Actors, Overthinking, and 'Mirror Notes' - Seeking Specific Direction

Hey everyone,

Nadine here, working as a script supervisor on a drama feature right now. I've been seeing a common issue on set where an actor gets a bit trapped in their own head, over-intellectualizing a scene and losing some of the natural flow. We're all trying to avoid vague direction like 'make it better' or 'I need more emotion,' which I know just frustrates them.

I'm looking for practical, actionable 'mirror notes' or physical tasks you've successfully given actors in these situations. Things they can physically do or focus on that help them break out of their own thought process and into the moment. For instance, I've tried suggesting they focus on a prop, but that doesn't always hit.

What are your go-to techniques to help an actor who's stuck in their head during a take?