Directing Movie Stars - John Badham

Legendary director John Badham (Saturday Night Fever, Wargames, Supernatural) talks with Per Holmes about directing movie stars. How are stars different from “normal” actors? Do they need more direction? Less? How do you handle disagreements? What are you allowed to say or don’t say? How do you handle the power imbalance between an up-and-coming director and a very experienced actor? This episode answers these questions and countless more in this amazing episode.

 

SHOW LINKS

John Badham IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000824/

John is also the author of one of the best and most brutally honest books on filmmaking ever written, “I’ll Be In My Trailer”, about the relationship between actors and directors. https://www.amazon.com/Ill-Be-My-Trailer-Directors/dp/1932907149

His new book “On Directing 2”, is dropping in the fall of 2020. Check it out on his website: https://www.johnbadham.com/

Directing Actors Course: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com/directing-actors.html

 

OTHER WAYS TO WATCH/LISTEN:

Show Website: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com

YouTube: https://youtu.be/mcY-ROX951c

Indie Film Hustle TV: https://www.indiefilmhustle.tv

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-show/id1516200606

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/421oliun8XF0NKJulo7UEa

Download MP3 Audio: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/download/nc7dh4/Prep_Show_John_Badham_Directing_Stars_8ud2q.mp3

 

CONNECT:

Facebook: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HollywoodCameraWork

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/HollywoodCamera

Web: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com

 

EPISODE OUTLINE:

0:00 - Intro

2:37 - Welcome to John

4:56 - Differences between "normal" actors and stars?

7:53 - How does conversation with a star sound differently?

10:47 - What does the first conversation with an actor sound like?

12:55 - Directors direct too much?

13:39 - Directing in actions

15:08 - Different actor results in different performance

15:49 - Directing a regular on a TV show

19:30 - Making the scenes work

20:46 - Making an actor not do something

23:27 - Criticizing actors

24:43 - Retakes for the heck of it

25:28 - Every take doesn't need direction

27:50 - Shaking up the scene

29:39 - Directing Jack Nicholson

34:17 - Marlon Brando testing his director

37:06 - What if actor won't discuss character?

40:38 - Gaining an actor's trust

44:32 - Calming an actor's nerves

47:38 - Super-confident actors

50:02 - How much to direct

52:51 - Taking bad direction back

53:33 - Giving actors attention after a take

56:02 - Being there for actors

57:01 - Directors should try a bit of acting

58:23 - Actors can see through a director

59:12 - Gaining the trust of actors

1:02:38 - How much freedom should actors have?

1:12:36 - Does a director need to be certain?

1:15:21 - Getting everybody invested in it

1:18:48 - How much or how little to direct?

1:25:51 - Imaginary directing situation: Joe Pesci

1:28:15 - Giving actors obstacles instead of directing them

1:35:48 - Working with strong-willed actors

1:40:25 - Strong-willed actors testing the director

1:46:49 - Summary of insights

1:53:07 - John's new book On Directing

1:56:07 - Wrap up