Evan Yianoulis

Evan Yianoulis Head of the Yale Acting Department.
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Evan Yianoulis: I think there are definitely things that classes can help you with.The main thing is to keep directing.You need to keep developing your eye.You need to be able to see things, to diagnose what's wrong, and what's right.

There are two major components to directing: The first is knowing what you want, and the second is being able to get what you want.You have to learn how to talk to actors, and how to work with designers.
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Evan Yianoulis: The mistakes made by inexperienced directors are the same as those commonly made by experienced directors.As you proceed in your career, you are better able to have the courage of your own conviction, while allowing the creative input of other people.The more confident you are, the more prepared you are, the more you let in other people and listen to their input.That takes time to learn.

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Evan Yianoulis: Boldness, passion, and a real attention to the material.

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Evan Yianoulis: I think they should find material that they're passionate about, that speaks to them, and try to get theatres interested in it.If no one will produce it, they should get it going themselves, get workshops, and do staged readings.

A lot of young directors ask questions about networking...someone knows how to do that, but I don't.I think if you approach it like that, it gets you thinking about what work "they" want you to do.The only hope you have is to do something meaningful for you.That will bring out your best work, and it gives you opportunities to have people see your best work.