Good preparation sets you free to follow your instincts.
Judith can read your script, and meet with you one-on-one via Zoom, to help you prepare to cast, rehearse and shoot. She brings you back to the emotional center of your project. She gives you tools to clarify and communicate your vision. She asks questions that other people don't ask.
Whether you are the writer-director, or whether you are preparing to direct a project someone else has written, she gives you confidence and authority to make the script your own, and to think on your feet on the set. Judith has consulted on hundreds of projects representing all platforms, all budgets, and all genres, from big studio films to low-budget independent features, television, short films, commercials, animation, and video games.
The focus of the work is the director's interaction with actors. But it also helps prepare you for communicating with your other collaborators—cinematographers, editors, designers, casting directors, agents, and producers. Although Judith is not a script doctor, some writer-directors have found the work useful preparation for re-writes.
Judith's Books
In order to do this work with Judith, you need to have read Directing Actors 25th Anniversary Edition which came out in April 2021— fully revised, expanded and updated from the original. Even if you've already read the original, you’ll get the most from your sessions if you read the new edition. The Audiobook version of the original edition of Directing Actors was partially revised and updated as of September 2019 and narrated by Judith. The Film Director’s Intuition came out in 2003 and might also be useful. But Judith's new 25th Anniversary Edition of Directing Actors is the one she needs you to read in order for you both to be on the same page during your sessions together.
The Program
Feature-length films: We set up a two-hour Zoom session, to explore your ideas and concerns as fully as possible, and break down at least two scenes. This work should happen before the pressures of pre-production. It can even help you when locking in your financing — and with casting. You will get the most from this session if you prepare for it, along the lines of the principles outlined in the new edition of Judith's book — especially Chapter Five (Emotional Event) and Chapter Seven (Script Analysis). There can be follow-up sessions, if needed.
Television episodes: Television directors often receive the script only a few days before shooting. The best plan can be to meet for our two-hour session before you get the script—we can work on an earlier episode, to do the invaluable foundation prep of locating the themes and arc of the series, and the spines of the regular characters. When you receive the script for your episode, we'll be able to make the best use of whatever time you have available, to look at choices for the relationships, scene structure, central emotional events, staging for that episode and, most importantly, what the episode is about.
Short films: A two-hour session should be sufficient.
Cost and Logistics
Fee schedule:
$200/hour for projects budgeted at under $1 million
$220/hour for projects at $1-5 million
$235/hour for projects at $5-20 million
$250/hour for projects over $20 million
Plus a charge for reading the script. $90 for a full-length script. The charge for script reading may be higher if the script is over 90 pages. If it’s a short film, the script-reading charge will be lower, prorated to the length of the script; for instance, the charge for reading a 20-page script is $20.
We'll schedule a 15-minute Zoom call with Judith (no charge) to discuss your needs and schedule the consultation. Five days before your consultation, you can send your script via PDF file. If you wish you can also send visual materials and a link to a short (less than 10 minutes) sample of your previous work.
Consultation sessions are conducted via Zoom. (You'll need Zoom Pro for the two-hour sessions.) Please send the link the morning of your appointment.
Scheduling of appointments is subject to Judith’s availability. After a session, we send you a secure invoice, payable by credit card.
To arrange a session, contact John Hoskins john@judithweston.com.
How To Prepare For Your Consultation
1. Re-read the script—whether you wrote it yourself or someone else wrote it. Try to read it as if for the first time. If you read it out loud, slowly, that should help.
2. Gather your ideas and questions. The Script Analysis Guide (Appendix C) in the new edition of Judith's book is intended to offer guidelines. You'll get more from your session if you prepare.
3. Think about what it is you wish to get from the consultation. I will ask you at the beginning of our meeting what you want to accomplish.
4. Choose up to five scenes (or a central relationship) you want to be sure to focus on.
Rehearsal Techniques for Directors
Judith encourages directors to find a way to have practice rehearsal sessions with actors. She can give you suggestions for setting those.