Stop Overdirecting: Jennifer Lawrence’s Tip for Better Movie Scenes

Sometimes, Jennifer Lawrence says, male directors annoy her on set.

"Not all men!" she said in a recent Vulture interview with director Lynne Ramsey about their new film Die My Love.

But there's a pattern she's noticed.

"I have found a commonality in female directors, which is that they do not do this thing, which is over-direct," she said. "There have been some times when I've worked with male directors where there's this need to constantly feel like they're directing the movie. And it's not even really getting anything done. It's just annoying. When I think auteur, my mind kind of goes to controlling and … what's that word? Neurotic!"

Lawrence described Ramsey's approach as the opposite.

"She really built this world and made sure that we were all on the same page, through music and conversations and the atmosphere and the set. And then she would just kind of slowly walk back. And sometimes, from the discomfort of that, from the lack of her visibility, something interesting would come from it. And then she would come out and be like, 'That's great, great, yeah, do it again.' Or we would accidentally laugh and be like, 'Oh, sorry.' And she'd be like, 'No, it was great. I liked that you laughed. Do it again.'"

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The Problem with Constant Direction

When you're over-directing, you're micromanaging. And it's not good. This is usually the result of insecurity and a lack of trust in your team.

When you're constantly giving notes and adjusting performances, the anxiety of it all is likely to seep into the rest of the crew.

Morgan Freeman said it well. Instead of dictating performances, directors should focus on "directing the movement," or orchestrating the scene's flow and technical aspects while trusting actors to bring their characters to life. He points to Clint Eastwood as someone who gives actors space and trusts their instincts.

Our piece on directing actors reminds everyone that making movies is stressful, but as the director, you're responsible for creating a healthy, safe working environment. That doesn't mean you have to be happy and friendly all the time. Behave professionally and give actors the security to be vulnerable.

This is what David Fincher means when he talks about getting "out of the way of the material." Let the story and actors' performances stand on their own. Be intentional about your choices and trust that audiences will understand what everything communicates together.

We've talked about conflicts with actors, too. Remember, you hired your actors to do a job, so let them do it.

What Ramsey Did Instead

Ramsey knew she wanted her actors to feel free in Die My Love.

She'd let takes run long, giving Lawrence and the cast room to explore. There's a scene where Grace (played by Lawrence) tips over a laundry basket with her toe. Ramsey didn't ask for it. "But there’s a kind of rage in that," she said.

Grace goes to the window and licks the glass. Ramsey didn't ask for that either.

"I think it was just giving them the space to let these little moments come through," Ramsey said.

This is the balance Reed Morano talks about when discussing her transition to directing. Put actors in a place where they feel safe enough to take risks. She told us, "As long as you are a good communicator and a sensitive person and you treat people well, there's a good chance that you can direct because it's all about putting the actors in a place where they feel safe enough to go that far for you."

How to Stop Overdirecting

Do your prep. Build the world through music, conversations, and atmosphere. Get everyone on the same page before you roll. Then you don't need to manage everything in the moment.

Learn when to step back. As Ramsey shows us, sometimes you just need to give space.

Trust your casting. If you hired the right people, let them do what they do.

Speak less, observe more. You'll catch organic moments you couldn't have planned, or maybe find a thread that works even better.

Understand what actors actually need. Learn their language. Understand concepts like objectives and actions. Give them what they need to build a character.

Make it safe to fail. Create an environment where vulnerability feels protected. That's psychological safety.

Die My Love opens Nov. 7.