The Untold Basics of Directing 
When Clint Eastwood was preparing to directed his first feature, "Play Misty for Me", he asked his "Dirty Harry" director, Don Siegle for advice. 
Clint thought Don would tell him about lenses or working with actors. But Don said, "The most important thing is to get lots of sleep."
I always tell that to my cast and crew and most abide. But there are always a couple that think making a movie is the time to party and after 4 days drag themselves to the set looking like zombies 
and are just as productive.
More basics that go unheeded are: Get enough new underwear to finish off the production with. You won't have time to do your laundry. Carry food and drink in your attache case because you never know when you'll get hungry or if the lunches will arrive on time. Carry a wad of cash in your pocket (even your own) to buy off and bribe whoever you need to in order to get the job done. 
After the above is taken care of, you can then get to the more creative side of directing. But not before. Best Clint Eastwood site.
Comments (6)
Excellent tips...
peace
Funny how movie directing tips correlate directly with how to be a pirate tips!
HA!
Sail on.... sail on!!!
I enjoy reading your blog about movies. It's always worthwhile. About tips to get enough sleep, Clint talked about that in a book called Directors Close Up. He made it very important to get enough sleep. I remember asking Brad Siberling who directed Casper and City of Angel years ago in person about how much average hours of sleep he have every night, he said he does not sleep much, probably about two to three hours a day, sometimes he wondered if he ever slept. From that point, he always feel so stressed out. Enough sleep would alleviate tension one have inside them; directing is a tension-filled job. One less is very important.
Great advice; and always remember Rule #1: Ask for Advice!
Amen to sleep! I cant function without it, I like this guy!
Dear Paul,
Clint is one of the greats, and so, for that matter, was his mentor Don Siegel, who did appear to speak with us during one session in film school (He showed "Charley Varrick"). Clint was supposed to show up to speak following a showing of "Magnum Force" but never showed, disappointing many students (and hangers on who got word he might show up)
I think getting enough sleep in any profession is always a good thing. Your "basics" about lunch and clean underwear are not only humorous, but highly practical. Your insights and advice are very good.
Michael F. Nyiri, poet, philosopher, fool
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