Action and suspense films have almost always been made by ‘seat of the pants’filmmakers. Crafting their films on gut instinct and intuition their innate talent often leads them to exciting results. Badham examines and explains the elements of action and suspense that are needed to make a great film. Badham also dissects the elements of any good scene from any genre of film and gives valuable tools that the reader can apply in directing and acting for maximum impact.This edition features a brand new section: The Director’s Survival Guide to Episodic Television and explores the political danger zones faced in the ever expanding world of Streaming, Cable and Network television. Badham has created a much needed First Aid Kit for all directors and the newly expanded list of “14 Must Ask Questions Before Rehearsal”– an absolute essential in any filmmakers toolbox.Intended for actors, directors, cinematographers, production designers or other creatives, Badham gives you the tools to deconstruct and understand your scenes.Continuing the work begun in Badham’s best-selling book “I’ll Be In My Trailer” he shares more insights from talented directors on how they work with the difficult actor, rehearsal techniques and getting the best performance from any actor whether novice or pro.

Action and suspense films have almost always been made by ‘seat of the pants’filmmakers. Crafting their films on gut instinct and intuition their innate talent often leads them to exciting results. Badham examines and explains the elements of action and suspense that are needed to make a great film. Badham also dissects the elements of any good scene from any genre of film and gives valuable tools that the reader can apply in directing and acting for maximum impact.This edition features a brand new section: The Director’s Survival Guide to Episodic Television and explores the political danger zones faced in the ever expanding world of Streaming, Cable and Network television. Badham has created a much needed First Aid Kit for all directors and the newly expanded list of “14 Must Ask Questions Before Rehearsal”– an absolute essential in any filmmakers toolbox.Intended for actors, directors, cinematographers, production designers or other creatives, Badham gives you the tools to deconstruct and understand your scenes.Continuing the work begun in Badham’s best-selling book “I’ll Be In My Trailer” he shares more insights from talented directors on how they work with the difficult actor, rehearsal techniques and getting the best performance from any actor whether novice or pro.

TABLE OF CONTENTSINTRODUCTION by John BadhamPart I: A Lack of Trust: The Five MistakesIntroduction: A Nasty Bit of LaundryChapter 1: Mistake #1: Directed by AnonymousGet ’Em While You’ve Got ’Em, Before You Get ’EmHomework…Do ItThey’re On BoardOn the DayFailure Is OKSummaryChapter 2: Mistake #2: Know-It-Alls RuleSummaryChapter 3: Mistake #3: FilibusterersSummaryChapter 4: Mistake #4: Too Many NotesStep #1: Cut and ValidateHow Not to Watch a TakeStep #2: Privacy PleaseTechnology SidebarStep #3: Keep Them in the LoopThe Bull in the ArenaStep #4: Make It FunStep #5: One at a TimeDon’t Let Things SlideMake It Their ProblemSummaryChapter 5: Mistake #5: Enamel GrindersTales from the TrenchesSummaryChapter 6: Working With Your ActorsA Cyber -ColloquiumPart II: Action and Suspense: The Three StrategiesChapter 7: Strategy #1: Not Just a Pretty ChaseWhat Is Action?African ActionDirecting Actors in ActionSummaryChapter 8: Strategy #2: Who, Where, and WhenPoint of ViewID and LocateOrientationJeopardyCountdownSummaryChapter 9: Strategy #3: Quick Techniques and Safety1. Pointless Masters2. Few Actions3. Overlap Actions4. Scissor Time5. Not That Fast6. Change-Up7. No Immutable Rules8. Booby TrapsSummaryPart III: Preparing the Scene: The Director’s ChecklistBefore Rehearsal?The ChecklistChapter 10: The Scene Related to the Film1. What happened before this scene?2. What does it add?3. What’s different at the end?SummaryChapter 11: Architecture of the Scene4. Whose point of view?5. Where are the beats?Tool #1: PhysicalizingTool #2: Characters Think AheadTool #3: Use the Camera to Show a Character’s Thought Process6. Where is the tipping point?SummaryChapter 12: Characters Enter the Scene7. What do they want?Rule #1: We Always Have a GoalRule #2: No Goal, No ActingRule #3: Every Character Has His or Her Own GoalRule #4: One Beat, One Goal8. What do they expect?9. What’s at stake for each character?SummaryChapter 13: Perks: Interacting Characters10. What’s stopping them?11. How do they get what they want?Only Verbs… Active Verbs!12. How does a character regard the other?SummaryIV: A Director’s Survival Guide to Episodic TelevisionChapter 14: Television - Not a Parallel UniverseA Political MinefieldChapter 15: Research and PreparationSelf PreservationCoverageFirst Day of PrepI’ll Never Forget What’s Their NameSummaryChapter 16: Concept & Tone MeetingsYour New Best FriendsSchedule AnginaScouting and LoyaltySummaryChapter 17: CastingIf, When and Where?SummaryChapter 18: What’s the StoryCheckList Re-duxStaging & Shot PlanningSummaryChapter 19: On The DayWelcome StressRehearsalRules to Make Your DaySummary