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This is an excerpt from actor Jane Lynch’s commencement “YES AND” speech at Smith College.
“YES AND” is the vital and only rule of improvisation. Never deny your fellow actor. You should be willing and able to accept whatever your fellow improviser throws at you. Use that as your jumping off point and expand it.
Heighten and Explore. For instance, if I say to you “Stick ’em up!” and you say “That’s not a gun, that’s your finger!” We’ve got nowhere to go. If I say “What a beautiful day” and you say, “No it’s not, it’s the middle of winter and it’s snowing!” Where do we go?
In order for our scene to go forward, we affirm what the other is saying, which is the “YES” and take it and build on it with “AND.” And in order for our lives to go forward to engage fully in life, we need to be willing and able to accept what is right in front of us. Whatever it is, the good, the bad, the thrilling, the heartbreaking, every emotion, occurrence, event, person, place or thing, you will experience them all. That’s the “YES” I’m talking about. And the acceptance and embrace of it with all your heart and doing something with it, that’s the “AND.”
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YES, Jane! AND I would add that living in “YES AND” allows you to BE IN THE MOMENT which is an essential tool for a great actor and a happy human being.
If you’re an actor or know someone who is feel free to share this article on being present with those you believe could benefit from it. Thank you.
Remember, as an actor, you’re part of an inspiring community. Share your experiences in the comments below. This is your inspirational story and can serve as a valuable learning tool for others.
__________________________
LIVE THE DREAM YOU WERE BORN TO!
Acting should be simple. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. If you’re an actor or you know someone who is, there is no better moment than now to make the intention to take full control of your acting career and live the dream you were born to.
Call 818-325-5752 or email me at Loren@IntentionalActing.com to interview and sign up for the next Intentional Acting class today.
In the meantime, to learn more about Intentional Acting and the 9 Questions that frame the work do with actors of all ages visit www.intentionalacting.com/what-is-intentional-acting/.
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By Loren Chadima
What happened the moment before the scene started? This is a key question guaranteed to get your scene off to a strong start. But be sure you answer it specifically.
Clues Are In the Script In my experience as a coach and director, I’ve found most actors attend the University of MSU (Make Stuff Up) and fail to look for the answer in the script. Even though the clues are in the script, actors fall prey to getting overly creative and they improvise what happened.
Creativity and improvisation are key skillsets for actors, but not when it comes to being clear on what happened in the moments leading up to a specific scene. Before going to MSU, read the script again with the intention that the writing will tell you what happened the moment before.
The Moment Before
Remember it’s the moment before, not the hour or day before. What happened the second before your scene started? Think logically: what did the last person say before you entered or what would have happened before this scene.
Use your moment before to make a strong choice. Come in expecting the opposite of what actually happens in the scene. For example: The script says your character asks your boss for a raise and the boss says “No.” Enter the scene expecting your boss to say, “Yes” and allow yourself to discover the disappointment of not getting the raise.
Comment below to let other actors know how your choices for the moment before helps your auditions.
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If you’re an actor or know someone who is feel free to share this article on being present with those you believe could benefit from it. Thank you.
Remember, as an actor, you’re part of an inspiring community. Share your experiences in the comments below. This is your inspirational story and can serve as a valuable learning tool for others.
__________________________
LIVE THE DREAM YOU WERE BORN TO!
Acting should be simple. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. If you’re an actor or you know someone who is, there is no better moment than now to make the intention to take full control of your acting career and live the dream you were born to.
Call 818-325-5752 or email me at Loren@IntentionalActing.com to interview and sign up for the next Intentional Acting class today.
In the meantime, to learn more about Intentional Acting and the 9 Questions that frame the work I do with actors of all ages visit www.intentionalacting.com/what-is-intentional-acting/.
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Congrats to Jordan Andrews for booking a Pilot called “The Royals”! Way to go!
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A HUGE congrats to Yanellie Ireland for booking a Co-Star role on the CBS show “Intelligence”, season 1 episode 8 “Delta Force”!!
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By Loren Chadima
Actors’ eyes light up when they see sarcasm in a script. It’s fun and it seems like this is the writer making the actor’s job easy, but it’s not.
Sarcasm can be a trap because it is more of an attitude than an intention. And contrary to what you may have been taught, sarcasm limits your work as an actor.
To Mock
Sarcasm can be defined in many ways, but perhaps the simplest is how it is defined in the dictionary. Sarcasm: Noun – to mock or convey contempt.
First of all, it’s a noun and not a verb. But mocking or conveying contempt – those are verbs. Yes, but how do they connect you to the other person and make them the most important person in the scene? Go deeper. Look up conveying contempt.
According to the dictionary, contempt means: The feeling that a person is beneath consideration, worthless or deserving scorn. Excellent! Now this is valuable for an actor, as it gives you something to make the other person feel, making them the most important person in the scene.
How Can I Make The Other Person Feel Beneath Me
When you see a sarcastic line instead of thinking “I just have to be sarcastic” think: “How can I make the other person feel beneath my consideration and worthless?” This is so much more specific and interesting. It will give you something to listen for and something specific to make the other person feel or do.
