Vein of gold exercise from "awakening the actor within" | Stephen Foster

The term “Vein of Gold” is a term that I stole gladly from Julia Cameron (who stole it from director Martin Ritt) who wrote a book about getting in touch with your creative heart. It’s interesting to me how we can be “miscast” for years, because we don’t know who we are! Here is what Martin Ritt said to Julia Cameron about it, “All actors have a certain territory, a certain range they were born to play. I call that range their ‘vein of gold.’ If you cast an actor within that vein, he will always give you a brilliant performance. Of course, you can always cast an actor outside his vein of gold. If you do, the actor can use craft and technique to give you a very fine, a very creditable performance, but never a performance as brilliant as when he is working in his vein of gold.” The "Vein of Gold" is something that you already have! It is your own personal gold mine. It is the part of you that separates you from the other animals in the zoo. If you are a monkey, don’t try to be a tiger. All you have to do is uncover it from the debris of your life. Consider this an elaborate game of “Clue” you are playing with yourself (and other actors if you are doing it in a group). This is how you play the game: 1. list your 5 favorite films. 2. name your favorite childhood book here is mine for you to practice with! Ordinary People Men Don’t Leave Little Man Tate This Boy’s Life Amadeus Favorite Childhood book: The Giving Tree By Shel Silverstein A boy who has to grow up. The loveable loner. Man against the world. Misunderstood. A man who longs to be part of the normal world. Very deep questions. To purchase workbook: http://a.co/8OBT1pl