Skip to main content
BPN Logo
Emotion Comes Last

Actors are often taught to explore emotion—but what if emotion is actually the last part of scene preparation? In Episode #441 of Casting Actors Cast, casting director, actor, author and teacher Jeff Dreisbach introduces a practical four-step approach to scene analysis: WANT, NEED, BEHAVIOR and EMOTION... Read More

From the show: Casting Actors Cast

24 mins
Oct 1

About

Actors are often taught to explore emotion—but what if emotion is actually the last part of scene preparation?

In Episode #441 of Casting Actors Cast, casting director, actor, author and teacher Jeff Dreisbach introduces a practical four-step approach to scene analysis: WANT, NEED, BEHAVIOR and EMOTION.

Begin with the writer: Why does the scene exist? Then discover what your character needs from the other person, explore the mental and physical behaviors used to pursue that need, and finally allow emotion to emerge as a result of what happens in the scene. This episode explores why preparing emotional results can limit spontaneity, how behavior creates character, why acting remains relational, and how better preparation can actually create greater freedom in performance.

If you have ever tried to “be sad,” “get angry,” or manufacture a feeling in an audition, this episode may help you approach your work from an entirely different direction.

ch

Transcript

1

00:00:03,303 --> 00:00:08,641

There is something actors do all the

time that I completely understand.

2

00:00:09,476 --> 00:00:11,344

They get a scene, they read it,

3

00:00:11,878 --> 00:00:15,215

they discover that something terrible

has happened in the scene,

4

00:00:15,849 --> 00:00:18,551

and almost immediately they make a

decision.

5

00:00:19,719 --> 00:00:20,820

This is a sad scene.

6

00:00:21,855 --> 00:00:24,157

Or the character's furious.

7

00:00:25,225 --> 00:00:28,795

This character is terrified, this

character is heartbroken.

8

00:00:30,330 --> 00:00:31,31

And then

9

00:00:31,464 --> 00:00:32,799

the preparation begins.

10

00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:35,535

How do I become heartbroken?

11

00:00:36,336 --> 00:00:37,804

How do I get angry enough?

12

00:00:38,171 --> 00:00:40,640

How do I make this feel more emotional?

13

00:00:41,307 --> 00:00:42,242

And right there,

14

00:00:42,809 --> 00:00:44,10

before the actor has

15

00:00:44,344 --> 00:00:45,612

even really started,

16

00:00:46,513 --> 00:00:47,847

we may have a problem,

17

00:00:48,515 --> 00:00:51,51

because emotion has suddenly become the

assignment.

18

00:00:51,851 --> 00:00:56,423

And I'm beginning to think that emotion

may actually actually be the last thing

19

00:00:56,990 --> 00:00:58,91

we should prepare

20

00:00:59,225 --> 00:01:00,960

welcome to casting actor's cast.

21

00:01:01,294 --> 00:01:02,562

I'm Jeff dry's back.

22

00:01:09,703 --> 00:01:13,139

I want to give you a very simple way of

thinking about scene preparation

23

00:01:14,441 --> 00:01:16,776

it's not designed to replace

danislavsky.

24

00:01:17,210 --> 00:01:19,346

It's not replacing meisner.

25

00:01:19,946 --> 00:01:23,83

Nobody needs to remove their udahogen

books from the shelf.

26

00:01:23,383 --> 00:01:27,787

And I'm certainly not showing up with

stone tablets from the acting gods

27

00:01:28,121 --> 00:01:28,988

saying, good news.

28

00:01:29,155 --> 00:01:31,191

Everybody, we finally figured it out.

29

00:01:31,858 --> 00:01:34,94

No, no, this is really much simpler.

30

00:01:34,761 --> 00:01:36,796

It's really an organizational tool,

31

00:01:37,297 --> 00:01:37,697

a way.

32

00:01:38,264 --> 00:01:42,335

Many of the things actors already

understand in putting them into an

33

00:01:42,435 --> 00:01:44,4

order that I think makes

34

00:01:44,304 --> 00:01:45,338

preparation

35

00:01:46,239 --> 00:01:46,873

clearer

36

00:01:47,774 --> 00:01:49,275

and much more playable.

