Rehearsals are vitally important as they provide you with your only opportunity of writing down all the information you need. You will never be able to do the job properly if you ignore the rehearsals and only pay attention during the actual take.
There is so much you need to notice in any shot that you can only build up a complete picture bit by bit. Rehearsals afford you the opportunity to do this. For example, during the first rehearsal of a scene, you may not be able to write down the action, but you can at least make a note of the actor’s costume. You can also take a Polaroid or other instant picture or draw a diagram of the basic set and the approximate camera position. At the next rehearsal you can note down a bit more – perhaps the overall action, and slowly you will find that you have built up more and more information until you can concentrate entirely on the specific actions and props. Things will be bound to change from one rehearsal to another, but it is far simpler to alter your notes accordingly as and when the changes happen than it is to start writing from scratch during a take.
If an actor is good with props and naturally does the same action at the same time and with the same bit of dialogue you can stop worrying about him, except to remind him, if requested, of movements when the master shot was taken some time back, or in scenes where the action is complicated.
If an actor is not consistent, watch him or her like a hawk. Don’t worry during the rehearsals, but write down the exact movements during a take, so that you can go over them later for cutaways – extra shots of him to be inserted in the main action, if needed. Do not let anyone else tell the actor what he did and when. He will only get confused between your advice and everyone else’s. You get in first. It’s your job.
Watch out for the ‘difficult’ actor. He tends to be terribly nervous and unsure of his actions. He will constantly come up to you to ask anxiously what he did with his left hand in the last take, and will probably worry incessantly about everything. Always have an answer ready. Maybe you did not notice what he did with his left hand. Perhaps it was not even in shot – but never let him know that you have not recorded his every move, in or out of vision. He needs reassurance and will stop worrying only when he feels he can rely on you. You need to keep a careful eye on him for another reason as well; he will argue to the end if he thinks you are wrong about something.
Some actors are good with props …
…and some have to be watched carefully
Actors and Their Props