ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at how the director collaborates with the actors in a film. The dynamics of casting are examined, and the role of rehearsals in creating the foundations of a successful collaboration. Techniques for directing actors on set are discussed, and the work of several filmmakers, such as Francis Ford Coppola, David Gordon Green, and Robert Bresson, are reviewed. This chapter features two interviews—one with actor Daniel Sauli, and one with casting director Rebecca Gushin—and also includes a case study of how John Cassavetes directed his actors on films such as A Woman Under the Influence. A list of tasks is available for the director to help guide through the various steps of collaboration.
