Line readings

- Actors usually don't like to be spoonfed their lines.…If you want to insult a seasoned actor,…read their lines to them.…But I wouldn't suggest it.…The best way to give notes to an actor is…to express emotions or concepts…and what's happening to their character.…Each actor has their own way to deliver a line.…That's their job.…Don't pretend to out-act your actors.…You'll often have a specific reading in mind for a line.…

That's natural, especially as a director.…So you need to be both creative…in how you give an actor notes,…as well as open to a better line reading…the way your actors give it to you.…As they get into character, they will often surprise you.…I love it when they bring more to it than I was expecting.…Now, you can suggest that they emphasize certain words…as long as you don't act out the line.…If you've got a line that's saying something like,…"I really want you to jump,"…maybe emphasize the word jump,…so "I really want you to jump!"…Okay, that's pretty good,…but maybe that's not the way I thought.…