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Check out Isabella Balbi’s new Old Navy video, “Unlimited”! WOW!!! Way to go, Isabella!! <3<3<3
https://www.youtube.com/user/oldnavy
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“I have to take the time after the show to not go, ‘Check out what I just did.’ It’s more like, ‘Wow! I’m so thankful that I was able to do that – that I was able to participate in that. And whatever wave was pushing me through that (performance) was awesome. And wherever that wave came from I’m so glad that I was able to catch it.” ~ Jason Mraz
Jason Mraz is one of my favorite artists. I think this quote applies to actors as well. He describes the feeling of what I call a “Zone” performance. You know that feeling when everything just seems perfect: you’re connected to the other actor, the words flow, you’re in the moment, you’re listening and responding and the camera and anyone watching just seems to slip away. You’re just there, in the “Zone” and it feels magical. That’s what I love about acting – it’s addicting.
Jason also puts the ego in its place as well. I notice that my best performances haven’t felt like “I” was doing it. It felt like something greater than me just flowed right through me.
You can learn more about how the 9 Questions of Intentional Acting can help you create that magical “Zone” performance at www.intentionalacting.com/what-is-intentional-acting/
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If you’re an actor or know someone who is feel free to share this article with those you believe could benefit from it. Thank you.
And be sure to share your experiences of your magical “Zone performances. Who knows your input just might make the difference in inspiring someone else to deliver the performance of a lifetime.
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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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Many actors tell me that when they go into an audition they just want to “Get it Right.” But “Getting it Right” doesn’t get them the part. Because when you focus on “Getting It Right…”
- You become the most important person in the scene.
- It creates no reason for you to connect to the other person in the scene.
- It puts you in judgment of your performance and doesn’t allow you to be in the moment of the scene.
“Getting it Right” doesn’t allow the actor to experience what the scene is about and leaves an actor feeling unsatisfied, in turn, leaves the Casting Director unsatisfied and on to the next actor.
Make sure you breakdown that scene and you know what your character’s intention is: What do you want the other character to feel or do. Connect to that intention, how do you relate to that, make it personal and fight for that intention. Then allow the experience of the scene to unfold.
More likely, this is what will get you a call back and the part.
Share below your audition experiences and how you prepare for an audition.
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One of the ways professionals know that a famous painting is real is by its flaws. The more perfect the painting is, the more evident that it is not authentic. Many say, that it is the flaws that make the painting so beautiful. This is also true in acting.
Charlise Theron and Hallie Berry didn’t get their Oscars for being beautiful, perfect, and in control. They got it for their roles in MONSTER and MONSTER’S BALL where they were literally considered monsters of one sort or another. I bet, if you asked them how they felt while doing the roles, they would say they felt afraid, uncomfortable, and vulnerable.
Are you willing to be uncomfortable in your scene work, or do you pick safe choices which lack a personal emotional investment? When you feel vulnerable during or after a scene, do you consider it a sign that you’re on target or do you stop the scene, change intentions, or quit class?
Be willing to fail, look imperfect, be vulnerable. Spend some time getting comfortable with uncomfortable feelings. This willingness will expand your emotional range and allow you to be truly authentic. And that’s who will book the job – the authentic you.
Share your thoughts on this topic – are you willing?
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The idea of perfection can be a powerful driving force to succeed, but it can also be a debilitating burden that has been known to derail many promising acting careers. There is nothing wrong with striving to be at your best when it matters. But if you want to get out of your own way and succeed where others have given up on their dreams…
One time I was working on a project in which I had very little control over the process or the final result. I wanted to quit as I didn’t want do anything that wouldn’t meet my high standards. My mentor told me, “Just do it, Loren. Get the experience. Learn what you can.” And more importantly she said, “Nothing can make you or break you.” She was right.
What I learned from that project was invaluable. Had I let my ideas of perfection get the best of me and waited for a better project I would have missed those great lessons. The project I was involved in was perfect.
It is in those moments where we wonder if there is something better for us that we so often miss being inspired by the perfect moment that is right in front of us. So what should you do? Play. Create.
You are an artist – so immerse you in things that inspire you – be it movies, music, museums, concerts, books, biographies, autobiographies, travel, your friends, your family, nature, the beach, mountains – whatever it is – find it, seek it out. And when you find it, be sure to embrace the moment with gratitude.
Above all, don’t give up before the miracle happens. Follow your heart. Your best is good enough.
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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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Morgan Styers has booked TWO lead roles in TWO films: Hollywood and I”ll Eat You Alive! Way to go, Morgan…Wo0t!!
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Ravit Batan just booked at Dreamworks Promo! Congrats, Ravit!!
