I read the book ten years ago and decided to hear the audio version as a refresher and boy am I glad I did it. Under the guidance of an industry film director, you explore the different methods actors use and gain insight into what your cast needs from direction, and what is counterproductive. To acquire more knowledge about directing actors, you can follow a film acting class to learn how to communicate ideas with your actors better and understand the actor' world from their perspective.

However, trusting your actors instincts and being open to what they have to say will make the process and the result much better.

If an actor feels like the set is a safe space to be vulnerable, their performance is almost guaranteed to be better. The trick of an actor’s preparation is to find the choices that 1) connect to the deepest and freshest meaning of the script, and 2) turn him on, capture his imagination so that 3) he can connect to them with emotional honesty and get to the places he needs to go. Directors tell me that dealing with actors is the last frontier the scariest part and the part they long for the human part, the place where connection happens. When giving feedback to actors, do it in a quiet private conversation, and tweak the direction to find a good performance.

However, there will always be a few days where everything you had worked so hard to achieve crumbles before your very eyes. If the following filmmakers weren't open to improvisation and spontaneity, we wouldn't get these iconic moments.

If you can create a sense of teamwork and mutual respect, it can help actors with different styles work effectively together. The Directing Actors audiobook was recorded by Judith Weston in 2019 and is based on the classic best seller from 1996.

If actors feel that you understand their problems, they will have fewer complaints about your direction. For many filmmakers, collaborating with actors is the last frontier—the scariest part and the part they long for—the human part, the place where connection happens.Judith says, "In the years since the original edition of Directing Actors was published, the technical side of filmmaking has become much more easily accessible. Eventually, it turned out to be the perfect direction, and every cast member portrayed the perfect emotion on set!