Lights, Camera, Action: A Director’s Perspective

On Thursday, Nov. 7, the Los Angeles Local Member Outreach Relations & Education (MORE) Committee held its first panel in a series of educational programs to be rolled out in the next year. The event highlighted the job of episodic directors and their relationship with actors on set. Panelists included accomplished and award-winning directors Eric Dean Seaton, Mary Lou Belli and Jes Macallan. L.A. Local MORE Committee Member Laura Linda Bradley served as the moderator for the conversation.

Here are four main takeaways from the panel:

What are Episodic Directors?

Episodic directors are directors who come to a television series to direct a limited number of episodes within the season and are like guest cast. They bring a unique perspective to the overall vision of a series.

Tips From an Episodic Director

The panelists recommended that actors do their homework prior to auditioning for a show. It is important to know the rhythm of the show as well as the context and characters. They also emphasized that, especially when it comes to self-tapes, having spatial awareness and consistency from take to take is essential.

Once the actor is cast in a role, the directors encouraged event attendees to come to set ready, knowing their lines, having ideas about how to engage with the scene, having a positive attitude and asking questions. Panelists said that actors should not hesitate to ask questions on set, but also mentioned that being the “best fly on the wall” is another way to gather information to perfect a performance. Observation is key. Practicing these skills will allow for actors to be gracious and respectful guests on set, which leads to a cooperative relationship with the director.

The Relationship Between Episodic Directors and Actors

Panelists acknowledged that directors can learn a lot from actors. The process of creating an episode is a collaborative art, and while everyone plays a different role, they all have the same goal of accomplishing a singular vision.

Panelists said that the relationship between directors and actors is crucial to achieving this goal. Many directors try to connect with their actors, especially when dealing with sensitive subject matter, by making small, intentional moments of engagement throughout the day, having clear communication and having an inclusive set. .

Attendees were reminded that what season the series is in also plays a role in the engagement and relationship between a director and actor. For example, if it is the first season of a show, the panelists explained that there is often more pressure and differing visions, and it can feel like a work in progress. A more established show may have a more stable atmosphere, but the actor will need to be aware of the show’s history.  

A Director’s Cut

The panelists explained the process and work of a director after everyone leaves the set. A director will often create their edit that will then go to the producer, network and studio before airing. This means that there is a chance that scenes will get cut. When that happens, panelists challenged actors to never assume that it was because of their performance; it is often a matter of decisions being made in post-production. Knowing that scenes may get cut, the panelists said that actors should trust the directors during production because they may do several takes of scenes and change things up to provide options during editing.

From auditioning through post-production, the relationship and work of an episodic director and actor is essential for the storytelling of a show.

To learn more about the L.A. Local MORE Committee and view future events, please visit the Los Angeles Local webpage.

Top photo: From left, L.A. Local MORE Committee Co-Chair Kevin E. West; L.A. Local MORE Committee member Laura Linda Bradley; and directors Mary Lou Belli, Eric Dean Seaton and Jes Macallan take part in a panel discussion on episodic directors.