This incredibly slim and useful book sits in my bathroom, where it can give me a gem of wisdom in the few short moments I have to read something not assigned. This one just came up, which I found brilliant.
26. You perform most of the day.
A general, very important note:
As a director, you are there to explain things to people and to tell them what to do (even if that means telling them to do whatever they want). Speak clearly. Speak briefly. Guard against the director’s great vice – rabbiting on, making the same point again and again, getting laughs from your inimitable (and interminable) anecdotes, wasting time.
And guard against the second great vice, the idiot fill in phrases: “You know,” “I mean,” “Sort of…,” “Kind of…,” “Er, er, um,…” These are bad enough in ordinary conversation; coming from someone who may be giving instructions for up to three hours a day, they can be a justification for homicide.
Dear Jacob,
You made my day! I’m delighted you find our book so useful and valuable.
But…the bathroom?
Just kidding. Thanks so much for sharing your enthusiasm for the book.
Kind regards,
Russell Reich (co-author, publisher, http://www.rcrcreative.com)
Well, I have to say that it made it out of the bathroom last night, I couldn’t put it down.
I am going to do a post sometime on 5 small books every writer/director must have, and it will definitely be among them. Thanks for publishing this wonderful book!
Jason