Television Production, 16th Edition

Chapter 19Directing Talent

“Many directors expect actors to be like Apple computers: plug-and-play, performing perfectly right out of the box. Writers work for months on a script; directors take weeks to create their vision. Actors are often cast only a few days before the shoot and have little—if any—time to prepare. Actors need time to catch up to everyone else on the crew. They are not machines; they are fallible humans desperate to do their best. Actors must feel safe and supported on their creative journey.”

—John Badham, Director

Figure 19.1 “Talent” generally refers to anyone who appears in front of the camera. That can include a wide ...