The Vs. Studio Blog

“Every scene is filled with discoveries, things that happen for the first time. No matter how many times it has happened in the past, there is something new about this experience, this moment. Each of the many scenes between the constantly bickering George and Martha in WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF would be boring and tiresome if the actors did not find what is new, what is different, what is particularly at stake in the scene. Acting is a whole series of discoveries.

The discoveries may be about the other character, or about oneself, or about someone who is offstage, or about the situation now or the situation as it existed ten years ago and how that affects the now. The more discoveries you make in a scene—the less you rely on “we do this every day”—the more interesting your scene will be. It’s hard to bring vitality and life to routine, but they are difficult to escape when you have the excitement of discoveries. Take nothing for granted; make an emotional discovery as often as you can find one in every scene. Ask yourself: What is new?” –Audition: Everything an Actor Needs to Know to Get the Part by Michael Shurtleff

For the actor…

A big tool in your arsenal for making it feel like the first time, is discovery. Everywhere in the text, find moments where your character can be surprised. The more you dig, the more discoveries you will unearth.

And a way to activate discovery, especially in auditions or early in the rehearsal process, is to make a slightly audible “Oh!” at each one. (Thanks to my friend and wonderful actor/teacher Kurt Naebig, for this tip.) You can drop the “Oh!” later on, but the sense of discovery will stay with you. Kinda like muscle memory.

(And if it’s a negative discovery, feel free to substitute an “Oh!” with a “D’oh!.” Equally effective. 🙂

The audience loves to watch characters discover. Just like when you’re interested, we’re interested, when you’re surprised, we’re surprised. Which in turn, brings us joy and keeps us engaged.

And it feels like the first time
Like it never did before
Feels like the first time
Like we’ve opened up the door
Feels like the first time
Like it never will again
Never again

[Chorus]
(Feels like the first time)
It feels like the first time
(It feels like the very first time)
Very first, feels
(It feels like the first time)
Oh, it feels like the first time
(Feels like the very first time) -song, “Feels Like The First Time” by Foreigner

“Wandering about saying the lines over and over and over and over so that you can eventually give an impression of spontaneity. That’s the job.” -Bill Nighy

For the actor…

No one ever forgets their first time. Including the audience.

You must act as if you’re saying and hearing these lines for the very first time. Besides being the strongest and most vulnerable choice, it’s the craft. It’s the job.

The audience paid good money and sacrificed considerable time to come see this exciting story get told. To watch you make huge discoveries in the process.

Give them a first time they’ll never forget.

“Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.” -Saint Augustine

I believe, I believe in you
You believe in me too -lyrics from song “I Believe In You” by Johnnie Taylor

“I believe in you.”

Behind many a success story, is someone who believed in that person early on.  Like Denzel Washington talks about here. And Alex Rodriguez talks about here.

The greatest gift you can give another person is to believe in them.  Especially when they don’t yet believe in themselves.

The next time someone is brave enough to share with you their deepest desires, look them squarely in the eye and tell them.  “I believe in you.”  And mean it with all your whole heart and soul.

You can believe it into existence.

You can change a life.

Who can then change the world.

By the way, in case you were wondering…

“I believe in you.”

P.S. – This song.

Be the exception to the rule.

Be the oasis in the desert.

Be the company (or organization or group or person) that when the industry’s in chaos, people still say, “Yeah…But there is this one (insert name)…that’s thriving. I love what they do and how they go about doing it. They give me hope.”

“How many things I do when the soul, in so much spiritual and material need, turns to me, looks at me and says to me, “You take care of it”, then closes its eyes and rests. In pain you pray for me to act, but that I act in the way you want. You do not turn to me, instead, you want me to adapt your ideas. You are not sick people who ask the doctor to cure you, but rather sick people who tell the doctor how to.” -Fr. Don Dolindo’s Surrender Novena

“We all develop characteristic patterns of acting and thinking, and such patterns exist because it serves a function. The time for change comes when we realize that the same function could be served in a better way.” –The Inner Game Of Tennis by Timothy Gallwey

“Throw out your conceited opinions, for it is impossible for a person to begin to learn what he thinks he already knows.” -Epictetus, Discourses

Do you want affirmation? Or thoughtful and critical feedback?

Do you want to stay comfortable and complacent? Or do the sometimes uncomfortable work, of getting better?

