Well, I guess that it all starts with reading the script, preferably more than once. When I was studying filmmaking, I was taught that you have to see a movie at least three times in order to be ready to analyze it. Well, I think that reading the script at least twice is mandatory to have all the actions fresh in your mind as you work. I would recommend watching the animatic from time to time, too.
It's a simple statement, but it means a lot to me. He is not only the person who determines whether or not your scene is ok, he is the person who determines the style and quality standards of the film, so he is someone to be listened to. When it's time to get his briefing, I try to understand his way of thinking, and not only his instructions for that particular scene...
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