My post was referring more to when someone brings up a point more than once when the dismissal has been clear. When you say “No, I don’t want that,” it gets dropped. I figured out early on when you were brushing things off because the time wasn’t right and when you were clearly rejecting an idea. But some people don’t pick up on that idea and they keep bringing up the same points over and over or crying wolf about so much bullshit that it slows down the process and we get held up while trying to deal with whomever it is that is bringing the point up over and over again.

Of course, different folks will direct the moments differently. Sometimes I do hear you, but choose to act later.

I just directed a short play, and the actor was saying a certain line with too much emphasis. My asst director mentioned it at the first rehearsal…I nodded but said nothing, the producer mentioned it…at the third rehearsal…I nodded and said nothing… to some I might have even been brushing off the comment. Then during the next to last rehearsal when I felt like it was the right time… I asked the actor to change it, he did…bingo! Sometimes I agree with a note, I just dont agree as to when to give it.

Brian I would suggest that some of the comments you make I agree with but perhaps dont act on right away. Now that is not to say there hasnt been disagreement.

Also, when I think a moment or idea that you suggest really works I also attribute it to you during rehearsal often (maybe not everytime but often). I think that helps enable conversation.

A director should want to create a vision they feel some ownership, but they should also want to get the best ideas on stage rather than it always being merely their ideas.

I think the hardest thing sometimes is that we tend to only remember the times the director says “no”.. and forget the times a director says “yes” (that is not a direct comment to you Brian, but a general observation of human behavior within the rehearsal process).

For instance, there was one particular beat during a scene where Dennis says “Wait!”. The way he delivered the line didn’t work for me. Thinking as an audience member, I didn’t get why he was saying wait. As an assistant director, I knew why he was saying that line, but the physical actions weren’t matching up with the intent. I brought it up once, and the director brushed it aside, saying it didn’t matter that much right now. The second time I brought it up (the next rehearsal we ran that scene), I mentioned again that it was bugging me. Again, this was early enough in the process and Dennis hadn’t fully learned his lines, so the director brushed it off again. The third time I brought it up, the director asked me what was bugging me about it, and I explained my reasoning. He shrugged and said it didn’t really bother him. Nevertheless, Dennis figured out what I was saying and after that I felt the delivery was much better.

Notice that I didn’t stop the rehearsal process to demand that my note be discussed, and I didn’t argue. I just let my concern be known, waited for the director’s verdict, and we moved on.

There have been times where the director makes a choice, and the actor argues “My character wouldn’t do that”, the director explains the asks “Why not?”, the actor makes his case, and the director makes his decision: “No, I think you should play it the way we originally planned” or “Maybe we can meet in the middle — you say it like this..”. Instead of abiding by the director’s decision, the actor will continue to press his case. In most cases (98% of the time), this simply annoys the director and wastes everyone’s time. Rarely will the director cave in.

Anyway, you’re absolutely right about if he’s rejected it more than once, he’s considered it more than once. The key here is to determine when it’s worth fighting for and when it’s not, when it’s worth bringing up again, and when it’s not. Sometimes bringing it up the first time isn’t worth fighting for, but the third time, it’s worth it.

And yes, fighting for a choice at the wrong time can cost friendships. Kind of the point of my post. Thanks for the input

You can’t say you’re bringing up a point he hasn’t considered — if he’s rejected it more than once, then he’s considered it more than once.

I committed this same mistake when I was editing and nearly lost a friendship because I got too caught up in my own way of seeing things.