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FilmSkool — a free film school

How to direct a movie - blocking actors for realistic performances

Explains how blocking decisions affect how natural a performance looks on camera, contrasting staged-looking movement with lived-in movement. Covers eyelines, motivation for movement, and camera relationship.

FilmSkills · 12 min · Intermediate · ACT · Acting · 2021

What you take away

Give each actor a physical reason to move before you add blocking for the camera's sake.

Watch it

Filed under

Oscar-winning performances

Books on acting

Directing Actors — Judith Weston
The Actor’s Art and Craft — William Esper, Damon DiMarco
The Art of Acting — Stella Adler
An Actor Prepares — Constantin Stanislavski
Actions: The Actors’ Thesaurus — Marina Caldarone, Maggie Lloyd-Williams
Acting in Film — Michael Caine

More Acting

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Actors Roundtable: Adam Driver, Shia LaBeouf, Robert De Niro, Tom Hanks, Jamie Foxx | Close Up — The Hollywood Reporter · 45m · Advanced
Directing Actors with Judith Weston — michaelwiese · 58m · Intermediate
Sam Mendes on his Rehearsal Process | National Theatre — National Theatre · 8m · Advanced
BFI Future Film Festival 2022 | How to Direct Actors with Judith Weston — BFI · 48m · Intermediate
Directing Actors: Creating Memorable Performances For Film & TV - Judith Weston [FULL INTERVIEW] — Film Courage · 38m · Intermediate
How to Direct Actors — Directing Advice from the Greats — StudioBinder · 21m · Intermediate
Off Camera with Sam Jones — Featuring Jeff Bridges — theoffcamerashow · 30m · Intermediate
Off Camera with Sam Jones — Featuring Robert Downey Jr. — theoffcamerashow · 30m · Intermediate
What is Method Acting — It's Not What You Think It Is — StudioBinder · 16m · Intermediate
Interview - Kirk Douglas - Paths of Glory (1957) — Criterion Extras · 30m · Intermediate
Directing Actors Masterclass - Pip Edwards — Sydney Actors School · 76m · Advanced

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