Zach Braff said he had to give himself pep talks while directing morgan freeman and Harrison Ford, explaining why he needed another take on scenes for projects including Going in Style and A Good Person.
What Happens When Morgan Freeman Prefers to Work Only in the Mornings?
Braff described the 88-year-old as someone who prefers to work in the mornings and who typically wants to do one take of each camera setup. He characterized Freeman as “gruff as hell” on set and said Freeman questioned the need for a second take every time, especially when the actor was getting tired later in the day. Braff said he felt “intimidated” by Freeman and had to summon the courage to tell him why another take was necessary — not to teach acting, but to adjust the look or emotional register so the scene fit the story as a whole.
How Did Braff Handle Directing Veterans — and What Did He Learn?
Braff framed his role less as an acting instructor and more as a conductor who helps actors keep track of where each scene sits in the larger story. He recounted giving himself pep talks to overcome intimidation, reminding himself that insisting on another take mattered for the finished film. Braff also noted that directing such established performers made him feel capable of directing anyone after the experience.
- Challenge: Veteran preferences — mornings only and one-take setups.
- Director response: Private pep talks and clear explanations about technical or emotional adjustments.
- On-set dynamic: Questions from actors about second takes, fatigue late in the day.
- Role clarity: Director as conductor of the orchestra rather than a teacher of acting.
- Outcome: Increased confidence in handling other actors after working with veterans like Harrison Ford and morgan freeman.
These reflections come from Braff’s discussion of his experiences directing Freeman in Going in Style and A Good Person and directing Harrison Ford in the TV series Shrinking. He concluded that once he found the courage to ask for what the scene required from such established performers, he felt equipped to do it with anybody.