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If you’re an actor or know someone who is feel free to share this article on being present with those you believe could benefit from it. Thank you.
Remember, as an actor, you’re part of an inspiring community. Share your experiences in the comments below. This is your inspirational story and can serve as a valuable learning tool for others.
__________________________
LIVE THE DREAM YOU WERE BORN TO!
Acting should be simple. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. If you’re an actor or you know someone who is, there is no better moment than now to make the intention to take full control of your acting career and live the dream you were born to.
Call 818-325-5752 or email me at Loren@IntentionalActing.com to interview and sign up for the next Intentional Acting class today.
In the meantime, to learn more about Intentional Acting and the 9 Questions that frame the work I do with actors of all ages visit www.intentionalacting.com/what-is-intentional-acting/.
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By Loren Chadima
Ask anyone who has taken classes at Intentional Acting and they will tell you intention is the name of the game. So let’s play a quick game and qualify what makes a good intention.
Is “I want the ice cream,” a good intention? Or is it an action?
It is an action. A good intention will connect you to the other person in the scene. To reframe that line so that it is an intention and makes another person feel or do something, it would read something like this: “I need you to give me the ice cream.”
Acting Is Doing
What connects actors and puts life into a scene is actors needing something from one another, in other words having intentions. “I want the Ice cream.” says that I can take it from you and I don’t need you to do anything.
Whereas, “I need you to give me the ice cream” makes you need the other actor and have to engage with them in an action. The latter will give both actors something to do. And remember Acting is Doing. Also notice that intention is more specific than an action, which is always better.
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If you’re an actor or know someone who is feel free to share this article on being present with those you believe could benefit from it. Thank you.
Remember, as an actor, you’re part of an inspiring community. Share your experiences in the comments below. This is your inspirational story and can serve as a valuable learning tool for others.
__________________________
LIVE THE DREAM YOU WERE BORN TO!
Acting should be simple. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. If you’re an actor or you know someone who is, there is no better moment than now to make the intention to take full control of your acting career and live the dream you were born to.
Call 818-325-5752 or email me at Loren@IntentionalActing.com to interview and sign up for the next Intentional Acting class today.
In the meantime, to learn more about Intentional Acting and the 9 Questions that frame the work I do with actors of all ages visit www.intentionalacting.com/what-is-intentional-acting/.
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By Loren Chadima
Success = Preparation Meets Opportunity
Being prepared for success as an actor is essential to successfully following up when and where it matters most. When in doubt, remember that:
Success =Preparation Meets Opportunity.
Be prepared to be in class. If you are an actor and you take your career seriously, you will not miss an opportunity to improve.
Be prepared for any audition when it comes. This ranges from maintaining a flexible schedule to being fully prepared mentally. It also pertains to having current headshots and other key items you will need to show up fully prepared to land that role.
Be prepared to own your success. If you are unwilling to take responsibility for your career how can you expect anyone else to do this for you?
Be prepared to take every opportunity to act you can – you never know what it will lead to.
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If you’re an actor or know someone who is feel free to share this article on being present with those you believe could benefit from it. Thank you.
Remember, as an actor, you’re part of an inspiring community. Share your experiences in the comments below. This is your inspirational story and can serve as a valuable learning tool for others.
__________________________
LIVE THE DREAM YOU WERE BORN TO!
Acting should be simple. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. If you’re an actor or you know someone who is, there is no better moment than now to make the intention to take full control of your acting career and live the dream you were born to.
Call 818-325-5752 or email me at Loren@IntentionalActing.com to interview and sign up for the next Intentional Acting class today.
In the meantime, to learn more about Intentional Acting and the 9 Questions that frame the work I do with actors of all ages visit www.intentionalacting.com/what-is-intentional-acting/.
Leave a Reply
By Loren Chadima
How many actors do you know run their career like a business? True, it’s not something you hear much about when it comes to the essentials necessary for being a working actor. But if you are committed to having a long, fulfilling career it’s essential you see it through the eyes of a business owner.
A Business Decision
Acting is your business and you need to run it like a business. The more you run it like a business, the better your results. As you start to understand your bottom line you will start to understand how agents, managers, producers and casting directors think.
For example, it’s not easy to go in for an audition and not get the role. It stings. But when you reinterpret that as a business decision it becomes much easier to not take it personally when you don’t get cast.
Ask yourself this: “If I were the CEO of multi-million dollar business and had a $100,000 to give to an actor would I give it to me?” Of course you say “Yeah, baby!” But think like a CEO and ask yourself these questions:
- Is my product (me, my audition skills, acting chops) at the top of its game, the best it can be?
- Do I have a budget for my business?
- Do I have a business plan?
- Do I have a marketing plan?
- Do I have a team (i.e. agent, manager, acting coach, lawyer) in place that is excited about working for me?
- Do I have a target list of business relationships with whom I’m networking? (i.e. casting directors and producers – people who can hire me.)
- Do I know my statistics regarding my auditions, callbacks, and bookings?
If you answer “No” to any of questions you will see a major area of opportunity to strengthen the business of your career.
