Hi everyone, Heres an acting tip from me! Enjoy! In class, weve been talking about emotions and acting. Its an important subject for the actor, obviously, because authentic emotional life is often what we point to when we say an actor is good or truthful. As important as authentic emotion is for the actor, theres a big trap: The more we try to feel, the less we actually feel! So whats an actor to do? The answer is in understanding the difference between connecting to something on an emotional level, and showing or indicating an emotion. The first is concerned with the root of emotion, the second is concerned with the flower. If you want the flower to be there, you cant just make it happen; you have to feed and water the root and then...let it flower on its own. To understand the emotional meaning or core of a scene or a moment, is to make sure that you personally understand it...not intellectually, but emotionally...in your gut...your heart. Once you understand it, you must leave it alone! How, then, will our desired emotional response come out?! We are actors and we need to produce emotion dont we?! It will come out on its own, IF: You put your attention on the other person and you know why youre saying your lines and you know what you want from them or what you want them to do in response to your words/actions. If you input information into a computer, you can forget it. It will display when you hit the right button. In acting, when it comes to emotional authenticity... You should never hit your own button! You let the other person hit it through your engagement with them and your attempt to change them in some way. Here are two examples from well-known films that illustrate this point beautifully: youtube/watch?v=ThsZ8wfhJpk youtube/watch?v=PR15bkS36sA In both cases, the actors are connected to the emotional bottom line...from the beginning of the scene, but they dont indicate it. They just work off the other actor and the emotional life happens to them organically. They talk about the past for a specific reason NOW. To affect/change the other person. Its why their emotional life is so powerful and affecting...because they are surprised by it themselves. Kinda like real life, huh? Well be continuing our exploration of this subject in class in June. Classes start this Sunday, 6/1, and Monday, 6/2. Spots still available for both sections. Spread the word to your acting friends. Theres great students and great work going on at The Essence of Acting Studio. Check it out! scott
Posted on: Wed, 28 May 2014 20:57:18 +0000