Smokin' Joe Carnahan: MISSED A FEW...

MISSED A FEW...

12/10/2007 at 09:27 AM

Guys:

This is for the handful of cats and kittens who's questions were somehow omitted.

POSTED BY: URSUS 12/05/2007 AT 09:57 AM
THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS Q AND A YET AGAIN. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR TAKE ON DIRECTING ACTORS? YOUR APPROACH AND ANY ADVICE YOU MIGHT GIVE A NEW DIRECTOR.

Ursus:

The most important thing is communication and an ongoing dialogue with your actors. You have to start by making them feel safe and I don't mean with the role itself because the best roles are often times, anything but safe. I'm talking about presenting yourself and expressing yourself in a way that instills confidence. This isn't something you can slip into when you feel like it. That kinda sh*t was to be worn at all times. If you've done your homework and you've put a lot of thought into what you're doing, it will just be another part of your personality so don't be false or try to 'act a part' just be you. I have a tendency to talk a lot with my actors because I'm not only looking for a commonality of thought and idea, I'm also discerning how they like to be communicated with and discerning how best to do so.
I hear about directors that don't speak to their actors and wonder how the f*ck they can do what they do. It's a collaborative process and as the Director you're #1 on that call sheet. If you have trouble speaking, figure it some semaphore or sign language or something because you're gonna have loads of trouble otherwise.

POSTED BY: JOHN 12/09/2007 AT 09:37 AM
POST NUMBER 26 ASKING IF CLOONEY WAS INVOLVED ON ANY LEVEL ON WJ. THE ANSWER YOU GAVE TO ANOTHER CLOONEY QUESTION DOESN'T ANSWER MINE.
WE KNOW HE'S NOT STARRING, BUT HIS PRODUCTION COMPANY SMOKE HOUSE IS STILL LISTED AS PRODUCING. BY MY GUESTIMATE THAT WOULD MAKE HIM INVOLVED. NO?

John:

I hate to give answers like these but until we clear a lot of sh*t up, I can't really speculate. I've got a great producer, who's a good friend, who will be spearheading the next incarnation of WHITE JAZZ and I'm pretty stoked about that. As for Clooney and his company, I really can't comment.

Muzzle:

Dark Horizons and Cinematical always give this blog a lot of love, so I don't mind them doing that, even if it is a bit premature. I'm a big fan of THE RED and I will shoot a feature on that system, sooner or later.

Comments

Pages:

Posted by: ursus 12/10/2007 at 09:30 AM

Thanks Joe. I've often discussed “directing actors” with actor friends, but never another director. I asked Chris about your approach, and he could only comment on how you directed him, (with lots of freedom and enthusiasm for his ideas.)

Most questions to directors revolve around equipment or technical issues. Directing actors is so rarely discussed. I guess it's like you say, you either have it in you, or you don't. It’s an intangible.

I also wonder how much you’ve familiarized yourself with their "language/jargon." Have you studied acting? Have you read Stanislavski, Strasberg, Meisner, etc.? My concern with doing that has always been that I want to watch a performance with a fresh perspective. I don't want to be analyzing (or even recognizing) technique or methods.

Thanks again for tracking down my rogue question. It means a lot.
-ursus-

Posted by: Joe C. 12/10/2007 at 12:25 PM

Ursus, you said it perfectly right here bro:

MY CONCERN WITH DOING THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT I WANT TO WATCH A PERFORMANCE WITH A FRESH PERSPECTIVE. I DON'T WANT TO BE ANALYZING (OR EVEN RECOGNIZING) TECHNIQUE OR METHODS.

Bingo.

	Posted by: Mila 12/10/2007 at 01:14 PM
It's nice to see that there's interaction between you and your actors. I've seen too many "behind the scenes" clips where the director just expects everybody to read his mind.