- Using lines as an excuse
- “When I know the lines I’ll be able to perform the scene better” - this is an excuse to cover up many things, mainly inhibitions, the fear of trying something or not knowing what to do because you haven’t read the scene/script enough. As Lee Strasberg (The Method guru) once said, learning lines is about memory and acting has nothing to do with memory. My advice is to play and experiment with the scene. You can only do this by reading it and making justified choices. Find a suitable way of training your memory to learn lines effectively because that’s not the job of your acting coach.
- Not reading the script enough - AKA lazy acting. Some actors go through the script, but only to learn their lines. You need to know the full story, not just the story of the scene your character appears in or only the story of your character. To get the full picture you must read the entire script (more than once). Depending on your character and the size of your role this may not be possible because casting isn’t allowed to send you the full script, but if they can this is the best scenario of course.
Here are some things to think about when reading the full script: Why does your character choose those specific words? What do they really mean? What is really going on? What has led them to where they are now? In the early stages of character development you’re like a detective; you have to piece the full picture together to be able to connect to the character, then you have to figure out what the motive behind the character’s behavior is so you can make clear choices in each scene you appear in.
- Forcing emotions/trying too hard - this is usually done to impress, and there is logic in that, but acting should feel effortless. When you try too hard or try to force something, it looks fake, feels strange and just doesn’t make the thing you’re trying to make happen appear. The same happens with emotions. Find inner purpose for what your character is going through and demonstrate through gestures and expressions.
#actor #tv #film #script #casting
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This is such great insight, Tammy Hunt! The point about using lines as an excuse really resonates. So often, actors get caught up in the mechanics of memorization rather than truly understanding the scene. It’s about living in the moment and making choices, not just reciting words.
I also really appreciate the reminder to read the entire script when possible. A character doesn’t exist in a vacuum, and knowing the full context makes performances so much richer.
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Hi Tammy Hunt Thank you for this very helpful point that not having learned the lines is an excuse. And also for the reminder that to learn our lines we need to have done the work of character development. I also agree that knowing the whole of the script helps with learning our lines. I guess the avoiding of learning lines is a fear of ‘failing i.e if we learn our lines and still don’t act well then we will have ‘failed’. Similarly I guess the ‘forcing’ of emotion (which I have been guilty of) in order to impress is because we have a ‘not good enough” negative belief running in the background. So we overcompensate by ‘forcing’ emotion. Tackling these negative beliefs can be another way to make our acting more effortless. I wonder how others feel about the learning of lines?