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| Katy Lyster from BCTC's Fall 2012 production of SCRAMBLED. |
* Cohen refers to acting as the most "bewildering profession known to man".
The reasons for this are many, but the text mentions:
a) Fear - fear of failure, of forgetting lines, of losing emotional control, of losing your looks, of losing your audience, etc. This is commonly known as STAGE FRIGHT, and it can beset an actor at any time in their career!
b) Uncertainty- Where is the next job and / or paycheck coming from? Actors must deal with a great deal of rejection, and there is little (if any) job security to speak of. This is true even at the highest level. (How many times have you seen an actor in a TV show or film and NEVER seen them work again?)
Two notions of acting:
-EXTERNAL: outward,physical and technical form of acting. Involves what is called MIMESIS, which simply put is creating the physical side of the character (voice, movement, etc)
- INTERNAL: The actor creates the character from the inside, concentrating on the emotional and intellectual side of the character. Also known as "EMBODIMENT"
In order to create a true, full character, the actor must JOIN these two processes, thus creating a believable and life-like character.
* Virtuosity- Refers to a "superb set of skills".To achieve greatness in acting, one must exhibit this.
* MAGIC- Presence, charisma, charm...whatever you call it, the actor MUST have this to have a truly successful career. The unfortunate thing here is that all the training in the world will NOT give you this! You can train to create a superb set of skills, but you either have stage presence or you don't! (However, one's confidence does have a great deal to do with this)
THE ACTOR'S INSTRUMENT
Physical instrument:
Voice
Body (movement)
These are your primary tools as an actor and you must care for and maintain them as you would any other form of instrument.
Psychological Instrument:
Imagination - A must for any creative artist. This must work on a variety of levels. You have to make the art real to the audience, but in order to do this, it must be real to YOU. If YOU don't believe in what you're doing HOW will an audience? (* this is one reason why children are sometimes the greatest actors of all- they haven't yet "lost" their creative imagination!)
Discipline- Possibly the greatest tool at an actor's disposal. You must be disciplined to work in a creative ensemble as part of a team, and the professional actor must lead a vigorous and demanding life, thus they must prepare themselves for a tough, demanding journey. Many are the "great actors" who have no discipline, thus they never enjoy strong careers. It takes hard work and sacrifice to be a professional actor, and it is not for the weak!
THE ACTOR'S ROUTINE:
The actor's professional routine exists in three stages:
1) The audition- The process by which acting roles are rewarded. There are three basic types:
a) Prepared- where the actor must prepare a short piece called a "monologue" and perform it for his casting directors.
b) cold reading- the actor reads directly from the script he/she is auditioning for, alone or in pairs/groups.
c) musical/dance- where the actor prepares a short song, and learns a simple dance routine to be performed at the audition, usually in a small group.
2) The Rehearsal
* Standard is 3-5 weeks, sometimes longer/ sometimes very abbreviated, depending on the type of show and the time allotted.
* A time to memorize:
-lines
-blocking (stage movement- example/ I cross from one side of the stage to the other and sit)
-business (small, directed stage actions/ example- after I sit, I begin to clean my glasses)
* It is a time for experimentation and discovery. The actor should feel free to explore and to work in concert with the director and the other actors to create the best possible production.
3) The production- What Theatre is really all about- the endgame. The audience is the "final ingredient" for the production, and can help take the actor's performance to it's full potential.
FOR DISCUSSION-
a) What are some factors that can make an actor's life challenging and difficult?
b) If the profession is as "bewildering" as Mr Cohen suggests, WHY do so many people want to do it?
Discuss!
16 comments:
Some factors that make an actors life difficult include not having "job security". Actors never know where there next job will come from or even where it may be. Not having job security includes never knowing if you will receive a paycheck. There is also the fear of failure. An actor could always loose touch with the audience or an audience could become uninterested in the person as an actor. There is always a chance that an actor could for his lines, causing audiences to become less interested in the performer.
I would say that many people want to be an actor because its something they love. They are willingly to take all the risk so that they can be doing something they love to do.
Actors face difficulities in this profession because they are always judged. They are constantly being judged by their looks, their physique, and their personality. This is necessary in order to match the right person with the right character. This also happens because there is so much competition that an actor may feel he/she has to always look their best, keep their body in tip-top shape, and always have a great personality. If an actor doesn't have thick skin this could create issues within him/her.
There is also difficulties with not having a constant paycheck. Actors often have to have a second job in order to pay the bills, one that is a source of steady income. Stage fright is another problem encountered by actors. All the rehearsals in the world cannot prepare someone for 'when the lights go down."
