Decoding the director type
I’m convinced that there are three basic personality types that most directors in our film industry fall under.
I’m convinced that there are three basic personality types that most directors in our film industry fall under.
Type 1:
The professional and focused ones, who are committed to their script and work with actors that fit their characters. (Imtiaz Ali/ Anurag Kashyap variety).
Type 2:
The uncle sort, senior or married, who share a platonic bond with their actresses (Yash Uncle type).
Type 3:
The sleazy and horny ones, who operate with one laser-focused mission: to bed women (cannot be named!)
While I enjoyed the opportunity to work with a true Type 2 director in the recent past, I got my bittersweet symphony of the other two this week.
Type 1
This week has been the most exciting one for me in the past year! It kicked off with the news that I’m selected for an ad with one of the three Khans. I’m finally shooting for the festival film for which I’ve been gearing up, with an excellent new director in a role opposite a brilliant National Award winning actor. Even though it isn’t paying much, the experience has been the richest. The actor in question has been working on his body for two months for this role. Since my role is small, I did not give it as much physical preparation, but it’s the most thought I’ve given to any part.
Type 3
Two years ago, I met a Type 3 producer, who had subtly criticised me, making me feel like I lacked the drive to make it. What I didn’t realise at the time was that he was trying to ‘neg’ me. Negging is a strategy to playfully insult a good-looking girl to make her want to win you over. The more beautiful the woman, the more effective this tactic is.
This week I was called for a meeting with a certain slapstick comedy director. After casually chatting over the phone, he invited me for a causal meeting.
It was my mistake to go over, but I knew I could handle it. He tried all his tactics to play me. He asked me if I had a boyfriend and whether I was confident wearing a bikini; he alternated between attraction and disinterest signals in a push-pull way telling me that I had a gorgeous face and all I needed was the right launch to become a star, then hammered me down by criticising my body and my attitude.
My doubts about his intentions finally became clear to me when he asked me to stand and show him my legs, saying, “lift your skirt a little.” I gave him a clear indication that I knew his intentions, wished him luck and left.
I know that the industry and life will make me come across all kinds, but I will make sure I surround myself with the right ones and work with people who don’t puncture my aura.