Character Traits and Actions
Directors give performance or effect directions. It forces actors to play cliches. Figuring out the nature of a character trait or spine or personality frees an actor to play an action ... or an impul...
21 Apr 16min
Actors Talk Acting
Last week I gave classes in Poland and it was extremely useful to have a fresh perspective on students who were slightly new to this way of working – and also affording an opportunity for actors to ta...
16 Apr 16min
Working On A Monologue
My student, JP, has been working on the Biff and Happy scene from Death of a Salesman. In this episode we work through a place where he was stuck with that feeling of "now I'm performing a monologue."
7 Apr 18min
The Actor's Personal Connection
In coaching an actor this week, I was struck again by what feels obvious—and yet is so often missed: the actor must find a personal connection to the circumstances, or the character’s conflict never b...
31 Mar 14min
Talking Out
Revisiting the concept of talking out as a way to help actors own everything they think about a character and a play.
31 Mar 13min
Living off your Partner
Building the character's attitude towards their partner is not only essential in playing a scene, it saves you. There's a danger, however, in building the attitude all on one level.
24 Mar 14min
What to work on
Sometimes I think we've just had too many classes - and too many teachers telling you what you have to do in order to play a part. An actor needs to develop the ability to figure out what is necessary...
18 Mar 17min
Seeing What's Not There
The ability to visualize and live off images that are in the actor's imagination is a great skill to develop. It keeps you from acting in a vacuum,– to say nothing of solving the problem of a bad part...
13 Mar 15min