You might think, “The Casting Director doesn’t care about any of this.” Wanna bet? They do, because they want professional actors not desperate actors. If you have a budget, a business plan, a marketing plan – you won’t be desperate. If you have great relationships and they know you’re networking – Casting Directors want to know who you know. They want to cast the next Brad Pitt or Jennifer Lawrence. So act like stars now in your real life and treat your acting career seriously like a business.
There is no better time than right now to start thinking and acting like you are the CEO of your business. Because you are.
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If you’re an actor or know someone who is feel free to share this article on being present with those you believe could benefit from it. Thank you.
Remember, as an actor, you’re part of an inspiring community. Share your experiences in the comments below. This is your inspirational story and can serve as a valuable learning tool for others.
__________________________
LIVE THE DREAM YOU WERE BORN TO!
Acting should be simple. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. If you’re an actor or you know someone who is, there is no better moment than now to make the intention to take full control of your acting career and live the dream you were born to.
Call 818-325-5752 or email me at Loren@IntentionalActing.com to interview and sign up for the next Intentional Acting class today.
In the meantime, to learn more about Intentional Acting and the 9 Questions that frame the work I do with actors of all ages visit www.intentionalacting.com/what-is-intentional-acting/.
One Response to “Acting is Your Business”
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Have you ever walked out of an audition thinking you nailed it, but didn’t get even get a call back? You think that you had asked all the right questions of the script, but later realized perhaps you missed some important clues.
If we give our mind a question our mind will produce an answer. But it’s not simply the question as much as it is the intent behind the question that will yield the answers we are truly seeking.
The key for an actor is to ask the questions that elicit the most active, personal, and dynamic choice for the scene. The problem is that many actors don’t ask the right questions because their intent is not aligned with the needs of the scene and character. As a result, the answers they receive may satisfy their minds, but do not emotionally engage their experiences of being human.
Natural “Zone” Performances
When I founded Intentional Acting my intent was to design a process to empower actors with the tools to create compelling, natural “Zone” performances. The foundation for achieving this become the 9 Questions of Intentional Acting.
The tools, principles and methodologies taught through these nine questions have routinely proven to help actors, of all ages, to be confident, creative, present and passionate. All of this results in replicating in the “Zone” performances and equates into higher success rates for the actor to secure the job and fulfills their dreams.
A Trigger for Experiential Choices
The nine questions of Intentional Acting are the acting principles found in all major acting techniques: Intention or Objective, Motivation, The Event of the Scene, Stakes, Connection, Using Personal History, Substitution. With Intentional Acting, however, these principles are formed into questions that will trigger the actor to make immediate experiential choices.
The questions are also put in a specific order, designed to build on one another in a sequential order. This results in a repeatable technique that creates consistent, personal, engaging and spontaneous performances.
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Here, then, are the 9 questions:
1. What is the scene about?
2. What is the experience of the scene?
3. How do I relate to the experience of the scene?
4. What do I need the other person to feel or do? (Intention)
5. Why do I have to get my intention, right now? (Motivation)
6. What am I listening for?
7. What is at stake if I don’t get what I need?
8. Who am I focusing on to get my need? Who’s the Most Important Person in the scene?
9. How do I make my performance personal? How do use this script to benefit me?
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Replicate The Process
Going through the nine questions have helped actors better understand how to replicate the process of getting into the “Zone”. And they are a highly effective and practical tool for evaluating auditions and performances.
I also discovered the actors who learned the nine questions were able discuss how they achieved that performance with clarity. Suffice to say, the quality of their performance was repeatable.
Fulfilling Dreams
With that in mind, my mission with Intentional Acting is to empower actors with the tools to create compelling, natural “Zone” performances. These nine questions are the underlining foundation for applying the tools that will help the actor to be confident, creative, present and passionate.
And when you put all of this together you’re in the zone performances become a consistent part of your auditions, which then gets the actor the job, and fulfills their dreams.
Want to learn more about the nine questions and how to apply them for in the zone performances? Feel free to message me here on Facebook or contact me at http://intentionalacting.com/contact/.
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If you’re an actor or know someone who is feel free to share this article on The 9 Questions of Intentional Acting with those you believe could benefit from it. Thank you.
Remember, as an actor, you’re part of an inspiring community. Your experience of learning and applying these nine questions are key part of your inspirational story. It is this beautiful story that can serve as a valuable learning tool and inspiration for others. So please be sure to share your experiences in the comments below. Thank you.
____________________________
LIVE THE DREAM YOU WERE BORN TO
Acting should be simple. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. If you’re an actor or you know someone who is, there is no better moment than now to make the intention to take full control of your acting career and live the dream you were born to.
Call 818-985-8504 or email me at Loren@IntentionalActing.com to interview and sign up for the next Intentional Acting class today.
In the meantime, to learn more about Intentional Acting and the 9 questions that frame the work I do with actors of all ages visit www.intentionalacting.com/what-is-intentional-acting/.
Loren, everything you have taught us about acting being our business is all SO true!!! 90% of my bookings are from business relationships. Thank you for breaking it down. You inspire me! – Humberto L. Meza