By Amy Lyndon
Just so you to understand when I talk about brilliance, here's the definition of brilliance: striking, distinctive, glittering and bright. If you want to get into the one percent, you need to be distinctive, striking and bright every time! The reason I have you guys go over each line is because I want you to be extremely detail specific because the brilliance is in the specifics. How does your character speak? Are you adhering to the punctuation? If you throw it out, then you're not sounding exactly as the writer intended the character to sound. How are you going to pop and glitter with excitement if you're running lines and wrapping them around each other over and over again? We will see the character if you pop those transitions and punctuate how the character speaks. That's why I want you guys to write notes on every single one of your lines. What are you saying? What are you REALLY saying? The more you get into the habit of doing great homework, the more you'll get specific and have incredible booking results.
Most actors don't know what the homework is. They run their scenes and lines to death and then they think they're ready. Take the time and marinate on what you are really saying according to how you heard what the other person said to you. Stretch yourself and take it one step further. Break down each syllable, break down each line and break down each thought as a separate thought. Casual reality is just that, casual reality. Not really interesting for a competition. Every time that there's a comma there's a new thought. Every time that there's a period there's a new thought. Always ask why. Why is there an exclamation point? Why is there a question mark? Why is there a dot dot dot? Punctuation is always a clue to how your character feels. Give yourself up to the writers. You've got to keep asking yourself questions. And the more questions you ask yourself and the more answers you have the more specific you are and the more brilliant your performance is going to be. It's okay to be brilliant!
The brilliance is also in the letting go. It's easier to do when you know what you are doing. If you read and circle the actions, then you will know what you are doing. If you know what you are doing, so will everyone else watching you. Also understand exactly what's going on in the specifics of the relationship and in the specifics of EXACTLY how you speak to that person based on who they are. Trust me, someone will come in and they'll make the line sound just as good as you will, but in order to get into the one percent, how much further can you understand that line? How much further can you make it your own by understanding the relationship and how do you truly feel about that person in reaction to exactly what you just heard?
How are you ever going to pop in the room if everything you see, hear or feel is just casual reality to sound good? Seriously, what is the real truth? The character's truth? There are a lot of really great actors out there, but not a lot of brilliant ones. The only thing that will separate you out is in the specifics.
Seriously, my forte is being a booking coach and this is just a tidbit of solid proven advice to help you get into that 1% Booking Ratio. What you do once you're on set is up to you because frankly, at that point, my work is done. Just remember to use my name when you get your award!
xoxo
Amy Lyndonhttp://www.imdb.me/amylyndon
http://thelyndontechnique.com
818.760.8501
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