Ian Somerhalder Talks About His Directorial Debut on The Vampire Diaries 

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Anyone who’s watched Ian Somerhalder over the years know his fierce command of acting is surpassed only by his appetite for activism and passion to change the world.

But at the crossroads of those paths is an invaluable skill few actors possess in the intricate ballet of visual storytelling: directing.

The man who so many have come to know as Damon Salvatore in ‘The Vampire Diaries’ is priming himself to do just that, switching from mere participant to visionary mastermind in his directorial debut this coming Thursday, March 12 — and on the show that’s catapulted his career to new heights.

And needless to say, he’s really, really excited about the opportunity, though he hopes it won’t be his last tryst with the director’s chair.

We asked him to give it to us straight on what he thought about the experience, and his answer was as simple as it gets:

“I had more fun doing this than anything I’ve ever done professionally.”

Ian spared no praise for the village of a team it takes to put on a show like this, lavishing everyone from craft services to the editing team with the kind of appreciation that seems lost on many in his position in the industry.

Ian said of the production staff, “They volley between being a kindergarten school teacher and a mathematician. Their job is to solve problems and manage personalities all day.”

But the real magic he says, is “understanding how to manage personalities and use them to empower those personalities to work in the most efficient, creative, and happiest way possible.”

Beyond that, however, the chance to helm the ship reaffirmed the importance of a vital consideration he’ll have to carry with him in future directorial endeavors.

“Prep. Prep. Prep. You have to prep. And if you prep… a lot, everything has this ability become art. Everyone knows what they’re doing and all of the sudden the art of it starts to live,” Ian said.

In many ways that pressure was self imposed.

“Come hell or high water I was not gonna go over time or cost a cent more by virtue of them giving me this experience.”

Asked if he had any profound realizations in his first crack at directing, he offered the following anecdote:

“It’s a profound, funny, and yet somewhat sad notion, but we live our lives like the production of a movie. You’re starring in this thing you call life, and there are no dress rehearsals — you’re in it. But I realized this: time is your greatest challenge. Those times that you want to prep in life, well you still have to be able to live fully in those moments. So when you’re living, you’re ‘on the day’ as they say in the movie business. Just make it the best, hopefully least dramatic, it can be.”

Ian hopes this opportunity will be a primer to step into more directorial roles, his ultimate dream, whether they be in the realm of documentaries, television, or theater.

He’ll be live tweeting as the show airs, so be sure to follow him and us to keep track as he lays it on the line in his directorial debut.

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cw directing director Ian Somerhalder television the vampire diaries tv

Ian Somerhalder Talks About His Directorial Debut on The Vampire Diaries