Acting Without the Drama

September 26, 2008. I’ve had the pleasure to work with some pretty amazing people, including Tony and Emmy award winning actors and directors. One thing that most of them seem to have in common is that they collaborate well. The directors cast good actors and then let them work, occasionally tweaking things to make sure they stay within the overall vision, but trusting that the actors will bring something to the table. Actors work the same way in reverse, bringing their “A” game to every rehearsal and then trusting in the director to guide and shape their work into a cohesive whole.

I’ve also worked with those that are not quite as confident in their skills. Directors who are not confident in their craft will either abdicate or bully. Actors with the same lack of belief in themselves either hold back on their less “logical” impulses or whine and complain about the director.

Some red flags for us to look for in ourselves: any time we’re tempted to say, “But my character wouldn’t do that!” or “That doesn’t make any sense!” or “That’s just going to look stupid!” I’m not telling you to ignore your own instincts, so please don’t misunderstand. If we truly have questions about the director’s vision, there are ways to address that in a private moment. However, when we’re in rehearsal, we just DO. Period. If the director asks us to cluck like a chicken, we start flapping our wings, bobbing our heads, and letting out the best “bwuaack, bwuaack, bwuaack” we can manage. We don’t just try to do what’s asked, we embody it completely. We go there. 100%.

That’s what professionals do (at least the ones that have lifelong careers). So, next time we have an opportunity to be directed, let’s trust in them completely at least in the moment. Rehearsals, after all, are there to make sure that we find the best choices possible. Why not really explore?

We may be truly surprised by what we find.

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