37

00:01:50,110 --> 00:01:51,211

So let's talk about that.

38

00:01:52,579 --> 00:01:53,613

The order is this,

39

00:01:54,714 --> 00:01:55,515

want

40

00:01:55,849 --> 00:01:56,149

need

41

00:01:57,150 --> 00:01:57,450

behavior,

42

00:01:58,251 --> 00:01:58,885

emotion,

43

00:02:00,186 --> 00:02:00,954

four things.

44

00:02:02,22 --> 00:02:06,393

But the order matters, because I think

actors sometimes start at number four

45

00:02:07,60 --> 00:02:11,398

and then spend the entire audition

trying to reverse engineer number 12

46

00:02:12,98 --> 00:02:12,799

and three.

47

00:02:14,434 --> 00:02:15,802

So let's start with want.

48

00:02:16,102 --> 00:02:20,206

And right away, I'm going to use that

word a little differently than actors

49

00:02:20,507 --> 00:02:21,441

normally do.

50

00:02:21,875 --> 00:02:26,79

When actors here want, they usually

think, what does my character want?

51

00:02:26,913 --> 00:02:29,916

And that question has been part of

acting training forever,

52

00:02:31,51 --> 00:02:32,285

and it is an important question.

53

00:02:32,419 --> 00:02:34,554

But I want to start one step earlier

54

00:02:35,155 --> 00:02:37,424

before we ask what the character wants,

55

00:02:38,191 --> 00:02:39,693

ask what the scene wants.

56

00:02:41,394 --> 00:02:43,997

Why did the writer, writer write this

scene?

57

00:02:45,65 --> 00:02:46,232

What has happened here?

58

00:02:46,900 --> 00:02:51,137

What does the audience need to

understand when this scene is over that

59

00:02:51,137 --> 00:02:53,773

they did not understand when it began?

60

00:02:55,208 --> 00:02:57,110

That is the writer's intention.

61

00:02:58,178 --> 00:03:00,980

And I think it's one of the most

overlooked pieces of active preparation.

62

00:03:02,15 --> 00:03:04,784

Because actors are not only portraying

people,

63

00:03:05,151 --> 00:03:06,386

we are telling stories.

64

00:03:06,920 --> 00:03:11,358

And a scene exists because something in

the story needs to move.

65

00:03:12,258 --> 00:03:13,860

Someone discovers something.

66

00:03:14,494 --> 00:03:16,896

Someone changes their mind, a

relationship

67

00:03:18,31 --> 00:03:18,198

shifts.

68

00:03:18,598 --> 00:03:19,699

Information gets revealed.

69

00:03:20,333 --> 00:03:22,402

As decision gets made.

70

00:03:22,836 --> 00:03:24,637

Someone leaves, someone stays,

71

00:03:24,971 --> 00:03:29,476

someone realizes that the person they

trusted has been lying to them for

72

00:03:29,542 --> 00:03:30,710

twelve years,

73

00:03:31,478 --> 00:03:34,147

which is also known as Tuesday night

television.

74

00:03:35,782 --> 00:03:37,117

See something changes.

75

00:03:37,851 --> 00:03:39,519

So before I ask myself,

76

00:03:40,20 --> 00:03:42,389

how emotional should I be?

77

00:03:43,56 --> 00:03:46,393

I want to know, why is this scene here?

78

00:03:47,861 --> 00:03:49,462

That question can save an actor.

79

00:03:49,696 --> 00:03:51,631

Enormous amounts of unnecessary work.

80

00:03:52,32 --> 00:03:56,436

Because sometimes we see auditions

where the actor has created all kinds

81

00:03:56,503 --> 00:03:58,238

of interesting emotional activity.

82

00:03:59,139 --> 00:04:02,442

There are tears there's tension,

there's anger.

83

00:04:02,809 --> 00:04:06,746

There's a dramatic inhale that suggests

somebody somewhere should probably call

84

00:04:06,746 --> 00:04:06,980

an ambulance.