I feel a lot of people want to be actors because they believe it is glamourous. They get to "dress up" and play pretend. It is probably a great escape from everyday problems when you can be someone else for a little while. I think people who are actors, good actors, have to have a passion for it. It is like they were born to be actors. They don't care what difficulties or uncertainties they face because they believe it is all worth it.
Some factors that make an actors life difficult are their schedule, job uncertainty, and fear of failure. Having to deal with one of those things would be difficult, so an actor dealing with a combination of them is sure to have some stress. However, people still love acting, and just like anything else there are risks to having that career. Those who choose acting understand these difficulties and think that having a job in show business is worth it.
Actors will always have the difficulty with the competition in the field like any other job field. Actors have to have an extreme passion for what they do because criticism can be cruel sometimes. Actors will also find it difficult please the audience in every aspect as humans we tend to constantly judge. People will still follow their dreams even if it means they have to work twice as hard and they have to take critiques from others there is people out there that want it bad enough.
Some factors that can make an actors life challenging or difficult may be things like: not having job security, failing at a play they are acting in, or even disappointing the audience. Also as an actor you never know where you are going to have to go to perform your next show.
I think so many people want to be actors even though the job can be “bewildering” because it is what they love to do, it is what there dream has been for a long time and they just love the job, and they are willing to risk everything they have for what they love.
I think the factor that make an actor’s life difficult are of course job security, stage freight and performance not only for that one particular show but if your acting with big name actors keeping up with stars, and keeping your figure to stay on screen. I think some overlooked factors for an actors life would be keeping the character’s life from being washed onto the actor. For example in curb your enthusiasm George talks about how after the hit show he had trouble finding work because everyone labeled him as a goofy silly character because after years of watching him on seinfield he had now been remember of thought of as on the character a goofy, clumsy guy. He stated how it affected his acting career and claimed he is much more dynamic and versatile actor then that one role he played for so long. Also I think people forget that as a big name actor your life is show cased for all the world to see. Once you step off stage your role follows you and the cameras follow you everywhere you go and they try to catch ever bad moment they can to make a paycheck off of you. You kiss someone, get drunk, fall down, show too much skin, get fat, get angry, show too much emotion, try to have privacy, cough, or even make a funny face, someone somewhere is snapping that camera in a bush or in a tree or right in your face. Not to mention if you make a comment on twitter or get caught in a recorded phone call, but that’s a whole other issue.
Everyone wants to act even though it’s a treacherous job because it’s glorified as the luxury life. A lot of people worship stars and follow and hang on their ever word anything they say people are rushing to put their opinions in newspapers or respond on talk radio shows. People see the fast cars, and the worship and want a part of the good life they see portrayed on tv by MTV, BET, VHL and others. The show MTV cribs portrayed making it as having everything one could ever imagine and the need for having more. A process which in my opinion causes what I call the black hole syndrome, where having enough is never enough people want that kind of life and no matter how much they get it will never be enough to fill the void they have created.
a) Some factors that make an actors life challenging and difficult, is fear and uncertainty. An actor may fear failure, perhaps of forgetting their lines, of losing emotional control, of losing their looks, or of losing their audience. This fear is mostly known as "stage fright." An actor may also feel uncertainty in their "job security." An actor may wonder where their next job will be and/or where their next paycheck will be coming from. Actors deal with rejection and there is little job security.
b) Mr. Cohen suggests that acting is "bewildering." Though this may be true, there are always people who pursue the career path that they do, simply because they genuinely love it. There are people who aren't as much worried about money, as they are their happiness. People also find thrill in the type of lifestyle where you live day to day, not knowing what's going to happen next. Some actors live this lifestyle.
Some factors that actors face in their lives are "job security". It not a stable job, because you only work when you are hired by a producer to act in the film or play. Knowing when the next pay check will come is almost impossible. Another factor would be stage fright or fear. This would be a failure to the industry.
