What role challenged your previous understanding of your own craft the most?
For me, it was a play I did in college. In the play, one of my friends dies. In rehearsals I struggled with getting the emotional reaction the director/professor wanted. I was playing heartbroken, not feeling heartbroken. Then something happened at the performance. When I was talking to the audience about this person dying, tears started running down my face. I was sobbing so hard I could barely get the words out. (Which is why you want that to happen in rehearsals, so you can manage it_)
That was the first time I ever cried on stage. It was a real shift for me. I now understood what acting is being meant in my body. I didn't have to force the emotion. When I relax and am fully present in the moment, the emotions are there. I don't need to do anything.
Let's hear your what role change your perception of acting. The moment it all clicked for you. Please share your experiences in the comments below. Let's help each grow.
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This is a great topic, I"m bumping this to the top.
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Love this question! It was a moment when I was younger and got the advice to "stop watching myself" - like you, it's all about being present! It is a wonderful and special thing.
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Thank you Paige Hullett I agree. If we are watching ourselves and caring what the audience thinks, we are not connected to the other actors in the scene, and living the reality of the moment.
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I would say it was two different roles about 5 years a part. The first was Shep the bartender in a little known play "Early One Evening at the Rainbow Bar and Grille" the depth of emotion in this play and character is what launched my professional career.
The 2nd was playing Lucky in "Waiting for Godot" The difference of these two roles is great, but don't believe I could have played one (well) without the other.
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Suzanne, I can only say what Al Pacino said:
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18dUATdSq2/
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I had the good fortune of being cast as Antonio Salieri in a production of Amadeus in 1996. I was so thrilled, I had been cast as Dr. Dysart in a production of Equus the year earlier. Both plays are written by Peter Shaffer. There is a tremendous amount of dialogue in both plays and my memorization process had taken quite a bit of time to learn the good doctor's role. In approaching Salieri, it struck me that both he and Dr. Dysart were the same person. The only difference was that Dysart had a conscience and Salieri removed his by blaming God for his dilemma. Many things about the character and the role fell into much clearer perspective. Salieri in Amadeus carries two hours of a three hour play. It helped me to realize that the play, the words, the flow of the scenes and the music pulled me along through the production versus me driving anything. This same sensibility has helped my understanding of Shakespeare as well. The playwright and their message is the key!
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I was cast as the "Father" in a short film entitled "A Son Inherit" that was created for a limited festival. The story was of a father reaching out to reconcile his relationship with his Gay son. The role was deeply emotional as the character arc called for the father to try justifying the reasons behind their alienation while covertly inviting the son back into the fold. Then lastly offering a previously unthinkable olive branch as a metaphorical symbol of understanding.
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Over the years, I have been mostly a stage actor with several hundred TV commercials under my belt (does that count as acting?). Lately, I've had parts in three movies, in two of which my character was described as "aging." I think I'm getting typecast. The role(s) that I enjoyed the most was when I was cast with another actor in a two man play called "Greater Tuna." For those of you unfamiliar, it's the story of various citizens in the tiny town of Tuna, Texas. My acting partner and I played all the parts and that included 15 different characters with 21 costume changes! I remember quick changing so fast that at a couple of points I asked the dressers what scene I was in and who was I?? Not exactly Shakespeare, but definitely the most fun I've had on stage.
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Stage, mostly comedies and musicals for some time. Then I came in as a last minute replacement in a serious character part. I discovered that quietness can really grab an audience and have a wonderful effect. I also discovered that one can feel the response to an audience in ways other than laughter.
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I love it Bill Bruner You needed the experience of playing one character to bring the truthfulness to the other.That is art imiating life. Sometimes, if we hadn't gone through something, we wouldn't know how to navigate the new challenge life threw at us. I never thought of that. Thank you for sharing.
Can you post it for ss @Roger? I, and main people don't have Facebook.
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That's great Bruce Mathews what a fantastic ephiany!
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A small role. Bundles in Annie. SLOC performed it at Proctors, a 2thousand seat theater. Not only the actors, but the production staff, tech people. make-up, hair, publicity, etc. A team effort. That is what I learned. Everyone was important Everyone did their job.
How did that role challenge your perception of acting Jack Teague ?
That's great Steve Dini was that a breakthrough moment for you? How did it shift your perception of acting?
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I guess for me it was a moment where I realized acting can and should be fun. Up til then, I would get tremendous anxiety before going on stage to play more serious roles. Greater Tuna showed me that sometimes we act for the sheer joy of being "up there" and hearing the laugher and applause. Oh, I still take whatever roles come my way seriously and work hard at them, but now I have come to realize that I do this because I "enjoy" it, not because of some ego-driven desire to be "perfect."
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Here it is, Suzanne,
https://youtu.be/soneqo3OgNA?is=cRFtASHisaJLO4lk
I agree John Dickey Some times not saying anything has the deepest impact.
Yes Alan Angelo putting a show is a team effort.
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That day when the students at the playhouse scene study class I was in joined into the conversation with the teacher, and I, and my scene partner, about the way I saw and presented the Dad in Dreamer Examines His Pillow. I realized I had something to say, and that I could say it within the role. That the opinions of the actor, my opinions, mattered. It was a very cool discussion. The teacher suggested he might look at that character a bit differently. To my mind, every actor finds this out. These moments change your previous understanding of acting. It's the moment you really start working on the craft... your craft. You become something filmmakers are hoping for. Yourself.
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David - very good points. Bravo!
So what role changed your perception Rutger Oosterhoff ?
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I love it David Veal Yes, every actor brings their own experiences and perceptions to each role they play, and they may interpret that role differently from how a previous actor did. Great insight. Thank you.
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I do not know if there is a role that really changed my perception about acting, Suzanne, but talking about method acting, I guess Daniel-Day Lewis as Bill the Butcher.