For many filmmakers, collaborating with actors is the last frontier—the scariest part and the part they long for—the human part, the place where connection happens. Judith’s new book, Directing Actors: 25th Anniversary Edition, covers the challenges of the actor-director relationship—the pitfalls of “result direction”; breaking down a script; how to prepare for casting sessions; when, how and whether to rehearse—but with updated references, expanded ideas, more detailed chapters on rehearsal and script analysis (using a scene from The Matrix)—and a whole new chapter on directing children. For twenty-five years the industry standard for instilling confidence in filmmakers, Directing Actors perseveres in its mission—to bring directors, actors and writers deeper into the exhilarating task of creating characters the world will not forget. 

Judith Weston has, for 35 years, brought tools and confidence to filmmakers and actors, with books, workshops, and one-on-one consultations. In 2015, after 30 years of teaching in-person workshops and classes to thousands of film and television directors, screenwriters, writer-directors, and actors around the world, Judith closed her studio space and shifted her focus to one-on-one consultations with directors and writer-directors of film and television as they prepare to bring their projects to life. She can be available for Zoom Q&As and workshops with schools, festivals, and organizations.

Judith Weston has been a teacher of directors, actors, and writers since 1985. Her students include: Alejandro G. Iñárritu, The Revenant, Birdman, Biutiful, Amores Perros; Ava DuVernay, When They See Us, Selma, Queen Sugar, 13th, A Wrinkle in Time, Middle of Nowhere; Taika Waititi, Jojo Rabbit, Thor: Ragnarok, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Boy, Flight of the Conchords; Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave, Small Axe, Shame, Hunger; Deniz Gamze Ergüven, Mustang, Handmaid’s Tale, Perry Mason; Alma Har'el, Honey Boy; Andrew Stanton, WALL-E, Finding Dory, Finding Nemo, Better Call Saul, Stranger Things; Pete Docter, Soul, Inside Out, Up; Vicky Jenson, Shrek; Steph Green, Watchmen, The Americans; Fred Toye, The Boys, Westworld; Ritesh Batra, The Lunchbox; Andrés Muschietti, It, The Flash, Mama; Michael Gracey, The Greatest Showman; Terry Zwigoff, Bad Santa, Ghost World; Patricia Cardoso, Real Women Have Curves; Lucy Tcherniak, The end of the F***ing world, Wanderlust; Hanelle Culpepper, Star Trek Picard, The Flash(TV), How to Get Away with Murder; Nzingha Stewart, Little Fires Everywhere; Lawrence Trilling, Goliath, Rectify; Mark Fergus, The Expanse; Andrea Toyias, World of Warcraft; Caitriona Balfe, Outlander; David Chase, The Sopranos