Do you want to remain fixed in your ideas and skillset? Or are you open to learn new things?

Do you want to be healed? Or tell the physician how to do their job?

The first step is being honest in what you want.

If it’s to grow and get better, then the second step is to be open, humble and surrender.

Let go.

When you do, that’s when the exciting change can happen.

I celebrate myself,
And what I assume you shall assume,
For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you…

In all people I see myself, none more and not one a barley-corn less, and the good or bad I say of myself I say of them…

Do I contradict myself?
Very well then I contradict myself,
(I am large, I contain multitudes.) -Excerpts from poem, Song Of Myself by Walt Whitman

“Recognize that the very molecules that make up your body, the atoms that construct the molecules, are traceable to the crucibles that were once the centers of high mass stars that exploded their chemically rich guts into the galaxy, enriching pristine gas clouds with the chemistry of life. So that we are all connected to each other biologically, to the earth chemically and to the rest of the universe atomically. That’s kinda cool! That makes me smile and I actually feel quite large at the end of that. It’s not that we are better than the universe, we are part of the universe. We are in the universe and the universe is in us.” -Neil deGrasse Tyson

Be content with what you have;
rejoice in the way things are.
When you realize there is nothing lacking,
the whole world belongs to you. –Tao Te Ching by Lao-Tzu (Stephen Mitchell translation)

We’re all stardust. We’re all connected.

Knowing this, don’t envy another’s success. For their success is your success.

Don’t judge anyone else. For their failures are your failures.

Don’t limit yourself. The possibilities are infinite.

For you contain multitudes.

“You don’t need more time…you just need to decide.” -Seth Godin

“You can do anything, but not everything.” -James Allen

“Think of many things. Do one.” -Portuguese Proverb

“What’s the ONE thing I can do, such that by doing it, everything else will be easier or unnecessary?” -Tim Keller

“It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” -J.K. Rowling

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.” -J.R.R. Tolkien

“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” -Jane Goodall

Decision stems from the Latin words “de” which means “from” and “caedere” which means “to cut off.” So when you decide to do something, you are literally cutting yourself off from all other (often some really good, fun and potentially lucrative) possibilities. That cutting off, coupled with the fact that an entire economy has emerged centered around distracting us, makes deciding more difficult than ever.

But me must.

Just decide.

Pick something. Anything. One thing.

(And then take massive and continuous action towards it.)

P.S. – This article on the distraction economy.

P.P.S. – This article on Jane Goodall

“No input, no output.” -Joe Strummer of The Clash

Just like athletes, the artist must take care of their body, mind and spirit. A disciplined routine that includes proper sleep, nutrition, exercise and meditation is worth investing in.

Also, the artist must constantly be inspired. Take in and appreciate great art in all its forms. Pay attention to what you’re consuming. Guard your attention like a hawk.

While creativity is abundant, you need to be open, available and in peak form to tap into it.

You gotta constantly fill yourself up.

Otherwise, you’ll have nothing to pour out.

And remember, you are the power plant.

P.S. – This great Billy Oppenheimer newsletter.

Clowns to the left of me
Jokers to the right
Here I am stuck in the middle with you -song “Stuck In The Middle With You” by Stealers Wheel

For the audition, the performance, the business meeting, the pitch, the presentation, etc…

It didn’t go as well as you think. Nor did it go as badly as you fear.

The truth usually lies somewhere in the middle. A little time and distance reveals this.

Which is why an honest, objective, post game reflection (like the post show notebook practice) is vital. That’s the only way you can grow. Which is what it’s all about, right? Process. Process. Process.

Strive to get today’s middle better than yesterday’s best.

“A great script is your currency in Hollywood.” -producer Brian Grazer

Peter Lynch, arguably the greatest stock picker of all time, was fond of saying, “The person who turns over the most stones, wins the game.” The amount of companies Lynch analyzed while running The Magellan Fund was legendary. He even turned shopping at the mall and family vacations into fun excursions to learn about companies. He was always curious, always looking, always learning. His classic book, “One Up On Wall Street” is one of the best investing books ever written. It’s a terrific and inspiring read, full of compelling stories and still holds up.

Lynch’s advice also applies to producing. If you’re hunting for a great script, you’ve got to read, read, read, and then read some more. Never stop reading.

If you want to find the gold, you’ve got to turn over the most stones.