You Can’t Direct What You Haven’t First Discerned

It’s easy to blame the actor when a performance falls flat. They didn’t “get it.” They weren’t convincing. They missed the tone.
But here’s a harder truth: unclear performances often trace back to unclear direction. And unclear direction is usually rooted in one of two things—a foggy vision or a failure to communicate that vision well.

Before you assume they didn’t listen, ask:

“Did I speak from revelation or just repetition?”
“Did I help them see the why—or just tell them the what?”

If an actor is lost in the scene, chances are you never led them in.

The Director Is the First Interpreter of the Script

Actors are not mind readers. They’re heart excavators. But they can’t dig where you haven’t marked the ground.

You might see the arc. You might feel the tension. But if you haven’t translated that into a language the actor understands—**not just conceptually but emotionally, spiritually, physically—**then you’re setting them up to guess.

And guessing is the enemy of embodiment.

Instead of saying:

“This moment needs to feel heavier.”

Try:

“This is the moment they realize they’ve already lost, but they’re still choosing to fight.”

That’s not just direction. That’s direction anchored in stakes, story, and soul.

The Best Direction Happens Before the Camera Rolls

If you’re fixing performance problems during take six, you’re probably late. The real work starts in the conversations before the shoot—at the table read, the prep call, the prayer time.

Ask:

• What does this moment cost the character?

• What’s at risk if they fail?

• What’s the unspoken truth under the line?

And maybe most importantly:

“What part of this role needs to be pulled from their real life?”

The actor isn’t there to parrot your idea. They’re there to carry it. And they need your help to lift it.

Leading Like Jesus: Directing Without Control

Jesus didn’t micromanage His disciples. He taught in stories. He led with presence. He corrected in love. He drew people into mystery and then explained it in private.

That’s not just good theology—it’s good direction.

Actors don’t need control. They need clarity. They need invitation. They need space.
And as a director, you’re not there to puppeteer their performance.

You’re there to cultivate it.

Final Thought: If They Don’t See It—Maybe You Haven’t Seen Them

At the end of the day, filmmaking is a collaboration.
If an actor’s struggling to connect, consider:

• Have I taken time to understand how they process?

• Have I created an atmosphere where they feel safe enough to risk?

• Am I directing from a place of presence—or pressure?

Because sometimes, the breakthrough isn’t in a better note.
It’s in a better posture.