Craft

I’ve only been to a few workshops and the like.  And I’ve learned that the term “workshop” can refer to events that don’t quite match how I would have defined “workshop” prior to my acting related explorations here in Lala Land.  I’ve also found a theme that shouldn’t surprise anyone and yet it gets over looked far too often.  I know I was somehow unprepared for this one.  Even though I knew working on my craft would be a part of my journey (it’s the thing I’m most self conscious about for goodness sake), it’s importance somehow just escaped me.

Studying and practicing my craft is now front and center in my focus.  I believe that part of my dismissal of the studying of craft comes from how little the acting classes I have taken offered.  It certainly wasn’t helped by the long standing myths of people discovered in drug stores.  And tales of “over night” success.  But every book I’ve read and every workshop I’ve attended has stressed the importance of working on your craft.  You could argue that the people behind these books and workshops are just trying to sell more and justify their existence.  And I would be inclined to agree with you, on some level, if it weren’t for my gut telling me that this craft thing really is important.  Not to mention all the tales of actors going to extremes researching and preparing for their roles.

I feel self conscious about my craft, remember?  That tells me I need to work on it.  Lucky for me there is wealth of information in books – “Intent to Live” by Larry Moss is a great place to start.   And dozens of acting coaches in and around Los Angeles.  I’ve already picked one I’m going to start with just as soon as they’re back from their holiday break.  I am super excited, I keep wishing I could just be in class already.  Luckily I have self study options.  There are a great many wonderful exercises and activities in “Intent to Live”.  And I’ve even dabbled a bit with a couple of them (gasp – there is hope for me yet (-; ).  But the thing I’m feeling most drawn to is script analysis.  The process of breaking down a script or a scene to really get inside the character.  To know what’s motivating them and why at all times.  To know the things they won’t even admit to themselves.

I’m not talking about memorizing lines, but learning where those lines are coming from.  So this is my first task for myself, select a scene and break it down.  I will be using the method Margie Haber outlines in her book “How to get the Part Without Falling Apart”.  And possibly dipping into the questions Larry Moss outlines at the end of “Intent to Live”.   I’m looking through scenes just as soon as I’m done here.  As tempting as it is to start with a full movie script, or even a full television show script, I’m going to start with a scene.  I want to get practice and the possibility for feed back quickly.  Start small and work my way up.  Also, when I’m auditioning I’ll be getting “sides” which is what they call the scene or scenes they give you to audition with.  This means that being good at breaking down a scene quickly is an important skill for an actor.

So I’m picking out a scene and breaking it down.  I’ll be posting my results here on the 5th.  And then I’m doing it again.  Its time I took my craft seriously.