Have you considered what it takes to make or break it in acting? Well, the methods may be unconventional and are often considered to be working very hard at it or luck. Stating the apparent – go to the experts! The most prolific creators understand the artistry behind or in front of the lens, the human emotion and expression that moves the viewer. In the IFS “Best Documentary Winner”, Process, experts explore and share what makes a show so compelling. This is really a documentary demonstrating the techniques of highly acclaimed acting director, directing coach, and writer Larry Moss, who has coached Academy® Award, Golden Globe and Tony Winners, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Hilary Swank, Chris Rock, Helen Hunt , Jim Carrey and rising star Hailee Steinfeld amongst many others.
This film is directed by Mitzi Kapture who is admired by fans around the globe for his lead role in addition to Sgt. Lance enters Silk Stalker. At Silk Stalkings is where Mitzi Kapture found her creative direction by getting behind the camera and directing several episodes.
Courtesy of the Silk Stalker
Yes, the 90’s Baywatch fans, she played Mitch Buchanan’s (David Hasselhoff) Season 9 rival, Alexis Ryker.
The interesting concept behind Mitzi Kapture’s work on each side of the camera is what eventually makes this documentary reveal more than what is on the surface. Through Kapture’s visual perception behind the lens, the film focuses on Moss as he works alongside young directors and their actors to take them from their first masterpiece to their final, polished performance. Through observation Mitzi came up with methods that Process brilliantly delivered.
To dive deeper into this documentary, SOCIAL connected with Mitzi Kapture about the magic behind it Process.
SOCIAL: Mitzi, we are very happy to welcome you and congratulations on receiving the “Best Documentary Winner” at the IFS Film Festival! The concept of the documentary and what it can show is astonishing. What inspired this documentary?
Kaptur Mitzi: Thank you very much for having me!
The idea started during shooting Silk Stalkerwatching the relationships on set between directors and actors and everybody else on set.
I’m having lunch with Stephen J. Cannell (creator and author of more than 40 shows and novels), an excellent man far ahead of his time. He made every effort to treat me as an equal and championed my work as a director and was open to ideas and input on my character. He made sure that my co-star Rob Estes and that I were on equal billing and pay.
Over lunch with him one day, I came up with the concept idea of a documentary about showing the actor’s development process, you know, those relationships and sometimes the unstated bonds that develop and the magic that comes out of it. Actual work done to get good performance. It wasn’t a ‘pitch’, but he loved it and was encouraging and positive about the valuable contribution it could offer. It started smoldering and growing in my mind from our lunch that day.
As an actor, I’m fascinated by the magical moments that piece together a story’s puzzle. I watch daily every day. Watching the camera department and what lenses they use, lighting, etc. One of the Executive Producers, David Peckinpah, who wrote some of the episodes, has all the time been open to my sound ideas and storylines. I started to develop an emotional perspective for storytelling, in addition to a directing eye.
SOCIAL: Larry Moss lists the components from Process, let’s say we took the scene, the cinematography, the costumes, and all that’s left is the actor’s naked appearance. What could make the show so immersive as to evoke the feeling that you know what is going on?
Kaptur Mitzi: I believe you feel a deep connection as an audience when an actor connects with the material and the characters. Connection with the author’s written word, the actor’s instrument opens up to the playground and world of the author.
Larry once said you know good acting when you turn off the sound and can still understand and feel what’s being said.
One time I called Larry while I was working on a film and that I was struggling with dialogue that I did not think was genuine to what my character was going to say. His advice is to make my actions speak louder than words. Good appearance is based on the most basic human needs and desires. That’s what has to do with people.
SOCIAL: What skills have you picked up from your lead role to working behind the lens?
Kaptur Mitzi: I have great compassion for actors. I understand that actors need to feel that they trust the director and feel supported. To have the ability to appear spontaneously and freely, there needs to be trust. As a director, preparation is key for me, so when we’re on set, and if someone has a good idea then I can freely throw it in, if it works and makes the scene better.
The night before I directed my first show, I wanted to be inspired. “The Piano”, directed by Jane Champion was in theaters so I went to see it. It was so superbly shot.
I actually understand how I feel on set as an actor, that the camera is another character with an emotional perspective.
I combine it with my camera shots. Process absolutely gave me the opportunity to do this too, with 4 cameras and complete spontaneous shooting on everybody’s part. I had to feel and intuitively anticipate where everybody’s instincts were going because there was no practice and no markings on the court. I essentially must edit when I shoot.
SOCIAL: This documentary is valuable to actors, writers, and directors, but I feel it’s much bigger in scope. Anyone considering show business should see this documentary. Is your team working on making this part of the curriculum for film academies and acting schools around the globe?
Kaptur Mitzi: Thank you and yes. The goal is solely to provide the perspective of Masters, Larry Moss and James L Brooks, I mean brilliant people whose actors and projects won Academy Awards and show them their process and listen to them discuss it. They both love actors. They truly love and respect the actor’s process. I plan to make more possible. It’s a look that will hopefully motivate anyone who would never have access to these kinds of individuals in the entertainment industry, get a feel for how to approach their work.
We sell to universities, high schools and libraries directly from our website, www.theprocessstudios.com. We even have an educational distributor, www.Collective Eye.com.
DVD and Bluray for sale on our site www.theprocessstudios.comBarnes and Noble online, Amazon, Samuel French Drama Bookshop online and others.
We’re releasing it as a digital download on Amazon and iTunes this month. I’m looking forward to hearing about educational platforms for digital this week.
I had a young kid who just finished film school say I wish I had seen this before, it could explain how to approach an actor and put it all together.
Barnet Kellman at USC’s School of Film says film students learn a lot about the technical side and all about the camera but do not understand how to break up a scene and approach working with an actor.
SOCIAL: What do you want the audience to take away from this documentary?
Kaptur Mitzi: We hope it will motivate artists, or anyone for that matter, to fall in love with the process, to put in the work and find your passion for whatever it’s you are creating.
I even have a crew that inspires me. For most of the set I felt like the crew was there as the cameras rolled, so much support and joy for the job.
It takes a team, each job is part of the overall picture and contributes to what people end up seeing in the finished film. At our Directors Guild Screening a friend brought a sports coach with him and he said wow this is what I try to do when I coach. I want to encourage people who could never learn with master coaches like Larry Moss or writer/director James L. Brooks, to find passion in what they do.
As Larry Moss says in the film, “Job from Process is joy!”
Hollywood notes Process and praised the Kapture documentary.
“Larry Moss takes his cues from Stella Adler and Sandy Meisner and to a new generation of artists,” said writer and director Gary Ross (The Hunger Games, Sea Biscuits, Pleasantville).
This process is available on DVD and Blu-Ray at www.theprocessstudios.com, select stores include Samuel French Bookstore and New York Drama Bookstore, Barnes and Noble, Amazon. Process will be available for digital download on platforms including iTunes and Amazon in 2019.
The run was released on iTunes on October 5. Read more at theprocessstudios.com.
