Energy is in everything

The more we understand how our world works, the more we are aware of.  The more we are aware of the more we are what is called Enlightened.  Understanding how our Body, mind, and spirit work allows us to create real life inside these imaginary circumstances more freely.  It allows us to let go of all of the labels, and rules we have grown up with that we no longer need.  Becoming more and more enlightened allows us to do away with the BOX..  We no longer need the safety of those 4 walls.  When we understand we are infinite and ever expanding we are free to Create without judgment or guilt.  We no longer worry about others judgements of us either.  

Nothing is Solid -Here is what Quantum Physics tells us.

The Speech

A few powerful words.  Enjoy.

More on Character.

A human being takes a lifetime to create.  How do you expect to understand everything about them and their choices in a week?  Furthermore, during that week, you worked on the script, etc. for 3 days out of the 7, and 2 1/2 of those days were spent learning the lines. Those lines may not mean anything to you;  but you were able to memorize all of them perfectly.  Then you get to the audition or get up in class to show a "worked on" project, and all you know is the lines...

Does most of that sound perfect?  Does knowing the right lines mean that you did enough work?  If so, then let me ask you what you would do if the director said, "Now lets throw away the lines and just improv the scene freely" or  "Tell me a little bit about your character".  Would you know what the human being living in these circumstances would actually do?  If you do know what that human being would do, then you are half way there.  Would you be able to live in the moment not thinking of lines, the camera, or the actor/actress across from you that may royally suck as an actor?  We have to create "real life" in imaginary circumstances.

Actors tend to take this the wrong way when you first hear it - "It's not all about the lines".  No, I do not mean you don't need to know your lines.  I am just saying those lines mean something; and a human being usually says something for a purpose.  Real human beings live the way they do because of the way they grew up, and the way their previous choices have made their lives.  Figure out who the human being is whom you are playing, and "HOW" they became who they are.  Then, put yourself (character) in those circumstances.

When you finish with a great scene, you will not know what happened; nor will you probably think you did it right?  The words that come out of your mouth will be - "I feel like I did nothing".  That is when you know you are starting to truly live in the moment.  CONTINUE STUDYING BECAUSE THAT'S JUST THE TIP OF THE PENIS.  I mean iceberg.

Directors this one is for you... Touch for an actor at the end.

As a director sometimes we want to be really detailed in our vision of the scene.  We already know where we want to shoot from, where we should light the actors, and what the physicality of the scene should already be.  Just like an actor we must not give ourself physical and emotional decisions and choices until we see what the scene's potential is.  If you have done a wonderful job in casting then give the actors a chance to create the real human behavior and movement of what that scene may be.  After you see what and where it could go then make your decisions, then see where you want to set up camera, you may see some wonderful and beautiful natural shots that you would not have seen if you would have projected your expectations of the scene on the actors.  Plus many times when a first time director gives directions they only give the physical direction which takes away from the natural human behavior of the actor.  It puts the actor in their heads about what they should physically be doing and they stop living.  I am not saying do not direct, but direct after you see what the natural blocking of the scene may become.  Film and television is not a stage play, it is human life and behavior that as a director it is our job to capture that reality on film.  Learn to direct an actor by choices, and objectives, keep them living, not roboticaly walking through the scene and spitting out lines that someone put on a page.

As for the actor, do not try to become the director.  Do not try to act the scene the way you see it in your head, if you do then you have now become a stage play.  You took any chance of that scene being real right out of the equation.   Live in the moment.  The blocking and the emotions must come from a natural state of being.  It must come from living in those circumstances.  "ACTING-creating real life in imaginary  circumstances."-A.S

"Acting" is the worst name for it. That word makes people do the weirdest things... To live on screen it must be real life to you. Stop the acting, or leave that for the stage.

The moment before.....

Maybe this isn't the industry for you.

Dedication, commitment, drive, focus, and unimaginable time.  These are just a few things it takes to become a working actor.  I know many people dream of becoming an actor and think that it is what they should do for a living.  I am not here to bust your bubble or ruin your dreams.  I think if that is your passion than you should follow it.  However, I am here to give the hard honest truth.  If this article makes you want to work harder and put all your time to your career then I have done my job.  If it frustrates you and makes you not want to do this career anymore, then I have done my job.

When I first started acting I was in class 5 to 6 days a week, every day I was reading scripts, and working on my articulation and working on my imagination and focus.  This is a career that is a 24/7 job.  You need to learn to enjoy your time alone and the time you will be spending working on character work, reading scripts, studying the things that your character's lives are about, etc.  There is tons of work to be done before you even look at a scene.  The last thing you should worry about is learning your lines!  Have you ever noticed when you do auditions or scenes that it sounds like you have the same rhythm every time you do your scene?  That is because you learned the scene for the lines and you never worked on the character and objective that the character is after in that scene.  Almost every time you do a scene it should come out a little different.  The actor or actress your working with can change the tone in his or her voice which could change the way you perceive something.   You should truly be talking and listening, not worrying about what your next line is.