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How grateful are you for being able to read this article? Do you consider yourself fortunate to be living in a city where you can easily gain entrance to auditions and secure work as an actor?
If you’re reading this, you’re using the Internet and following your dream of acting. That means you are at the top of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and that your basic needs are met. Consider yourself one of the lucky ones. So many people in the world can’t even imagine pursuing their dreams because all of their attention is devoted to their more basic needs.
Look Down the Ladder
Something that really helps me in this crazy business of fame and fortune is what my dear friend Ruthie Otero told me, “Always look down the ladder instead of up. See who is below you and be grateful, instead of comparing yourself to those who seem ahead of you.”
Maybe you are grateful for all that you have at your disposal. But what about extending your gratitude to others who may not be as fortunate as you? One of the most important things you can do to further your career is to turn around and give the ones behind you a helping hand.
When you genuinely help other people you’re taking the focus off of you and your career. This may seem counterintuitive to what you’ve heard about being laser focused on your career in a demanding and pressure filled industry. But in actually, it will open more doors for you than you can imagine.
Be of Service
Consider how far you’ve come in your life and the achievements you’ve had. eI want you to think of how others have been of service for you to reach this point in your life. Do you really think you could have gotten this far without anyone being of service to you? One of the most important things you can do is dedicate your career to something bigger than you and it will serve you. You don’t have to be rich or famous to extend your gratitude to other people.
I had a young student who created a successful foundation, which donated games to underprivileged kids. Her single mother struggled to pay her bills and she felt empowered to give back because of how much her mother helped her despite her mother’s shortcomings financially. Another example of the power to be of service is the year that my husband and I fostered three children. That was the year I had a feature film, a children’s DVD, and a spec commercial offered to me.
People always talk about opening doors in Hollywood. What you rarely hear about, though, is how gratitude and being of service is what usually opens those doors. So next time you’re feeling as if nothing is going right for you, stop and consider the vast resources you have access to and how grateful other people would be to trade places with you. Then consider how you can gift your good fortune to others. Giving someone else a break just might lead to your big break in Hollywood.
__________________________
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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10 Ways to Get Out of Your Own Way: #8 Give More Hugs & Smiles
Can giving more hugs and smiling more often really be a key factor in getting out of your own way and achieving success in life? You bet it can.
According to well-known psychotherapist Virginia Satir, "We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth."
Additionally, there have been several long-term studies conducted on the benefits of smiling and hugging. In each study the overwhelming results have concluded that smiling, and as little as a 10-second hug, can vastly improve your mental, emotional and physical health. And as we all know if you’re in poor health your chances are significantly reduced for succeeding, particularly in the world of acting.
The Reward of Hugs
Okay, so you’re not going to be hugging a casting director every time you go in for an audition, especially during flu season. But we’re not talking about hugs that are relegated to auditions or when you’re on set. Hug the people you’re around on a regular basis, be it your family, friends, peers and anyone else that might be open to a hug.
Back in the day, before acting and directing, I managed a cookie store. I would hug all my employees. One of them was Chinese and she would cringe when I hugged her. She told me it was not in her culture to hug. I would playfully hug her anyway. After I left that store and I came back for a visit, she ran up and hugged me, admitting how much she missed my hugs.
In a Huffington Post article, neurologist Shekar Raman, said, "A hug, pat on the back, and even a friendly handshake are processed by the reward center in the central nervous system, which is why they can have a powerful impact on the human psyche, making us feel happiness and joy. And it doesn't matter if you're the toucher or touchee. The more you connect with others, on even the smallest physical level, the happier you'll be."
How About a Smile?
Maybe hugging isn’t your thing, so what about smiling? Ever hear of the benefits of being a smile millionaire? Smile as if you are infinitely abundant with more than enough smiles to give out every single day.
One day I was really upset so I went for a walk. I’ll never forget being so miserable and someone walked by me with a big smile and said, “Good Morning.” All of a sudden my whole day changed. Whatever was bothering me began to wash away and I realized it wasn’t so bad.
Reduce Stress & Elevate Our Mood
Whether you’re giving and receiving hugs or smiles they both serve the same purpose. Given and received at the ideal moment someone needs them, hugging and smiling have proven to elicit biochemical and physiological reactions that significantly reduce stress and elevate our mood.
The better mood we’re in the more creative we are likely to be, which bodes well for actors to get into their zone. We all need to give and receive more hugs and smiles. So be sure to give a hug and smile and be open to receiving them in return.
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Image is from "The Family Circus" comic strip. Created by Bill Keane and currently written, inked, and colored by his son, Jeff Keane. www.familycircus.com.
_______________________
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/.
