Before the first pitch of the World Series or the kick off of the Super Bowl, the coaches are in the locker room telling their players how success will be based on the fundamentals. It’s the same thing for actors. Whether it’s sophisticated classical material or something you’re doing in front of a green screen, your work is going to hinge on how well you accomplish the basics. The greatest musicians are still playing their scales, the finest dancers go back to the barre, and actors must always reaffirm their abilities to simply listen and respond.
Actors who have worked extensively have learned how to finesse their ways through many styles of comedy and drama. They can meticulously maintain continuity throughout a complicated scene, but they often fail in their abilities to do the most simple of things: be in the moment, access full vulnerability, and connect from their hearts to other hearts.
An actor came to our school as a very accomplished professional, having originated roles on Broadway and having starred in both blockbuster and critically acclaimed films. He was concerned that he had begun to be typecast in a very narrow way as a villain. I had him do the most basic
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