It's the best-kept secret in the entertainment industry: how much actors- even award-winning movie stars - distrust directors, and how most directors, in turn, fear actors. This work shows young film and television directors how to overcome the obstacles and meet the challenges of working with actors effectively and successfully. It provides guidance on such key topics as understanding the actor, the director's preparation, casting, rehearsals, and working on the set. An additional chapter features directors' notes, character analysis, and a scene breakdown from a section of the movie classic "On the Waterfront". It features one-on-one interviews with entertainment professionals including: Burt Brinckerhoff, well-known producer and director over 46 legendary television shows; Todd Holland, Emmy-winning director of "Malcolm in the Middle", as well as "The Larry Sanders Show" and "Twin Peaks"; Geena Davis, star of "The Accidental Tourist", "Thelma and Louise", and "A League of Their Own"; and Anthony Franciosa, star of stage, screen, and television.