85

00:04:08,14 --> 00:04:11,685

And yet, the actual scene has

disappeared.

86

00:04:12,252 --> 00:04:15,188

The actor is performing an emotional

experience,

87

00:04:16,22 --> 00:04:17,424

but the story isn't moving.

88

00:04:17,857 --> 00:04:20,326

And those are not necessarily the same

thing.

89

00:04:21,394 --> 00:04:22,395

Here's an example.

90

00:04:23,296 --> 00:04:27,200

Imagine a scene where a daughter tells

her father she is leaving town.

91

00:04:28,101 --> 00:04:31,504

Now an actor might immediately decide,

this is heartbreaking

92

00:04:32,672 --> 00:04:33,606

m,

93

00:04:34,507 --> 00:04:37,110

but why did the writer write the scene?

94

00:04:37,944 --> 00:04:40,947

Perhaps the important event is not that

she's leaving.

95

00:04:41,548 --> 00:04:44,984

Perhaps the important event is that the

father finally realizes

96

00:04:46,186 --> 00:04:48,788

she no longer needs his permission.

97

00:04:49,956 --> 00:04:51,24

You see, that's different.

98

00:04:52,25 --> 00:04:53,593

Maybe the scene exists

99

00:04:54,27 --> 00:04:58,832

because the daughter has spent her

entire life trying to please him, and

100

00:04:58,898 --> 00:04:59,999

for the first time,

101

00:05:00,333 --> 00:05:01,601

chooses herself.

102

00:05:03,136 --> 00:05:05,271

Now the scene is not simply about

sadness.

103

00:05:06,272 --> 00:05:07,507

It's about independence.

104

00:05:08,675 --> 00:05:12,912

Or perhaps the father secretly wants

her to go, but cannot bring himself to

105

00:05:12,979 --> 00:05:13,446

say it.

106

00:05:14,347 --> 00:05:16,149

Now the scene is about release.

107

00:05:17,550 --> 00:05:18,551

Same dialogue,

108

00:05:19,219 --> 00:05:20,320

different story telling.

109

00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:25,692

The emotional possibilities begin to

multiply once we understand what the

110

00:05:25,692 --> 00:05:26,726

scene is doing.

111

00:05:27,694 --> 00:05:31,364

That is why I like beginning with the

writer.

112

00:05:32,432 --> 00:05:37,103

The writer gives us the architecture

the actor gives that architecture life.

113

00:05:37,704 --> 00:05:39,506

So the first question becomes,

114

00:05:40,273 --> 00:05:42,409

what does this scene need to accomplish?

115

00:05:43,209 --> 00:05:46,546

And sometimes I literally recommend

that actors write one sentence,

116

00:05:47,380 --> 00:05:48,415

no poetry, no dissertation.

117

00:05:49,449 --> 00:05:51,851

You're not submitting this to the Nobel

committee.

118

00:05:53,219 --> 00:05:54,87

One sentence.

119

00:05:55,55 --> 00:05:57,123

This scene exists so that

120

00:05:58,258 --> 00:05:59,192

dot and finish it.

121

00:06:00,493 --> 00:06:03,663

This scene exists so that she discovers

he lied.

122

00:06:04,597 --> 00:06:05,598

The scene exists

123

00:06:06,32 --> 00:06:09,135

so that he finally asks for help.

124

00:06:10,437 --> 00:06:11,671

This scene exists

125

00:06:12,105 --> 00:06:15,208

so that the audience realizes she

already knows.

126

00:06:16,276 --> 00:06:19,479

This scene exists so that their

relationship changes from professional

127

00:06:20,113 --> 00:06:20,814

to personal.

128

00:06:22,515 --> 00:06:24,317

That becomes your north star,

129

00:06:24,984 --> 00:06:28,955

because now you know what story you are

helping to tell.

130

00:06:29,856 --> 00:06:31,358

And there's another benefit

131

00:06:32,25 --> 00:06:34,94

it gets the actor out of themselves.

132

00:06:35,128 --> 00:06:38,498

That may be one of the most useful

things preparation can do.

