Directing actors for the screen is about far more than capturing a performance; it’s about both actors and directors understanding and mastering the technical details enabling cast to focus on their character and role.
In this practical, hands-on session, BAFTA-winning director Michael Hines will guide you through the essential on-set skills actors and directors need to understand:
- Understanding and adjusting performance levels for different shot sizes
- Hitting marks accurately for various camera setups
- Maintaining continuity in props, costumes, and movement
- Understanding eyelines and working both on and off camera
- Movement across set from sitting, standing, and entering/exiting for continuity and camera frames across takes
- How to incorporate notes from directors and Script Supervisors seamlessly into your performance
By learning these often-overlooked technicalities, actors can relax into their roles, and directors can better support their cast in delivering authentic, consistent performances.
This workshop is ideal for actors, directors, and filmmakers looking to deepen their understanding of the screen acting process.
About Michael Hines:Michael Hines is a multi-award-winning Scottish television and film director and producer with over 25 years of experience. Best known for directing every episode of the iconic BBC sitcom Still Game and the hit sketch show Chewin’ the Fat, Michael has worked across genres from scripted comedy to drama, commercials, children’s television, and live broadcasts.
His credits include:
- Feature film: Man and Witch (starring Tami Stronach, Christopher Lloyd, Sean Astin, Jennifer Saunders)
- TV: Still Game, Dog Squad, and many more ,
- Awards: BAFTA Scotland Outstanding Achievement Award (2019), RTS, CMF and BAFTAs.
He has directed for BBC, ITV, Channel 5, Amazon, and MTV, and runs his own production company, The Woven Thread.
This workshop is part of the HB Film Festival, tickets for our screening programme can be found here.
