Actors, Writers, Directors, Walk in Each others' Shoes.
2010-11-24 3:40AM / 標準BLOG
/ 會員可以看
ACTORS
ACT! WRITERS WRITE! But you can learn from walking in each
other’s shoes.
I
was asked why I recommend that actors try writing and writers try acting. I wanted to share what I told
those who asked me these questions.
Well
first of all if you as an actor want to do your best for a writer’s script it
would be good for you to walk in the shoes of a writer. Understand what they do and why they
write the way they write. See what
it takes to put on to paper a story that will be translated by actors and
directors. And writers, if
you want to be able to write well for actors, you need to understand what it is
like to walk in the shoes of an actor.
Understand what they need to know about the character they are playing
that you as the writer can give them in the script. Understand what you the writer can write that will help the
actor create what you want. And of
course directors, it would behoove you to walk in the shoes of both an actor
AND a writer. Since you need to understand how
to translate a script and how to direct an actor.
I
like to have actors, writers and directors look at a team, any kind of team,
whether it is a sports team or a business team. Or a family, which can be considered a team.
What
makes a good team?
Well,
everyone needs to know what their job or role is. They need to understand and respect what the other
team members’ jobs are. Each team
member needs to do their job and not try to do some else’s job as well.
I
remember when we used to play softball every Sunday in Pico park. It was a group of actors,
actresses, writers, directors and
anyone who was invited frankly.
We had teams and it was just for fun – supposedly. Well some (not all) of the guys would
try to play for the girls. They
just didn’t believe that the girl could handle their position. And then the guys didn’t handle their
own position. Yes I know that
girls do this to guys too!
So
back to actors and writers. As an
actor you need to work your acting muscle as much as possible. So of course going to a great workshop
(such as mine) is a smart move.
Working out and learning tools you can learn as an actor is a smart
choice but you also might consider taking the Writers Lab as well. Why? Because writing will help you learn more about characters
and what is important to communicate with your actors. You will become more sympathetic to
writers and also you will start to notice more of the details that the writers
give you. Why ? Because you will want and notice when
actors do or do not adhere to what you write. Walking in someone else’s shoes really helps you learn on a
totally different level what they go through.
Now
writers this is the same for you.
One of the best things you can do is actually take a acting
workshop. Get up and do what an
actor has to do and you will begin to understand and respect what it takes to
give a believable performance.
I
have seen writers and directors change and improve their writing and their
directing after taking an acting workshop. You will become better communicators. You will find new respect for what you
are asking actors to do.
And
what does all this accomplish? It
makes a stronger, better team.
Check
out my upcoming workshops I am teaching the first two weeks of December.
http://www.alivenotdead.com/jasontobin/Acting-Classes-with-Jeanne-Hartman-event-1099993.html
BLOG評論