re: Casting Yourself In Things You Direct?

If the final product is well-received, then obviously it worked fine. If it is not well-received, then the actor/director is going to receive double the criticism. I've seen both cases.

If the final product is good, then people aren't going to think it's "selfish or indulgent or completely asshole-ish". They're going to praise the piece of art that they like.

You should focus on doing what you love and what you want and what makes you happy. If you sit around wondering what others are going to think of you, then what's the point of art? Are you going to censor what you want to express just to please others?

If there's not a law against it, people can do whatever the hell they want, and they should, especially when we're talking about creative freedom.

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Updated On: 11/5/06 at 02:11 AM

bumpz!

If you can do it well and not drop dead of exhaustion, why the hell not?

But most sane people would stay WELL away from this avenue. Particularly if you're doing theatre. Clint Eastwood and Woody Allen can direct themselves, but they have a solid crew around them with a mini-team of secondary directors. Theatre is a whole different ball-game.

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Barbra Streisand did it all the time. Seems like if a man does it- it's okay but when a woman does it- she's considered a bitch. I'm not a feminist or anything- just relaying how the media has portrayed it. I actually admire anyone who can take on all of these roles. I say go for it and stop over-thinking what others will think. It's your project- you can do what you want!

There's a local theatre by me that has a group of actors and directors that are constantly casting and directing each other in musicals and plays. The two leads are a husband and wife team and they almost always play the leads and direct the productions, but lucky for them they're fairly talented so it works I guess. I just think a line should be drawn and if you're going to direct and appear in your own productions you need to pick the role that best suites you. Not the lead just because you want to play the lead. Obviously this does not apply to one man shows, but if you're brilliant it can work.

Is that why you are always the lead luponatic?

Bump.

I once saw a show where the director wasn't only the director and lead. He was also the lightning designer, set designer, choreographer, sound designer and costume designer...

As you can imagine, it was a horrible production.

Don't want to do to much. Directing youself is incredibly hard.

I have done it once, and only because I was already cast in the show when the director got a new job in a new city, so the artistic director of the theatre told me to do it. It was the second time I played the role of Bat Boy, so I already knew the role...but I also had to do some choreography, lights, and a few other things...and my assistant director just didn't show up during tech week. If I didn't have a shaved head at the time, I would have pulled all of my hair out. I never want to direct again if I'm in the show. It turned out to be a good production, but at the same time, there is a lot I would have done differently if I could have seen everything.

You are much better off casting hunky auto-mechanic Johnny Savage as the lead and then when he calls on the day of the show y'all saying he can't come because his dad is making him work, you can:

a) tell him "I hate you and I hate your a#@ face!"

b) cast yourself in the lead and look like a hero

It worked for my friend Corky.

I've directed and acted in the same production before. I think if you have experience in both fields, it is very doable. I actually think that production turned out better for it, since I was on the same level as my cast, and it was a very ensemble-driven show. We all needed to be on the same plane, and I think we got it. As long as you can check yourself and not holding yourself above your cast, I think it's a very fine idea.

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Gene Kelly starred in, directed and choreographed "Singin' In The Rain" and "American In Paris," among others. While some criticize his apparently "self-indulgent" dance sequences, most agree that his work was pretty darn amazing.
If you can juggle it all and validate it with a decent product, I say more power to ya!