«  
 

All the Work to Make the Magic

By Eric Dean Seaton, on July 3rd, 2009

First I read the script several times.  The first reading is just to get the feel and understand what the story is about.  It’s more enjoyment than anything else.  After my first reading I go back and read the script again, this time dissecting it.  I mark jokes and dramatic moments.  Visualize where I can add style or images.  Where the dramatic moments are and what the characters are searching for.  With each character I pull back and ask what is it they want in relationship to what the story is about.  How does it all work together?

The next step is blocking. Sometimes it comes to me in the first and second pass but for the most part I wait until my third read to concentrate on it.  In the shows I’ve done, story and performance are the most important things, but I always find a way to add style and come up with interesting angles with camera shots.  I try my best to not let the confines of four camera sitcoms determine what I can and cannot shoot.  I’ve also found that by having an understanding of four camera style when I shoot something single camera style I can almost cut the piece in my head and I don’t miss any shots or coverage.

Although I encourage natural movement from the actors I always have my blocking done in my script.  I do this so I can always have an understanding, always have an answer and always have a suggestion so I can guide the actors and always make them feel comfortable and confident in themselves and me.  If you come to set sometimes you will see me walking the set and acting out the characters.

Because most of my experience is in four camera sitcoms the first day of rehearsal I spend concentrating on the blocking and general character notes.  The second day is a strong rehearsal where we put everything in it and the third day is just tightening up the beats, answering changes from the writers and executives and doing my camera shots.  When the two-shoot days roll around everyone is prepared and ready to go and we get the work done very fast.

I found the more prepared you are the better you can find new things and experiment and the more the cast and crew have confidence in you and the better director you will be.

July 3rd, 2009 | Category: directing

13 comments to All the Work to Make the Magic

Leave a Reply

 

 

 

You can use these HTML tags

<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

Post Categories