The $2 Million Ego: Why Non-Filmmakers Fail
Hello everyone! About ten years ago, I met a man who had $2 million to spend on making a movie. He had written a screenplay and was looking for a director. At first, it sounded like a promising opportunity. Independent filmmakers are always looking for financing, and $2 million is a substantial budget for […]
Directing Actors for Film and Theater
From Art of Directing Actors book, by Ernest Goodman. “People say there’s a difference between movie acting and stage acting, but acting is acting. Getting back on stage is like getting tuned. You tune your instrument.” – Christopher Walken. A common misconception among inexperienced film directors is the thought that directing for theater and […]
Two Levels of Acting in Film
Hello everyone! Through my work with producers and directors, I am sometimes approached by actors who are primarily looking for connections. They would reach out hoping that I might introduce them to producers, directors, or casting professionals. In some ways this is understandable. I practice intellectual property law, and part of my work involves […]
Twenty mistakes of a director
From Art of Directing Actors book, by Ernest Goodman. Here, I give you twenty examples of Result-Oriented and General Directions, examples from real life and what not to do when you direct. These mistakes do happen on professional film sets and theater stages, and even well-experienced directors can sometimes make these errors. Actors as well […]
Tool # 1 SUPER OBJECTIVE, SCENE OBJECTIVE
From Art of Directing Actors book, by Ernest Goodman. “There are no small roles, there are only small actors” ~ The motto of the Moscow Art Theater. Directors and actors frequently talks about certain objectives when they work on their scenes. These tools have more than 100 years history. Let’s explore them. The SUPER OBJECTIVE is […]

