Backstage.com -
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Published on: 8/30/2001
Last Visited: 9/1/2001
For example , when Terry Zwigoff wanted to know more about acting before shooting Ghost World , Francis Ford Coppola recommended San Francisco teacher Jean Shelton ; Coppola has often sat in on Shelton's classes in the past.
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I tend to be easier on them than on the actors , said Shelton , who's known as a no-nonsense teacher.I think they're more fearful..She noted two directors' quirks that can be problematic : They tend to be very theoretical , and they work the actors to death as they try to make up their minds about what they want , without having a true overview of the scene.
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A lot of times they cast for personality or type , but they don't know enough about acting to know if a person's directable , said Shelton.And she teaches them to have respect for the actor , which means not just being nice and going out for drinks , but being able to speak in craftsman's terms.And how to not overwork actors so they get stale and dry and don't have any fresh impulses..She notes that sometimes directors seem to think an actor is a machine : Try this , try that , try the other..
Rejecting Results
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Jean Shelton Actors Lab in San Francisco : ( 415 ) 433-1226 ; L.A. lab : ( 310 ) 312-5325
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