There are endless ways to direct a film. Some great directors can imagine every single shot before they even find suitable locations. Others like to improvise on set. There are those who understand camera language and those who let the DP figure it out while they give their full attention to the actors. What all good directors have in common, though, is their ability to create an atmosphere in which real, authentic, and emotional moments can unfold. Method directing is a specific technique to achieve exactly that. Never heard of it? No worries. In this article, we go through different tools and examples of how they actually work. As you might have guessed, the term “method directing” comes from the concept of “method acting.” So, let’s start by defining the latter. Although they do not use the same approach, they indeed have a lot in common. What is method acting? Method acting is a technique based on the so-called “System” developed by Soviet actor and director Konstantin Stanislavski. He believed that actors needed to go beyond imitation and try to experience the same things their characters were experiencing. Often, it meant that actors would draw on their own emotions and real-life experience to deliver a more authentic performance. Different schools further developed the Method and its variations. For instance, you will often stumble upon the name of another theatre practitioner, Lee Strasberg (who was even called “the father of method acting”), and his techniques, which are based on psychological aspects. We...
Published By: CineD - Today