Forget Predictable

by Acting Techniques

*Don’t watch the clip until you’ve read the below side.*  There are a couple of techniques you can use so that you end up with interesting, as opposed to predictable choices when working on a script.  The first method is to go through your script line and line and  think of 5 different ways you can say each line (meaning 5 different subtexts and or motivations).  Its a challenge but I bet you’ll be surprised with what you can come up with.  If you find yourself totally stuck and unable to come up with anything innovative, then think of three ways that are “wrong” and work on those.  Even if you end up throwing them out, they will spark your imagination.

If any of you have ever seen David Lynch’s Mullholland Drive, the character of Betty, played by Naomi Watts, is absolutely spellbinding in her audition scene.  If you haven’t seen the movie, I highly recommend it.  Betty makes a very, very unusual choice that ends up being absolutely unforgettable.  If you know the scene that I’m referring to then you know what I mean, but if you don’t, read through these lines once or twice and see what you come up with, then watch the below scene.

Betty
		You're still here?

				JIMMY
		I came back. I thought that's what you
		wanted.

				BETTY
		Nobody wants you here.

				JIMMY
		Really?

				BETTY
		My parents are right upstairs! They
		think you've left.

				JIMMY
		So ... surprise!

				BETTY
		I can call them... I can call my dad.

				JIMMY
		But you won't.

				BETTY
		You're playing a dangerous game here. if
		you're trying to blackmail me... it's not
		going to work.

				JIMMY
		You know what I want...it's not that
		difficult.

				BETTY
		Get out... Get out before I call my dad.
		He trusts you... you're his best friend.
		This will be the end of everything.

				JIMMY
		What about you? What will your dad think
		about you?

				BETTY
		Stop... just stop! That's what you said
		from the beginning. If I tell what
		happened... they'll arrest you and put
		you in jail, so get out of here before...

				JIMMY
		Before what?

				BETTY
		Before I kill you.

				JIMMY
		Then they'd put you in jail.

    				BETTY
		I hate you... I hate us both!

The scene ends.

In the above scene, aspiring movie actress Betty Elms goes to her first audition. And nails it beyond all belief. Up to this point, Naomi Watts has been playing Betty a little overeagerly, a little overcheerfully, and a little, well, badly. In addition, we’ve seen Betty practice the audition script with her friend Rita and perform it like a particularly bad telenovela. This audition has every potential of being disastrous, if we take the character of Betty and the so-far-exhibited acting ability of Watts at face value.

But when she steps into the audition room and begins the scene, something happens. She takes the scene, as melodramatic and soap opera-ish as it is, and goes somewhere with it that the lines themselves don’t even seem to suggest. She adds layers of complexity to her character and subtext to her brief set of lines. – Jandy Hardesty

 

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A Quote from Jack Nicholson

by Acting QuotesActing TechniquesUncategorized
[blockquote indent=”yes” ]You have to be very honest with yourself to do my job well.  And you’re not going to like everything about yourself.  if you start hiding what you don’t like, you’re not going to be in the best position to do your job.  – Jack Nicholson [/blockquote]

Why did I choose this quote?  Well, besides the fact that I think its really good advice its also something that I personally struggle with… letting the ugly out.  Wait.  No, let me re-phrase that.  First, admitting its even inside me, THEN letting it out.   The Japanese think that our flaws make us more beautiful.  They believe that when something has suffered damage, it has a history and its even more lovely not in spite of, but because of it’s flaws.  That’s why they fill the cracks of their artifices with gold.

Beautiful Flaws

 

As actors, I think we need to do that same – metaphorically speaking, of course.  Find the cracks in your facade and bring them out into the light.  Fill them with gold, so they stand out and shine.  They are your battle wounds and they make you unique and compelling and infinitely watchable.  Ultimately, we all have flaws and when we can identify them in another human being it makes them accessible and real.  And isn’t that what we strive for?  What do you think?

Sarah Perry

Movement Coach Sarah Perry

by Acting Techniques

Sarah Perry is going to be joining the roster of acclaimed coaches at The Atelier and I couldn’t be more thrilled.  Sarah Perry is an actor and movement specialist from the U.K.  who helps actors explore the creative potential that the body has to offer through practice and observation.  Studying how the body moves under different circumstances helps to raise the awareness of the body which can then can be applied to character development, voice and finally, text.  Sarah’s methods are inspired by leading acting and movement practitioners including Stanislavski, Laban, Bartenieff and many others.

I’m very excited to be able to bring Sarah to Munich.  Right now, we’re looking at the fall.  I’ll keep you posted.

 

 

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The Intent to Live

by Uncategorized

I’m not sure when I first heard the name Larry Moss but, in what ever context I first learned about him, it must have been intriguing enough for me to slip over to Kindle and download his book.  Ah, I love instant gratification.  Course it has its trade-offs with having an actual spine to crack and pages to flip, dog ear and wear thin, but I digress.  It wasn’t far into the first chapter when I realized I had stumbled on a little pot of gold, so I immediately had to google him to find out more.  Suffice to say that this man is a genius and has made a major impact on Hollywood films in the last decade.  While googling him I ran across this fantastic video.  Its an hour long but you won’t notice.

 

[youtube url=”http://youtu.be/y1T0icpgMu8″ width=”500″ height=”300″ full=”yes” ]

 

He makes a couple of references to “must see” films – all classics and some are really hard to track down.  I was able to watch The Goddess (in pieces on youtube) and in spite of the mini screen, and the constant interruptions of having to find and play the next video, I was blown away by  Kim Stanely’s performance.  I’m kind of ashamed to admit, I’d never even heard of her until I read Larry’s book.  I’d love to know what you think about this video and if it inspires anyone to buy his book.