When working with non-actors, many of the same principles of listening and establishing trust still apply. However, you need to be conscious of the fact that non-actors may not have the tools to handle backstories or simple directions on performance. “It’s very helpful with non-actors to get them centered in the idea that they are responding to another actor rather than generating a performance. As soon as they get the idea in their heads that they are generating a performance, they are no longer non-actors, they are now poorly trained actors,” Weston explains.
The entire point of casting a non-actor would be their own personal connection to the scene and story. ”If you want to cast non-actors, you will want to cast non-actors that are perfect for the role and don’t have to do any acting,” says Weston. She describes a story about the film Sling Blade, in which director Billy Bob Thornton cast a janitor to play a janitor in the film and suggested he pick a fight with another character. The man pushed back, insisting that he, as a real employee at a hospital, would never treat a patient that way. “Use their strengths rather than turn them into something they are not,” Weston says.
With non-actors, it’s best to keep them in a comfortable role and again, establish a trusting relationship. “Even for professional actors, sets are intimidating. For non-actors, can you imagine how intimidating that is?” says Weston. Additionally, it’s best to avoid over-complicating the role. “Sometimes people say they want to be in a movie but they don’t know what’s involved. It’s better for non-actors to be in smaller roles without too many lines.”
When casting non-actors, you have to find people who will be naturally curious with a strong sense of imagination, and this is particularly true when working with children. Weston also warns that working with children will vary a little depending on their age. Children over eight years of age will be able to understand directions in a more concrete way, whereas younger children have more of a need to be protected.
“Use your imagination and lead them,” suggests Weston. “Tell them, ‘We’re in a forest, is there a rock over there? What should we do?’ You have to be careful where you lead them because they’re so very impressionable.” Because of that vulnerability, Weston cautions against bringing up hypothetical situations in order to get them into character. “Never bring up the topic of sick mothers with children under eight years old,” she says. “Just say, ‘can you be sad if I ask you to?’” With young children, it’s also helpful to give them something physical to do in a scene and, similar to working with non-actors, take away as much dialogue as you can.
Weston also shares a story about the film Rabbit Proof Fence, which had three children, ages nine, seven and five, as main characters, none of whom had ever acted before. They spent six weeks in a bootcamp of sorts with a trained actress learning safe methods to access the emotion required for the roles and to get used to the lights and cameras.
With children and adults alike, the balance of communicating with them and letting go enough to trust their performance is a skill that all directors need to learn. “It’s not all up to you to get their performance,” says Weston. Sometimes, it is getting out of their way, and sometimes, it’s pushing and saying ‘I know you can do more, I know you can dig deeper.’ Tell them they can take risks, even if you think they’re going over the top.” And remember: when you’re asking for more from your actors, you need to be sure that you, as the director, are equally willing to do the work. “The best way to direct them is to remember what the scene is about, the emotional event. You have to be able to back it up with your knowledge of life and your artistic intention.”
When directing actors, you must always keep a trusting relationship at the forefront of your interactions with them and remember to listen to their needs when working through the emotional beats of a scene. Directing actors is not always easy, but it’s a skill learned over time through—you guessed it—practice.