Production Blog: Directing While Acting

 Even though I was acting in the commercial, I also helped direct parts of the filming process. It was important to me that the scenes looked right on camera, so I gave feedback whenever something seemed off. Sometimes I noticed props in the wrong place and suggested moving them so they would show up better. I also paid attention to how the decorations looked in the background and if they matched the mood of the scene. While wearing the ghost costume, I had limited visibility, but I could still tell when the timing of a scene was off. I spoke up when I felt a line or an action did not come across the way it should. In some moments, I even suggested reshooting so the reactions would feel more natural. It was stressful to balance acting and directing at the same time. The costume made it harder because I could not see clearly, yet I still had to keep track of the scene. I learned to focus on both what I was doing as an actor and how the overall shot looked. Sometimes I would wait until after a take to give advice so I didn’t break character. I realized that small notes, like how someone walked into the frame or when they picked something up, made a big difference. Even though I was not the official director, I still felt responsible for making sure the commercial turned out well. I felt proud that I could contribute ideas beyond just my role as the ghost. Giving direction also showed me how much teamwork goes into creating a final product. It reminded me that acting is not just about the performance but about how the performance fits into the bigger picture. By the end of filming, I felt like my advice helped the scenes flow better. Balancing both roles was challenging, but it gave me a stronger understanding of the whole process. Looking back, directing while acting taught me how important it is to stay flexible and to keep the story in mind at all times.