Legendary ​​director and ​a​ctress Joan Darling shares her ​wealth of experience and ​insights on ​directing actors ​and helping them achieve their best work.
Key Insights
  • Allow your actors to experiment before making adjustments.  
  • Take acting lessons. It will increase empathy and improve communication skills.
  • Make the whole script available to actors during the casting process so they understand the role in the context of the bigger story.
  • Take yourself inside the structure of a scene from the perspective of an actor.
  • You must be willing to go to the same emotional place you want your actors to go.
  • The work ethic of an actor is revealed by how they prepare for a role.
  • Create an atmosphere in which there are no mistakes, just opportunities for great moments.
Joan Darling
Director, Writer, Actress
Joan Darling has been nominated four times for an Emmy (the first woman nominated for directing) and twice for a Directors Guild of America award, winning one of each. more...
Tags: Acting

Join the Discussion

Keep Exploring

Video

Taika Waititi (BOY) on Going From Indies to Hollywood

Filmmaker: Taika Waititi
FREE

Taika Waititi (BOY) on Going From Indies to Hollywood

Filmmaker: Taika Waititi
International director Taika Waititi discusses how his roots in indie film prepared him to direct major Hollywood films
FREE
Video

Making Your First Short: Top Tips with Mariama Diallo (MASTER) and more

Filmmaker: Mariama Diallo and 3 more
FREE

Making Your First Short: Top Tips with Mariama Diallo (MASTER) and more

With: Mariama Diallo, Adam Khalil, Zack Khalil and Katrelle Kindred
Short film ​d​irectors share their essential top tips for anyone ​who wants to make a short film​.​
FREE
Video

Living Your Truth As a Writer with Angelica Nwandu (NIGHT COMES ON)

Screenwriter, Media Mogul: Angelica Nwandu
FREE

Living Your Truth As a Writer with Angelica Nwandu (NIGHT COMES ON)

Screenwriter, Media Mogul: Angelica Nwandu
Screenwriter and media mogul Angelica Nwandu describes her unique path into a fulfilling creative life.
FREE
Video

Art & Activism with Reinaldo Marcus Greene (MONSTERS AND MEN) and more

With: Silas Howard and 2 more
FREE

Art & Activism with Reinaldo Marcus Greene (MONSTERS AND MEN) and more

With: Silas Howard, Laura Nix and Reinaldo Marcus Green
Filmmakers discuss using their art to create social change.
FREE