Long story short.  Dedication, if you don't have it then get out of this industry.  If you don't have enough respect for your career to put your time in every day or to be in class, "present" every time class is in session then this is probably not the career for you..   If you are waiting to be discovered, get out of this industry, if you think doing extra work everyday is going to get you where you want to be in the acting world then follow another dream.

What does Living in the moment even mean?? What does that even mean?

Acting is what we call "creating real life in imaginary circumstances." When we say that, we mean that you must now understand what your life would be like if you grew up in the same circumstances of your character (life, love, beliefs, etc, etc, etc, list could go on forever if you focus on the details ... and you should). After understanding that, you should try to live at this point in time. The CURRENT. Living in the moment. Living in the circumstances that have been given to you by the script for each scene. Each scene being nothing more than a person living their life at that point and time. You should not have to act. You do not have to worry about anyone getting you on the sound system. Your job is not to make sure the light is hitting you right. You are not suppose to be acting at all. Because with a close up of a camera we can see if you are trying to act, or if you are just living and searching for that objective ... that thing you need or want. Stop worrying about learning your lines so much until you have understood what it is you want. If you sound like a broken record every time you re-do the scene with the same rhythm, the same pauses and stops; then you are not living in the moment, you are just re-enacting the scene you have directed in your head. Guess what? You are not the director; and that is not your job! Don't make emotional choices, and plot out your future. The future should always be able to be forgotten like you never read the script. The lines should come from you talking and listening to the other actor while you are in search of this need you have... So, stop acting. Acting will only get you to the stage. That is not where all actors want to go.

So, what does living in the moment even mean? Living in the moment is being able to forget all of the work and dedication you should have put into learning this character so that you do not have to think about being anyone else. You should live just like you are living now. While you read this, there was no acting. You were just reading at a computer or reading on the toilet. Whatever it is you do with your time is not my bag. The point is that you were not thinking of anything that is coming next in life because we should not know it.

A sense of time in this industry. .....HONESTY.....

Many actors never get to hear the truth about this industry until you have spent close to 7 years or so in it. I had an honest and wonderful coach. Lucky me. I agree with my coach, I like for my students and other actors to know the truth right when they decided this is the career they want.

Truth: Acting is not a dreamers industry anymore. The reality of this industry is that it is tuff, ruff, and full of NO's. Please don't take the No's personal, but get use to them so that you can move on and focus on learning what acting really is. If you have no respect for your career and you think it is suppose to move super fast, and you don't need class, and you don't need to work every day at perfecting your craft then you might as well quit now. I think I have served my students well if after a while of studying with me they either decide to work super hard for their career, or quit. If this is not your passion, and at any point you feel that your passion has changed, then follow it. In the long run just be happy. But please, have the respect for your career that a doctor has for his, or a pro athlete. He doesn't sign up and they throw him a scapulae and a liver. He studies for many years before he even gets a chance. Pro Athletes practice almost every day of their lives! They practice for a living!!!

You can not fail until you have given your self a chance.

And don't listen to all those damn groups, schools, and ads that say they will get you in Twilight or any of that bull shit. Just find an acting coach that you believe in and trust. Get to work! Learn what you want them to hire you for. Then hang on, because it's a long road. Know that I am not saying you can't make it shorter, but you do it by working harder. Not by waiting around, and not by someone discovering you. Sorry if there were any Bubbles that just got busted, but know you can make your decision knowing more honesty.

Older actors feel free to leave a comment on this one.

reply: One on One vs Class room setting?

This was a reply to an email that was focused on whether I thought a Class room setting or a one on one setting is the best for actors...

My passion happens to be acting; and I come from many years in the industry on many levels, as well as many years of studying with a wonderful and amazing coach. With that being said, I am in the hopes that I can train some wonderful actors here in Louisiana, so that we have a quality talent pool for producers and directors to choose from.

There are only a few coaches that I would recommend in the Louisiana area. If you need some advice, I am more than willing to help you. As for me, I do think every actor is different; and that is one of the reasons I do not teach a specific method. If I did teach only one method, then I would be saying that there is a perfect way to teach TV and Film in that method alone. I think most of the methods were devised for stage; so to use methods that were devised years before my creative venue(tv/film) was even invented, would be wrong.

As for class settings, there are benefits to both one on one coaching, as well as a class full of students.

I think one on one is wonderful when you focus on an audition or rehearse and prep for a role you booked. It is also interesting, later on, when you have moved past the basics and are delving deep into your work. Even then, many things can still be done in a class setting for others to learn and for you to share.

A class setting is one of the best ways to learn and to absorb the fastest. Our jobs as actors are to be observant and pay attention to the human condition and to create truthful behavior. How better to do so than with a nice group of people to observe? I think many actors find they learn more by sitting and watching a scene or waiting until I speak about the scene rather than sometimes being in the scene themselves. Sometimes it is easier to see your own problems in someone else's work. However, you also have the advantage of working with many different personalities and walks of life that you would not have in a one on one session. Then once you are in the scene study class and you need to work on a scene, there is no hesitation from "living" in front of people in your imaginary circumstance. Acting is- creating real life in an imaginary circumstance.