The document provides tips for directing actors in a film or video production. It suggests that actors should appear natural, not like they are acting. It also discusses how to help actors overcome self-consciousness or issues with lines by allowing rehearsal time, keeping movements simple, and breaking long speeches into brief shots. The document advises reminding actors to not look at the camera and to stay in position after a shot finishes.

1. Warm Up
 What are some things that are involved
in planning for a production?

2. Directing for Performance

3. Actors and Performers
 To be believable, the performers should
not appear to be acting, but simply
living and behaving normally while the
camera just happens to record them.

4. Actors and Insecurity
 Camera fright is a form of stage
fright: a fear of subjecting yourself
to public attention, of placing
yourself under a spotlight for
critical inspection by the audience.
 The nice thing of about camera fright is
that you can re-shoot until you have a
good performance.

5. Helping Actors Overcome Self-Consciousness
 Allow plenty of time for rehearsal.
 The more familiar the performers are with the
material, the more comfortable they feel.
 Sometimes amateurs will perform more
naturally if they think they are not being
recorded.
 To reduce physical awkwardness, keep actor
movements simple and natural. Ask them if
anything feels awkward to them.

6. Helping Actors with Lines
 If a performer cannot read aloud
convincingly, the easiest solution is to
allow him or her to improvise.
 Break down long speeches into several
brief shots.
 Remind performers that only the best
take will be used in the final product.
 Use cue cards if needed.

7. Looking at the Camera
 You need to leave about 3 seconds
of extra footage at the beginning
and the end of each shot for
editing transitions.
 Remind the actor not to look into the
camera when the shot finishes, they
need to stay in position for a few
seconds.

8. Helping Actors Express Emotion
 If an actor is overacting, show them
some close-ups of their work.
 Back away from overacting. The closer
the shot, the more intense it is.
 If an actor is having trouble changing
emotions in a scene, separate the
different emotions into different shots.