How can you direct talent to get great shots in your video shoot?

Directing talent for great video shots is an art that combines technical expertise with interpersonal skills. By understanding the vision, communicating effectively, building a connection with your talent, and creating a positive and collaborative environment, you can ensure that your video shoots result in compelling and visually stunning content. Embrace the dynamic nature of video production, and let your passion for storytelling guide your journey toward mastering the art of directing talent. The more versatile and adaptable you become as a director, the better equipped you'll be to bring out the best in your talent.

While planning of some sort is a good idea in unscripted documentary in particular it is often not a great idea to rehearse the interview- just give a very brief direction and then dive in in a friendly way with the contributor. That way there is a sense of genuine exploration and spontaneity- something that’s difficult or nearly impossible to recreate if you have rehearsed it . Documentaries are about documenting real things as they happen therefore you can’t know entirely how it’s going to go or script what will happen. Surprises are actually what you’re looking for and often are what will engage the audience most. Werner Hertzog,the filmmaker and documentary producer famously says ‘storyboards are for cowards’.

Pre-production is key to having a successful shoot. Beyond just developing the script and storyboards, it's also important to gather feedback in this stage. It will save you time explaining certain decisions when you're on set. No detail is too small. Even the weather report for the shoot day!

Lot of people I work with don't think pre-production is a big deal. Until we do the show, and it doesn't come out right and then they say damn we should do pre-production next time. How about there won't be no next time!

To capture a great shot in your video shoot, communicate clearly with the talent about the desired mood, tone, and actions. Provide specific instructions on body language, facial expressions, and movement. Consider the lighting, framing, and background to enhance the overall composition. Encourage natural and authentic performances, and be open to creative input from the talent. Regularly review the footage together to make adjustments as needed. Effective communication and collaboration are key to achieving the desired result.

Clarity is the name of the game here! You need to know what you want before you figure out how to get it out of your collaborators. If you can see it clearly in your head, then you need to work on how to communicate in an evocative way. That's the key to making your talent participate in the creation of the piece and feel like they have a stake in it too, because they do! This will build trust and create a space for the talent to have a dialogue with you and hopefully elevate the work even further.

Scripting Having in mind your concept, outline them and share with your subject before going on set. If possible show him or her a similar idea if any. Be flexible : Allow Artist suggested ideas even on set, and evaluate it, take the rush it may be useful. Allow breaks and be friend to get the best of them.

A lesson I learned firsthand in a challenging situation. When a client expressed dissatisfaction with a team member, I sought open feedback to understand their perspective. Armed with this insight, I had an honest conversation with the team's producer, developing an action plan to address the client's concerns promptly. The client noticed the positive change, and we didn't have to replace the team member. "Clear communication" was the key to keep going.

Muchas veces debemos trabajar con actores naturales, ante ello, en mi experiencia, cuando una indicación no llega a ser entendida o no obtengo el resultado deseado, les preguntó: ¿Cómo tú harías/dirías esto? Después de ello, rescato lo que me puede servir y lo complemento con alguna acción/postura/entonación/gesto que vaya acorde a ellos para evitar que la persona se vea forzada e incomoda en cámara. En algunos casos, sirve mucho dirigir con el ejemplo. Nosotros desde la dirección podemos realizar la acción completa y, de ser necesario, decir el texto de la persona con la entonación que esperamos. Ambas recomendaciones también me han servido para dirigir a actores que recién están empezando en el rubro.

Clear, respectful communication with simple language builds trust and unlocks stellar performances. Focus on purpose, tone, expectations, and specific feedbac

I learnt this the hard way but do not EVER over direct or micro manage your talent/actor or mimic what you need your actor to do. It’s such a huge disrespect from a director to hope to puppet their talent. The ability of the director to communicate and bring out the best from the talent is the key. Hence, “directing” is the word used for our skill. There are communication tools and the way you master those is key. At the same time, allowing talent/actors to add to directors vision and creating a collaborating space is important. If you’re clear on what you want the emotion to be, you’ll find ways to explain through communication and examples from everyday life for the other person to understand who will do their best to then enact it .

As a director you have to give some freedom to the crew to express their ideas. Listen and guide them politely without forcing them to do outside of their comfort zone.

After my actors have gone through reads and rehearsals. But then when we’re on the set, if i am not getting what I need. I approach them from the perspective of someone who doesn’t know the actual character they are portraying. For example, I was directing an actor who was playing a womanizer. And I asked the character if he knew he was a womanizer. He said “no he didn’t.” That question enabled the actor to see that character in a different light. So then, he wasn’t playing a character that was a womanizer. But playing a character who’s behavior was that of a womanizer. But that wasn’t his intention. After that I watched him go beyond mine, and his expectations. I’ve used this approach many times, with unexpectedly great results.

