I'll be in my Trailer
by John Badham and Craig Modderno
During my time as a film student at Chapman University, I was fortunate enough to take Directing 1 under John Badham’s instruction. Had all my teachers been one-tenth as knowledgeable, patient, and kind as Professor Badham, I wouldn’t have changed my major.
Professor Badham was the only one of my teachers in three years who didn’t take the “actors are cattle; treat them like garbage” mentality and pass it along to his impressionable students.
Actors are people, and very sensitive people at that! Despite the title that might make potential readers think Director Badham uses his book to make fun of his actors, the entire book is devoted to teaching his readers (and students) how to treat these very sensitive people. As a director, obviously, you want your actors to do certain things. Shouting and ordering them about won’t accomplish that, and it won’t make your actors trust you or want to work with you again. Professor/Director Badham explains this thoroughly, using examples from his decades of experience, and through dozens of interviews with actors who have worked with him over the years.
For film students, this is a must-read. Teachers like John Badham are one in a million, and if you aren’t lucky enough to take one of his classes, at least you can pick up one of his books and learn from him that way. For actors, this is also a must-read. No doubt you are being treated poorly by all the people who didn’t take a John Badham class, and you’re beginning to think no one in the world will ever be kind to you. Read this book, and you’ll know one person will.
Be sure and check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of John Badham's memoir John Badham on Directing here!
Professor Badham was the only one of my teachers in three years who didn’t take the “actors are cattle; treat them like garbage” mentality and pass it along to his impressionable students.
Actors are people, and very sensitive people at that! Despite the title that might make potential readers think Director Badham uses his book to make fun of his actors, the entire book is devoted to teaching his readers (and students) how to treat these very sensitive people. As a director, obviously, you want your actors to do certain things. Shouting and ordering them about won’t accomplish that, and it won’t make your actors trust you or want to work with you again. Professor/Director Badham explains this thoroughly, using examples from his decades of experience, and through dozens of interviews with actors who have worked with him over the years.
For film students, this is a must-read. Teachers like John Badham are one in a million, and if you aren’t lucky enough to take one of his classes, at least you can pick up one of his books and learn from him that way. For actors, this is also a must-read. No doubt you are being treated poorly by all the people who didn’t take a John Badham class, and you’re beginning to think no one in the world will ever be kind to you. Read this book, and you’ll know one person will.
Be sure and check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of John Badham's memoir John Badham on Directing here!