NEW AGE ARTIST0:

Movies can seem so real. They make us laugh, cry and scream in terror. But what actually goes on behind the scenes to make the performances so convincing? Directors and actors collaborate closely in the creative process. Before shooting, they'll meet up for lengthy discussions and a table read.

Movies can seem so real. They make us laugh, cry and scream in terror. But what actually goes on behind the scenes to make the performances so convincing? Directors and actors collaborate closely in the creative process. Before shooting, they'll meet up for lengthy discussions and a table read.
NEW AGE ARTIST1:

It's at this time that Directors set out their vision for the film, its core themes and concepts, and how they'd like to develop them. Actors work with the director to identify the motivation of their character - who they are, their relationship to other characters and how they serve the story. Actors are also interested in developing their own specific motivation within a scene. Directors use a number of different techniques to coax a believable performance from their talent.

It's at this time that Directors set out their vision for the film, its core themes and concepts, and how they'd like to develop them. Actors work with the director to identify the motivation of their character - who they are, their relationship to other characters and how they serve the story. Actors are also interested in developing their own specific motivation within a scene. Directors use a number of different techniques to coax a believable performance from their talent.
ACTRESS:

"Aren't you coming home"" Aren't you coming home""

"Aren't you coming home?" Aren't you coming home?"
DIRECTOR:

Why did you say it like that?

Why did you say it like that?
NEW AGE ARTIST:

They might ask the actor to do a line several times and then explore why the actor chose to do the line the way they did.

They might ask the actor to do a line several times and then explore why the actor chose to do the line the way they did.
ACTRESS0:

hmmm. "You never really loved me, you just thought you did"" "You never really loved me, you just thought you did"" "You never really loved me, you just thought you did"" Or, they get the actors to trade parts in a scene and do each other's lines. This can help the actors discover the subtext and the dynamic between the characters. If these techniques don't work, Directors sometimes resort to more manipulative tricks. Instead of drawing inspiration from the script and story, they might ask the actors to use material from their own lives. If a director needs an actor to cry, they might ask them to think of how they felt when their beloved childhood pet died.

hmmm... "You never really loved me, you just thought you did." "You never really loved me, you just thought you did." "You never really loved me, you just thought you did." Or, they get the actors to trade parts in a scene and do each other's lines. This can help the actors discover the subtext and the dynamic between the characters. If these techniques don't work, Directors sometimes resort to more manipulative tricks. Instead of drawing inspiration from the script and story, they might ask the actors to use material from their own lives. If a director needs an actor to cry, they might ask them to think of how they felt when their beloved childhood pet died.
ACTRESS1:

If they need the actor to be excited, directors might ask them to think about riding a roller coaster, to feel the sensation in their stomach, and to feel torn between wanting to laugh and scream all at the same time. Or if they need the actor to grapple with a serious issue or make a tough decision, directors might ask actors to do multiplication tables in their head. For actors, hitting the right emotional tone is just as important, if not more important, than hitting the right lines. More often than not, the subtext of a film conveys much more meaning through tone of voice, facial expressions and gestures than through the actual words that an actor speaks. The given circumstances of a scene dictate an actor's motivation according to Stella Adler, actor turned acting teacher.

If they need the actor to be excited, directors might ask them to think about riding a roller coaster, to feel the sensation in their stomach, and to feel torn between wanting to laugh and scream all at the same time. Or if they need the actor to grapple with a serious issue or make a tough decision, directors might ask actors to do multiplication tables in their head. For actors, hitting the right emotional tone is just as important, if not more important, than hitting the right lines. More often than not, the subtext of a film conveys much more meaning through tone of voice, facial expressions and gestures than through the actual words that an actor speaks. The given circumstances of a scene dictate an actor's motivation according to Stella Adler, actor turned acting teacher.
ACTRESS2:

She taught students who included Marlon Brando and Robert de Niro, "we are what we do, not what we say"" So, what's my motivation in this scene?

She taught students who included Marlon Brando and Robert de Niro, "we are what we do, not what we say." So, what's my motivation in this scene?