Dealing with Actors and Their Personalities

Filmmaking Articles

Production

Acting and Actors

Written by Jeff Lanctot

Labels: Acting, Blocking, Shooting, Production

We all have different personalities. That is what makes us so unique. However, there are some individuals who have less than savory personalities and some of those individuals may end up having acting parts in your indie film. You’ve probably heard horror stories about certain actors and actresses in big productions being a big problem. But they have the big head because of their celebrity status, right? Well, that is sort of wrong because it happens to actors and actresses in indie productions too, even if they are not getting paid to do the acting job.

This isn’t saying that every actor and actress you come across is going to have an attitude problem, but you’re going to have to know how to deal with the issues they may bring to the table. Just because they may seem like they have a wonderful attitude during the audition doesn’t mean they aren’t going to be griping and complaining while you’re filming.

The star of the show

So let’s say that you’re in the middle of filming and then all of a sudden your lead actor starts having personality conflicts with other actors and members of the crew. Maybe they even start showing up to the set whenever they feel like it instead of when they are supposed to according to the production schedule. There are several things you can do when this occurs:

Film Image

You can have a heart to heart with your actor and explain to them how personality conflicts make it difficult for everyone to do their jobs. When it is difficult to do their jobs, the production isn’t going to flatter them very well. Animosity between co-workers tends to make the job suffer, so it is important that the actor knows this.

If you are not very far into the production, it may be feasible to weigh the pros and cons of replacing the actor. The actor can be replaced, but it can be a difficult process. It is better if you are only a few scenes in and can just reshoot them later.

Then again, either one of these options may not work. You may have to do what some of the big time producers and directors do and that is deal with it the best you can. The crew will understand, but they won’t be happy. Basically, when the lead actor is late, you have to wait because you can’t move forward with a scene if they aren’t there. You can, however, hound them about being late, but then you’re up a creek without a paddle if they quit, so you have to try to reach a compromise at some point. Find out what their wants are and go from there. If they say they want only red M&Ms in their bowl, give it to them if that will preserve the peace.

Other actors and actresses

It is even possible that you may have a supporting actor or actress who is a problem or someone with a smaller role. If it is someone with a smaller role, you can always replace them and reshoot scenes. However, you are most likely not going to have large problems out of these individuals since they know they can easily be replaced. If they want their face on a screen, then they are going to behave themselves and show up to productions on time. That means a little talk might do some good. If it doesn’t do any good, then you know what you have to do. Making sure the peace is preserved and that the production is as on time as possible is what is important.

However, you have to evaluate the situation as a whole. Ensure that there isn’t someone on the crew or another actor that is instigating a situation. This may make you feel like you’re a babysitter or something, but, unfortunately, it is all a part of your job. You might be surprised the conflicts that you may have to resolve. Then again, you may be surprised at how many you don’t have to resolve. The truth of the matter is that every production is different because every production consists of a different combination of people. All you can do is your best when choosing a cast and crew, hope for the best, and always have a backup plan. You can never plan too much when it comes to your movie.

The truth

The good news is that most individuals you recruit to act in your movie probably won’t be a problem. Since they are more than likely volunteering their time to be in your production, they are probably glad that they have the opportunity to act. But, as stated before, attitude problems and personality conflicts can occur when filming an indie film. That is why it is always a good idea to learn about potential stars before actually giving them the word. If you have someone who was excellent during their audition and they have a good reputation, then you have yourself an actor. But if you have someone who did an excellent job during their audition, but they have the reputation of being a problem, you know that you most likely need to stay away from that one.

It basically comes down to gut instinct and common sense. It is your production and you’re going to weigh your options. You’re not going to jump in and fire the actor. You’re going to keep a level head about yourself and take care of it all in a responsible way. That is what good directors and producers do and it is also great training for you in case you decide one day that you want to make bigger productions. That is, if you want to move on to larger productions. Some individuals enjoy the world of indie filmmaking so much that they decide they do not wish to do anything else. These are the individuals who eventually deal with all different types, but it is only through experience that you’re going to learn. The more you learn, the more prepared you’re going to be from one production to the next.

Comments

Add New

RSS