133

00:06:38,598 --> 00:06:40,333

Instead of how my doing,

134

00:06:41,267 --> 00:06:41,768

is

135

00:06:42,168 --> 00:06:42,669

this emotional?

136

00:06:43,236 --> 00:06:43,403

Enough?

137

00:06:43,937 --> 00:06:44,604

Am I interesting?

138

00:06:45,71 --> 00:06:46,106

Do they like my choices?

139

00:06:46,439 --> 00:06:49,442

You begin with, what story am I serving?

140

00:06:50,276 --> 00:06:52,479

That's a much healthier place to work

from,

141

00:06:53,146 --> 00:06:55,348

and frankly a much more professional

one,

142

00:06:55,949 --> 00:06:59,319

because actors sometimes become so

involved in creating a character that

143

00:06:59,319 --> 00:07:00,520

they forget they are participating.

144

00:07:01,54 --> 00:07:03,56

In a larger piece of story telling.

145

00:07:03,790 --> 00:07:07,60

The scene does not exist so that you

can demonstrate the fascinating

146

00:07:07,627 --> 00:07:09,429

complexity of your inner life.

147

00:07:10,897 --> 00:07:13,133

I know, disappointing, but there it is.

148

00:07:13,933 --> 00:07:16,803

The scene exists because the story

needs it

149

00:07:18,38 --> 00:07:19,372

so want,

150

00:07:19,773 --> 00:07:20,807

in this framework,

151

00:07:21,141 --> 00:07:22,575

belongs to the story.

152

00:07:23,309 --> 00:07:24,678

What does the scene want?

153

00:07:25,211 --> 00:07:28,14

What does the writer need from this

scene?

154

00:07:28,982 --> 00:07:30,83

That is step one.

155

00:07:31,451 --> 00:07:32,652

And once we know that,

156

00:07:33,553 --> 00:07:36,156

we can finally turn toward the

character.

157

00:07:37,157 --> 00:07:39,359

Because now becomes need.

158

00:07:39,793 --> 00:07:41,928

And this is where the work becomes

personal.

159

00:07:42,896 --> 00:07:46,99

Not personal in the sense of, I'm going

to think about something terrible from

160

00:07:46,266 --> 00:07:47,667

sevenths grade.

161

00:07:48,201 --> 00:07:50,70

Personal in the sense of relationship.

162

00:07:50,904 --> 00:07:52,639

What do I need from you?

163

00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:55,8

That question changes everything.

164

00:07:55,208 --> 00:07:58,712

Because acting is rarely about having

feelings alone in a room.

165

00:07:59,713 --> 00:08:04,150

Even when you are alone in the room,

someone is usually present psychologically

166

00:08:05,51 --> 00:08:08,355

someone you need, someone you miss,

someone you hate, someone whose

167

00:08:08,655 --> 00:08:09,756

approval you want,

168

00:08:10,757 --> 00:08:14,594

someone you're trying desperately not

to think about while clearly thinking

169

00:08:14,828 --> 00:08:17,430

about them every three seconds.

170

00:08:18,598 --> 00:08:21,601

Human beings are relational creatures.

171

00:08:23,303 --> 00:08:24,471

Characters are too.

172

00:08:25,472 --> 00:08:29,876

So once I understand what the scene

needs to accomplish, I ask, what does

173

00:08:29,943 --> 00:08:32,145

my character need from the other person?

174

00:08:32,912 --> 00:08:33,79

Not?

175

00:08:33,213 --> 00:08:35,48

What do I need to feel?

176

00:08:35,715 --> 00:08:37,584

What do I need from them?

177

00:08:38,518 --> 00:08:40,653

I need you to believe me.

178

00:08:41,321 --> 00:08:42,756

I need you to forgive me.

179

00:08:42,822 --> 00:08:44,491

I need you to stay.

180

00:08:44,824 --> 00:08:45,792

I need you to leave.

181

00:08:46,192 --> 00:08:47,527

I need you to stop.

182

00:08:48,28 --> 00:08:50,230

I need you to stop treating me like a

child.

183

00:08:51,231 --> 00:08:53,266

I need you to tell me the truth.