As a woman, we sometimes have to give ourselves permission to lead without question. No one likes a hesitant leader. Lead with confidence and skip PLEASE as a statement or question. If you know that a shot works and no one else thinks it works STILL just do it!

In the art of directing interviews, it's about more than just words – it's a journey to help individuals unearth the emotions hidden within their thoughts. Offering guidance becomes a powerful tool to illuminate clarity and insight, preventing the risk of sentiments getting lost or muddled without that essential emotional connection.

Working with someone whose talent you trust is key. It creates an environment of comfort. I also believe in kindness and checking your ego at the door. Wherever possible I try to create an environment where people are happy and thriving.

Depending on the talent you are dealing with on set, extras, influencers or celebrities, the main focus as a producer/director should be to know your talent. Do your research on who they are. Most times when talent is coming to your set, especially if they’re doing press, it’s the 5th set/show/interview they’ve had all day. In my opinion, it best to establish a comfortable environment for your talent, treat them with respect, take your time to make them feel appreciated, seen and heard. With the proper recipe, research and preparation, any talent will trust you as a creative, giving you great bites, stories and provide an amazing performance.

Putting myself in the actor's shoes has proven to be the most effective way to foster strong working relationships. While most of us aim to collaborate with actor-friends, there are occasions when projects don't allow for it. In those instances, empathy toward the actor and creating a conducive environment for the entire team becomes paramount.

Creating a safe environment for your cast and crew is so important. When the environment is safe and comfortable it allows the actor to perform at their optimal level. Allows them room to explore. In film, the unexpected always happens but being able to keep a cool head on set, being adaptable to changing conditions, being able to have fun on set helps keep the environment comfortable.

It helps if you ask the guest to imagine the camera is either their best friend or their Parent. Making sure they have access to a drink also makes them more comfortable, comfort is Key!

Review the footage thoroughly before publishing the video. Look out for small editing errors, voice overs, transitions and sound. Sometimes it will be difficult to judge our own production in the viewers point of view. Check with someone outside the crew and ask for their honest feedback.

I'd mention some very basic things that we tend to forget when the stakes are high: - If you're working with them for the first time, you want to make sure that they're comfortable around you and not doing it just for the rewards.. - It's crucial that you create a space where they feel in control of their performance instead of being controlled by you.. - Keep in mind that your job as a director is to get them on the same page with your motivations behind the story as well as what you're expecting from them.. - Allow space for Improvisation on set, make them a part of your vision and allow them to get some extra takes as per their understanding.. - Keep them Comfortable throughout and show trust in their performance..

A critical examination of footage for errors and improvements, coupled with seeking feedback, ensures a comprehensive evaluation. The emphasis on backing up and organizing footage highlights responsible data management, crucial for a smooth transition into the editing and post-production phases.

The director has a global vision of his project. Viewing each shot allows you to check that the filming in progress is consistent and faithful to expectations. However, watching footage is not pre-editing. The idea is not to choose the shots but to confirm that all the expectations of this shoot have been achieved. This viewing verification also and above all be technical: validate the quality of the exposure, the focus, the camera holding, etc.

Be honest with yourself on the difference between "it's right" and "I like it". They may not always be the same thing. Something you may personally like or love may be the wrong direction and vice versa. Work for the narrative and the goals, not yourself.

Uma boa fotografia pressupõe três tipos de bagagem: técnica (passível de aprendizado), cultural e social. Ou seja, apertar botão é só 1/3 do que precisamos! Um profissional da fotografia que não tem vivência enquanto cidadão, por exemplo, não vai saber como escolher os melhores enquadramentos. Um profissional da fotografia que não tira o olho da tela do celular pode ter mais dificuldade do que aquele que, ao contrário, olha para fora das janelas. Fotografia depende mais do coração e do cérebro do que do equipamento.

A video can be acted out as a script, to enable the performance appear more real life. Going forward, scribbling out a few things for retentive memory can be really helpful.

♾️ Give constructive feedback. Be specific about what you liked and what could change, making sure the talent feels valued and not discouraged. for me, this is the most important.

Guide talent with precise instructions on body language and expressions. Establish a comfortable and collaborative atmosphere, encouraging creativity. Ensure they understand the storyline and their character motivations. Continuously communicate and iterate for optimal performance, and be adaptable to unexpected challenges during the shoot.