The Great Acting Blog

The Great Acting: “A Positive Struggle”

06.07.2013 , The Great Acting Blog , 34 Comments

"A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials." - Seneca Actors face rejection all the time, it's par for the course. This is well documented. It requires a combative spirit to be an actor, a spirit which, frankly, most people don't...

The Great Acting Blog: “What’s The Story?”

06.07.2013 , The Great Acting Blog , 0 Comments

We don't like talking about ourselves because we're not satisfied with our accomplishments and we're afraid of what we think of ourselves. This is especially true when we hear that hideous question; "so, are you working at the moment?" We are acutely aware of the enormity...

The Great Acting Blog: “Extraordinary Is Easier Than Mediocre”

05.07.2013 , The Great Acting Blog , 0 Comments

Most actors don't believe they are or can be great actors. Certainly few possess the drive and creative ambition of, say, an Al Pacino or a Laurence Olivier. Most actors think such an aim is preposterous. In consequence, they accept themselves as mediocre, happy just...

The Great Acting Blog: “Concentrate On Now”

04.07.2013 , The Great Acting Blog , 0 Comments

The life of an actor can be full of stress and pressure. So much of it seems to be out of our control. Things don't move fast enough, we're not where we want to be in our career, we haven't accomplished the things within the timeframe...

The Great Acting Blog: “Be An Explorer”

03.07.2013 , The Great Acting Blog , 22 Comments

A few years back, I wrote and produced a short film. It wasn't a conventional film, it was art house, minimal, exploring the minutiae of human behaviour and while we were making it I took a lot of flak from cast and crew. They didn't...

The Great Acting Blog: “David Mamet Directs”

02.07.2013 , The Great Acting Blog , 0 Comments

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQiGspS6rVg I stumbled upon this old, 1980 Creative Arts Television production about David Mamet rehearsing two of his plays, Dark Pony and Reunion, at The Circle Repertory Theatre in New York City. It's like drama school in 30 minutes, not to mention fascinating in it's own...

The Great Acting Blog: “The Transformational Magic Of Art”

01.07.2013 , The Great Acting Blog , 28 Comments

I recently watched an old, Italian giallo from the early 1980s, called A Blade In The Dark. It's about a sound artist who is holed up in a country mansion in order to work on the soundtrack for a new movie. Strange things start happening,...

The Great Acting Blog: “Dealing With Obnoxious Colleagues”

30.06.2013 , The Great Acting Blog , 2 Comments

Somebody once said that obnoxious behaviour was really a cry for help. Fear manifests itself in strange ways. A colleague's actions may appear to be incomprehensible to you - they suddenly become rude, obstreperous or arrogant - your hitherto good working relationship deteriorates for no...

The Great Acting Blog: “There Is No Hiding Place”

29.06.2013 , The Great Acting Blog , 0 Comments

Somewhere along the line you'll get found out. That's the great thing about acting, it will always find you out. It always reveals the truth, despite our best efforts to hide it. Acting will unmask your true intentions. The lifestyle and the work will bring...

The Great Acting Blog: “Do We Need Great Acting Anymore?”

28.06.2013 , The Great Acting Blog , 0 Comments

A strict form ( i.e. - precise script, blocking, actions) tests the actors skill and dedication. To fit himself into that form successfully, the actor needs to have superb technique. If everything is loose and open, then the performance will only be crafted to the...

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