting styles, and the needs of the actor.

Image: Ian Rose and Sarah Hallam look at student script scenes.

Directing Actors blog - Day Three

Day Three, and we begin to learn from professional actors including Sarah Hallam (Blue Heelers), Samuel Johnson (Rush) and Ian Rose (Eastenders) about actor/director communication and how to facilitate the best possible performances. We heard from actors on their personal approaches to screen performance & acting styles, and needs of the actor.

Directing Actors for Screen - Day Two

Image: Participants Jemma and Rubidium in lively discussion on the rehearsal process.

Day Two, and we have begun to focus on how to prepare for rehearsals - reading through our scenes to identify the purpose of the scene & identify dramatic elements. Discussions on how to direct the initial read through, strategies to work with actors to achieve an authentic & convincing performance. We discussed research, character and story development, backstory, subtext, improv etc. learning how to create the right environment and how to run the rehearsals. Move blocking and final run-through stages prior to performance, and how to provide actors with feedback and adjust the performance. Learned how we know when the scene is ready, and when we have the shots we need. Learned what will tire an actor and what won't to keep the scene real.

Directing Actors for Screen - Day One

Alkinos demonstrating that all-important 'aura' which a director must exude on set - a director must have confidence and be in total control, while working closely & collaboratively with his actors and crew.

Course facilitator acclaimed director Alkinos Tsilmidos (Tom White, Em 4 Jay) discusses the director's working methodologies behind the casting, rehearsal and directing processes. We talked about script & character analysis and interpretation, how to identify dramatic elements, create detailed directors notes (a vision), create character profiles which lead to the casting process, work with casting directors and casting agencies, meeting and auditioning actors and conducting screen tests.

Welcome

This is the blog of Victoria's screen resource centre OPEN CHANNEL. This year, we are running courses in Screenwriting, Producing, Directing, TV Production and Documentary. For more information, visit us at www.openchannel.org.au