Actor Advice from Fiona Shaw

Actor Advice from Juliet Stevenson

Racquel on Acting

Comedy & Tragedy

So, this is some of the acting knowledge I've collected in my life experiences. I hope you find the information useful. I would be interested to hear any insight or comments.

Here's the Corkboard

Racquel Roberts on Acting

• Try to learn a new speech or poem at least once a week. Read all kinds of material out loud.
• Always learn accurately. I cannot think of any advantage in doing otherwise.
• Never spend time learning anything you don’t understand. Know what you are saying. Know what you need from the words.
• Learn thought by thought rather than sentence by sentence.
• Learn by speaking out loud.
• Use the form of writing to help you (i.e. the lines, rhythm and rhyme of verse).
• Pay attention to the little words (‘but’ is very different from ‘and’; ‘do not’ is very different from ‘don’t’).
• Be careful of plurals. The “s’ at the end of words is often dropped or added at will.
• As an arbitrary average, most actors say that they can learn a sonnet (fourteen lines of poetry) in forty-five minutes.
• The more you learn, the easier the process becomes. For the actor, learning must become second nature.

• Prebeat- Always have one.
• Do not Act; REACT.
• Cultivate your Environment.
• Make monologues/ scenes about the other person.
• Say “YES” physically to your scene partners unless the scene calls for otherwise. If you close your body off, you close your energy and the scene becomes very difficult and flat.
• It is okay to put your back to the audience. Let your back act.
• Find Stillness Sometimes.
• Don’t play the impressions of the characters. Find the depth.
• Know your lines word for word. There is a reason the author wrote those particular words.
• There is a reason Each Character says their particular words.
• Never censor your organic impulses.
• Buttons: Have an obvious beginning and an obvious end.
• Don’t be afraid to move. Take the space. Know the terrain/set well.
• Eye Contact. For better understanding and more deeply layered scenes, from Day One you should have strong eye contact with your scene partners. You need to know what it feels like to say every scripted word to your scene partners eyes. Later if it’s not right, you’ll feel it.
• RANGE: Allow for change within your character. Give yourself permission to explore the depths and highs of your characters emotions.
• Keep the Stakes HIGH.
• Raise the Stakes.
• Raise them Again.
• Make Bold, Strong, Emotional, Risky Choices.
• What do you have to lose?
• What is the worst possible thing that could happen if?…
• What is the best thing that could happen if?…

• Are you talking to yourself? Another character? The audience?
• Question what characters say about things and about other characters. WHY do they say it? WHAT is their angle?

• What do you want in this scene? In this act? In this play/movie?
• Do you achieve it? How?
• Are you talking to yourself? Another character? The audience?
• Have you been in this area/house/room before?
• What do you notice? (smell/hear/taste/feel/see)
• Why Am I Talking???
• How old are you?
• What is the date?
• What season is it?
• What is the weather like today?
• What time is it?
• What do you look like to yourself in the mirror?
• What do you look like to other people?

Go through the script and pull out the verbatim quotes for the following questions:

What does your character say about him/herself? Answer the question for each, "Is it true or false?"

What do other characters say about your character? Answer the questions, "Who says what?" "Is it true or false?"

What does the author say about your character?