How can a director help you?!!

So What does a director do?  How do they make a project better?  What can you learn?

It is my opinion that a directors job is two fold.  Ensure a quality project is produced and ensure that you don’t look like an idiot doing what they are asking you to do.  Your job as an actor is simple… bring ideas to the project, and allow the director to either accept or reject the idea and “trust” the direction.  Remember you can’t see what they are seeing.  I have been on may projects where the actors “ego” gets in the way.  They seem to feel that the director is just there to ruin the show.  NO!  That is self centered behavior.  I have been there too.  I was in a show Jakes Women and the director wanted to end the show with a Shania Twain   song.  I was that makes not sense!  My character would not listen to Shania Twain!  Your ruining the show!   I went to the director on the side and expressed my feelings.   His response was simple.  ”Your right!  But don’t worry about what your character likes on the radio, because often was as people are exposed to things we don’t like everyday.”

In a final plea I said  ”But I don’t want to look like an idiot I don’t want to feel like an idiot!”   

“Do you really think we did all this work for me to make you look like an idiot.  Trust Me.”

Trust Me.  Famous last words.  But you know.  I did.  I went back and did my work on the character and tried to figure out how to use this frustration for the benefit of the show.  Guess what?  It worked and made sense. People at the end of the show said they loved the transition at the end of the show and the use of frustration to submission was wonderful.  

So to simplify.  Conflict.  Without it a show is boring to watch.  Trust without it conflict can not be conquered.  Finally if two people have the same idea one of those people are not needed.  The director is the final word because they can see what you can’t.  Trust them even when you don’t understand.  Don’t be afraid to ask question.  Oh yea “Why are we doing this?”  is not a question.  You better have an understanding of what is going on around you before you question and bring ideas that allow your to contribute, but not demand.

Remember you are all there for the same reason.  To produce the best product.