The HELLBENT FOR HOLLYWOOD set is truly heating up these past few days with temps soaring over 100 degrees outside and the latest acting challenges inside creating many a near meltdown for those actors teetering on the precipice, actors before the lens.
The old adage, "You are what you eat", really does have street cred in the acting world. Apart from all those Mickey D's cheeseburgers you're grabbing on the run, an actor's mental diet is an integral part of their training.
Let's say you're doin' Improv. Well you better be dowsin' your brain with cable news or print or even radio. An improviser's mental diet in this case would be to get the news from all sides of the issues. Otherwise how is the actor going to be able to stay on topic and/or play a character on either side of an issue whether they personally agree with the views of their character or not. This also applies to film, television and traditional stage as well. Actors need to be 'thinkers'.
The educational system in this country today is creating a nation of consumers. A successful actor however, should learn to think for themselves because a successful actor must have a sharp mind that is able to exist in the moment yet turn on a dime at the request of the Director. The successful actor must be prepared to digest script changes thrown into the mix at the last moment as the writers make changes in characters or how they interact or even changes in story arc while the actor is on set.
As an actor, if you let your ego manage your career it will manage your career right into the ground. If you let your training and skill handle your business you couldn't have chosen wiser partners. What have you learned so far and more importantly how are you going to use what you've learned to further your career?
ON FIRE
Sunday, September 6, 2009
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