Let the Text Pull a Response

A few weeks ago I was talent in a music video for Roanoke. The director of the music video was Jeremy Osbern. Jeremy is also the director of "Air" a featured film that is still in production (I'm in a couple of scenes).

I'll let you know when the video will be ready (I think in mid-May) and "Air".

I have had two kissing scenes in my little acting career. One was in "Amadeus." I was the young wife. My scene partner and I didn't really discuss the director's note that we'd have to kiss. We just sort of tried to remember not to have garlic and onion for lunch. We mostly joked about gum and mints. My scene partner was a novice too. Sense then I learned that actors should discuss touching before hand -- set parameters and comfort. It's kind of weird kissing a stranger and it's weird to kiss a friend too.

Acting is about making sure your responses are honest. To the extent the actor puts up barriers that the character wouldn't have, then well that's not honest. I forget that being an actor is just being. I may have to make a list of things I have to remember to do when I have to do a "romantic scene." I kind of just want to find a book that discusses doing romantic scene. But here it goes -- (1) acknowledge how I feel (usually nervous, look foolish), and (2) talk with actor before the scene (maybe even practice, work the kinks out).

So "Returning to Morality" doesn't have a kissing scene, but there is flirting and I basically ask Arthur to leave with me for a tryst at the end of our scene. Maybe tryst isn't the appropriate term -- think something more passionate and sexual.

In any event, my scene partner is almost actor and my friend. I adore him and I think I was kind of in a "I don't feel like flirting and running off to have a tryst with my friend." That was the actor not my character. My character was star struck -- I think Arthur is amazing, smart, brilliant, talented and yes would love to be with him.

My acting coach added two more pages to our scene.

In workshop we worked on letting the text pull a response; letting the text pull the response freely. Part of it takes just saying the text a few times and tuning into how your body and voice responds. I have to keep the response out of my head, just be free. When I did this when one of the open scene work I realized that when I free myself that I smile or giggle quite a bit when I talk (insert digression #1). The event and relationship I created for the open scene work -- I didn't really have much to smile about. Essentially, A17, my scene partner, betrayed me and I my objective was to get her to change her mind and recant a statement she made. Seeing her sit there being so smugged. Not happy times. The let the text pull a response exercise was helpful.

I have voice lesson tomorrow. I'm working on two songs. Lots of fun. Boy I can hardly wait until I improve.