I think that Cohan means that its a puzzling job and that it can be difficult to use this as a full time job. It also can be difficult with playing the part. I also think that so many people do it because its the sense of fear and the excitement when you get the part that makes it worth wild. I also believe people do it because its something they love.
a) Some factors that make an actors' life difficult are fear of failure and uncertainty. Considering that having job security is very unlikely as an actor, they probably often wonder where their next pay check will come from. When people choose to become actors, they are choosing to be judged. In order to be chosen to act, they must audition. If they are not chosen for the part, they could become emotionally unstable and wonder what went wrong with them and think of themselves as a failure. Actors are also under pressure to maintain their looks. This is what causes a lot of actors to develop eating disorders and such. It seems like most actresses think that they need to be a size 0 and where tons of make-up to cover every single flaw. If a person goes through life always thinking of their appearance in such a manner then they have to constantly live in fear. Also, there's always a chance that an actor could forget their lines or forget choreography. I can only imagine how embarrassing that would be!
b)Who wants to go to a job that they hate everyday? I sure don't. Sometimes happiness and "living out your dream" is much more fulfilling than receiving a paycheck for something that you hate. Actors take risks so they can do what they love to do, act.
I would think being an actor/actress would come with some challenges and difficulties. Some being, the schedule and how much time you need to be committed. Actors put a lot of time in rehearsals and practicing on their own. I would also think having any negative feedback would be difficult to take. If someone receives ten positive comments and one negative comment they tend to remember that one negative comment. Also the fear to fail would make actors life difficult. A major challenge would be the uncertainty of having a job. Actors do not go into an audition and are guaranteed a part. That would be very challenging.
I think people still become actors because of the rewarding feeling they get when hearing the applause from the audience after a show. I also think actors have a true passion for what they do which makes them want to continue with acting as their career.
There are many different factors that can make an actors life difficult. A few of these factors are not knowing where their next job or paycheck will come from. Some actors may have difficulties finding jobs which means not having a constant paycheck. Another factor is that actors have to deal with the constant fear of failure. With each show they fear forgetting their lines, or not putting on their best performance. Most famous actors have to worry about the way they look because without the "look" they will no longer have a job.In my opinion, so many people want to become actors because it is truly what they love to do. I think actors have to have that desire to be on stage or they aren't as talented. People probably also enjoy the ability to completely leave the person they really are and become someone else for that short period of time. That seems exciting to me.
There are many different factors that can make an actors life difficult. A few of these factors are not knowing where their next job or paycheck will come from. Some actors may have difficulties finding jobs which means not having a constant paycheck. Another factor is that actors have to deal with the constant fear of failure. With each show they fear forgetting their lines, or not putting on their best performance. Most famous actors have to worry about the way they look because without the "look" they will no longer have a job.In my opinion, so many people want to become actors because it is truly what they love to do. I think actors have to have that desire to be on stage or they aren't as talented. People probably also enjoy the ability to completely leave the person they really are and become someone else for that short period of time. That seems exciting to me.
Brianne Ayres:
Actors will always have to face the difficulty of job security. Actors will never know when a role is going to happen and then if it does actors have to complete for that role. Also a difficulty is that good dedicated actors were born to do just that acting, they might find other jobs mundane. People often become very hard critics of actors more than other jobs too. People don't care to give a rough and hard critic to a actor's performance.
I think the reason why a lot of people want to be actors is because it is not them. Acting can be a escape into being anyone and having the audience see you is a huge thrill and reward.
A few things that can make an actor’s life challenging and difficult are largely contributed to the uncertainty aspect in the acting profession. Take for instance the audition process to even land a job. There could be upwards of several hundreds of actors trying out for one single role in a major production. Dealing with rejection multiple times while keeping your head up and staying determined to follow your dream would be tough. Of course there is the financial aspect, the feast and famine potential in this industry would become strenuous on anyone.
Although Mr. Cohen suggests acting is a bewildering profession, I believe he cautions it may not be for everyone. As with any profession an individual decides to pursue, it comes with sacrifices. Dressing up, performing for the audience under the lights, hearing the audience applause, perhaps this is part of what keeps the actor driven. Actors clearly have a passion to perform and to do something they love; it comes across on the stage! With that aspect, I can see why they can sacrifice materialistic items over their dreams if need be.
Job security is a major factor in the acting world. The idea of not knowing when the next time you'll find a job to pay the bills can be very difficult and frustrating career choice. But even knowing that, people still want to become actors because its something they love to do. It's the passion and the willingness to take those chances just for something they love.
a) What are some factors that can make an actor's life challenging and difficult?
I would say that the uncertainty of knowing when you are going to be getting your next pay check will be because most of the time a play will go on for a couple of weeks and then it ends or maybe a tour ends. That would be scary to not know when your next "job" will be.
b) If the profession is as "bewildering" as Mr Cohen suggests, WHY do so many people want to do it?
I would say because so many people love the rush and maybe even the attention that they get whenever they are on stage. It is also fun to play a character that can be so different from yourself, it's like you can be in someone else's shoes without having to compromise your own life and well being.
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