184

00:08:54,434 --> 00:08:56,169

I need you to respect me.

185

00:08:57,70 --> 00:09:00,6

I need you to admit that you were wrong.

186

00:09:01,241 --> 00:09:02,709

I need you to love me.

187

00:09:04,577 --> 00:09:05,879

Now something begins to happen.

188

00:09:06,112 --> 00:09:08,148

Because the scene has direction,

189

00:09:09,49 --> 00:09:11,518

there's energy moving between people.

190

00:09:12,18 --> 00:09:15,689

And that is very different from the

actor thinking, I need to be angry here,

191

00:09:16,589 --> 00:09:17,390

angry at what?

192

00:09:17,457 --> 00:09:17,857

For what?

193

00:09:18,24 --> 00:09:18,725

Toward whom

194

00:09:19,626 --> 00:09:19,959

to accomplish?

195

00:09:20,427 --> 00:09:20,794

What?

196

00:09:21,861 --> 00:09:25,231

Emotion without direction, can become

theatrical wall paper.

197

00:09:25,699 --> 00:09:28,902

It decorates the scene, but it doesn't

necessarily drive.

198

00:09:29,69 --> 00:09:29,135

It.

199

00:09:30,337 --> 00:09:32,972

Need gives, emotion, somewhere to go.

200

00:09:33,540 --> 00:09:37,143

And I think this is where actors often

discover that seems they thought were

201

00:09:37,210 --> 00:09:39,45

about emotion are really about

202

00:09:39,212 --> 00:09:40,313

persuasion

203

00:09:41,381 --> 00:09:42,716

or protection,

204

00:09:43,616 --> 00:09:46,219

or survival or connection.

205

00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:49,122

A character screaming, I hate you

206

00:09:49,856 --> 00:09:51,691

may actually be saying,

207

00:09:52,359 --> 00:09:53,760

please don't leave me.

208

00:09:54,894 --> 00:09:56,329

A character saying, I'm fine

209

00:09:57,130 --> 00:09:58,898

may desperately need someone to

recognize

210

00:09:59,933 --> 00:10:01,267

that they are not fine.

211

00:10:02,102 --> 00:10:04,304

A character saying, I don't care

212

00:10:05,71 --> 00:10:08,8

may need the other person to prove that

they do

213

00:10:08,908 --> 00:10:09,75

that.

214

00:10:09,142 --> 00:10:12,679

Contradiction is where acting gets

interesting, because human beings are

215

00:10:12,746 --> 00:10:16,483

almost never as simple as the sentences

they speak.

216

00:10:17,450 --> 00:10:21,755

I sometimes think the actor's job is

discovering the sentence underneath the sentence.

217

00:10:22,822 --> 00:10:24,791

What am I really asking from you?

218

00:10:25,792 --> 00:10:26,726

Once you know that

219

00:10:27,394 --> 00:10:28,795

you have something to play

220

00:10:30,30 --> 00:10:31,364

and notice what has happened?

221

00:10:32,499 --> 00:10:34,267

We still haven't talked about emotion,

222

00:10:35,368 --> 00:10:36,2

have we?

223

00:10:37,70 --> 00:10:42,75

We have story, we have relationship,

and already the scene is alive.

224

00:10:43,143 --> 00:10:44,10

That leads us

225

00:10:44,811 --> 00:10:45,745

to behavior.

226

00:10:46,813 --> 00:10:49,916

And this is where preparation becomes

especially practical,

227

00:10:50,517 --> 00:10:52,519

because need tells me what I am

pursuing.

228

00:10:53,219 --> 00:10:56,156

Behavior tells me how I pursue it

229

00:10:57,457 --> 00:10:59,392

let's say, I need you to forgive me

fine.

230

00:10:59,693 --> 00:11:00,794

How do I behave

231

00:11:01,861 --> 00:11:02,28

m?

232

00:11:02,328 --> 00:11:03,830

Maybe I become charming,

233

00:11:04,497 --> 00:11:06,66

maybe I become defensive.

234

00:11:07,133 --> 00:11:08,968

Maybe I minimize what happened.

