When it comes to filming, each reality can be approached from a different strategy. And each film can approach reality in a more or less literal way. The filmmaker’s preparation for the shooting, including planning, staging or possible interviews, may be exhaustive or flexible, calculated or leaving an almost unavoidable margin for improvisation. Thinking about the shooting from the director’s point of view is not simply an individual exercise, but always involves a continuous conversation with the team, which will turn the film into a collective exercise. In this chapter, directors such as Alejandro Alonso, Nicolas Philibert, and Lucija Stojevic share their approaches to directing. They discuss strategies for capturing action, dialogues, and unexpected moments, as well as the importance of their team. The conversation explores how filmmakers balance spontaneity with planning and staging, using a script as a creative tool. How do they rightfully portray characters through the camera, and how much agency do they give to the people appearing in their films?
