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- Making your talent comfortable on set

should be your number one priority.

Without that comfort, their job

and your job will be a lot harder.

Here's some ways to ensure it.

One way you can make people comfortable

is by conducting your interviews ahead of time

by phone or email to give them an idea

of what you'll be talking about.

Knowing what to expect can only

make them feel better about the process.

Put time in your schedule so you can have them

come early on set to get comfortable

with their environment and all their goings on around it.

And always, always schedule to allow for extra time.

You don't want your talent being rushed.

You want your talent to be as physically

comfortable as possible during the production.

This will allow them to deliver

their performance more naturally.

You want to ask them what their setting preference is.

Do they like sitting?

Do they like standing?

Do they need to lean on something

or have a cup of coffee to hold onto

while they deliver their lines?

Clear their immediate viewpoint

of any non-essential crew.

Your non-actor talent is not used

to performing in front of other people,

so the less people they have to deal with, the better.

And don't forget the practicalities.

Make sure they have something to drink,

maybe something to munch on,

and that the environment is nice and temperate.

Before you're underway, make sure you have time

to rehearse your talent and any camera moves

until your talent is confident in what they're doing.

You want to keep your blocking simple

and easy to understand.

Have them go from point A to point B,

not point A to point B to point C

and back to point A again.

And minimize any props they have to handle.

The less they have to remember, the better.

It can be a lot of effort to go out of your way

to make your talent comfortable,

but it will be well worth it.

It will likely reduce the time it takes

for you to get your shots

and will definitely reflect in the quality of the piece.