I’m in rehearsals for my PSYCH thriller and I’m working with relatively new actors. Sometimes it’s challenging to get them to deliver consistent performances. They might deliver a line perfectly Tuesday, and then Thursday do something totally different. I want to say NNNNOOOOOOO!
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Hi, Fran Harris. Hope you're having a great week. What techniques do you use when the actors have trouble delivering consistent performances?
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Maurice Vaughan I tell them to stop ACTING. instead - becomethe person they’re playing.
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Sounds like a great technique, Fran Harris. Can't wait to see "Rapper's Delight"!
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Fran Harris , I’ve watched your reel. And you, obviously can very naturally and comfortably "BE". It's a whole other game for inexperienced actors... especially on stage. If asking them to ‘just be’ or ‘become’ the character is not working, try speaking to them in terms of the emotion you are wanting them to convey, and help them get there that way. If you’re giving them somewhat of a line reading, this will not likely stick if they don’t understand the emotion, or intent behind it. And you might find that if the emotional connection is made to the playwright/directors intent, the line can often be said in more than one way. Best wishes and congrats on getting this up!
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As an actor Fran Harris I have a different perspective. That is the beauty of rehearsal, it's about discovery. Being present, being your character, and being connected to your scene partner, being in the moment, sometimes things happen that didn't happen before. Rehearsal is all about those happy accidents, and figuring out what the actor needs to do for it to happen again, or how to adjust when -uncontrollable tears for example- occurs. If the actor has done their homework and broken down the script, they know their objective and the emotions come naturally. Line readings are never the same way twice. Every performance of a play is different.
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Fran Harris Just stop ACTING. instead - become the person you're playing.