Written by London swaminathan

Date : 10 September  2015

Post No. 2145

Time uploaded in London: –  19-57

Following are the anecdotes about film directors:

Test for a Good Actor

John Barrymore once asked the Great Russian director, Constantin Stanislavski, how he selected artists

“I chose them by means of this,” said Stanislavsky, picking up a pin. “Now, you go into the next room.”

Barrymore went out and in a moment Stanislavsky said, “You may come in now. Please look for the pin.”

The Russian watched as Barrymore picked up the glasses fro the table, looked under them and lifted each plate. He felt along the surface of the table cloth, lifted the corner, and there was the pin.

Stanislavsky clapped his hands: “Very good – you are engaged! I can tell a real actor,” he explained, “by the way he looks for a pin. If he prances around the room, striking attitudes, pretending to think very hard, looking in ridiculous places — exaggerating – then he is not good.”

How to say you are not fit for acting?

One day at rehearsal Sir Herbert Tree asked a youthful actor to “step back a little.” The player did so. Tree eyed him critically – and went on rehearsing. After a time he repeated his request: “A little further back”. The youth obeyed. Surveying him, Tree went on with his work. Shortly after wards he again asked the youth step still further back.

“If I do,” expostulated the youth, “I shall be right off the stage.”

“Yes,” said Tree, “that is right.”

10,000 followers for a film director!

This story concerns the Hollywood director, Joseph von Sternberg, who came to sword’s points with Sam jaffe when the actor was appearing in “The Scarlet Empress” under Von Strenberg’s direction.

Mr.Jaffe deemed certain arbitrary instructions to be improper, and disputed the point.

“Mr.Jaffe,” screamed Von Sternberg, “I am Von Sternberg, I have 10,000 followers.”

“You are very fortunate,” said Jaffe coldly, “Jesus Christ had only 12.”

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