Our pal Jim Martin is excerpting parts of his book, “A Jesuit Off-Broadway,” over at BustedHalo.

Today he’s talking about his experience working with Philip Seymour Hoffman on the set of “The Last Days of Judas Iscariot,” where Jim served as a theological consultant.

“When I asked Phil Hoffman about his directing style on “The Last Days of Judas Iscariot,” he readily agreed with the inherent strength of the parable-or, in his words, the personal anecdote-in its ability to communicate more than a strictly worded directive.

“It’s the way I normally direct,” he said. “The anecdotes and stories spark a discussion with the actors and it starts a give-and-take about the character or the scene. And the more personal the better. If I can be open with my life, then the actors usually feel more comfortable expressing themselves through the work.”

I asked if he ever felt the need to be more specific in his direction. “Sometimes you have to tell someone exactly what you want, but you can’t dictate,” he said. “You have to keep suggesting. Otherwise, the person becomes a sort of empty shell, and they end up performing in a way that’s not at all, well, spiritual.”