235

00:11:09,936 --> 00:11:12,138

Maybe I take responsibility.

236

00:11:13,73 --> 00:11:14,74

Maybe I make jokes.

237

00:11:14,441 --> 00:11:15,241

Maybe I blame.

238

00:11:15,875 --> 00:11:17,277

Maybe I blame somebody else.

239

00:11:18,978 --> 00:11:25,552

Maybe I become completely still because

I am terrified that anything I say will

240

00:11:25,719 --> 00:11:26,886

make things worse.

241

00:11:28,355 --> 00:11:29,923

Those are behaviors,

242

00:11:30,657 --> 00:11:32,492

and behavior is playable.

243

00:11:34,260 --> 00:11:35,829

That word matters playable.

244

00:11:36,730 --> 00:11:39,32

Insecure may describe someone,

245

00:11:39,632 --> 00:11:40,667

but seeking your approval

246

00:11:41,768 --> 00:11:43,203

gives me something to do.

247

00:11:44,504 --> 00:11:46,873

Loving may describe a condition,

248

00:11:47,474 --> 00:11:48,975

but protecting you

249

00:11:49,542 --> 00:11:50,543

creates action.

250

00:11:51,511 --> 00:11:51,811

Egotistical

251

00:11:52,679 --> 00:11:56,516

might be accurate, but making

everything about myself gives the actor

252

00:11:56,816 --> 00:11:58,84

a behavioral path.

253

00:11:59,452 --> 00:12:01,755

This is a very important distinction.

254

00:12:02,822 --> 00:12:04,624

Labels describe behavior.

255

00:12:05,959 --> 00:12:08,161

Labels describe activities.

256

00:12:09,129 --> 00:12:09,629

And labels

257

00:12:10,730 --> 00:12:11,31

activates.

258

00:12:11,865 --> 00:12:15,35

Like, for example, if I say my

character is dishonest,

259

00:12:16,169 --> 00:12:16,970

ok,

260

00:12:17,871 --> 00:12:19,539

what does dishonesty look like?

261

00:12:19,639 --> 00:12:20,173

Here?

262

00:12:21,241 --> 00:12:22,442

Am I avoiding eye contact?

263

00:12:22,742 --> 00:12:23,543

Am I over explaining?

264

00:12:24,277 --> 00:12:25,378

Am I changing the subject?

265

00:12:26,12 --> 00:12:27,480

My becoming unusually helpful?

266

00:12:27,881 --> 00:12:31,851

Am I attacking you before you can

attack me?

267

00:12:32,819 --> 00:12:34,354

Suddenly the character becomes specific.

268

00:12:35,455 --> 00:12:39,526

And I like dividing behaviour into two

categories,

269

00:12:40,427 --> 00:12:42,228

mental behaviour and physical behaviour.

270

00:12:43,229 --> 00:12:46,633

Mental behaviour is what the character

is doing, psychologically,

271

00:12:47,300 --> 00:12:52,972

assessing, testing, protecting,

manipulating, avoiding, controlling, seducing,

272

00:12:53,239 --> 00:12:55,842

concealing, comforting, searching.

273

00:12:56,576 --> 00:12:57,911

Physical behaviour

274

00:12:58,411 --> 00:13:01,281

is how that psychology enters the body.

275

00:13:02,15 --> 00:13:03,216

Do I move toward you?

276

00:13:03,450 --> 00:13:04,284

Away from you?

277

00:13:04,417 --> 00:13:05,385

Do I become still.

278

00:13:05,785 --> 00:13:07,87

Do I fill the space?

279

00:13:07,387 --> 00:13:08,588

Do I avoid your eyes?

280

00:13:09,222 --> 00:13:10,557

Do I stare too long?

281

00:13:10,890 --> 00:13:12,625

Does my voice become faster,

282

00:13:13,126 --> 00:13:13,760

quieter,

283

00:13:14,227 --> 00:13:14,894

sharper?

284

00:13:15,462 --> 00:13:16,262

Do I touch you?

285

00:13:16,429 --> 00:13:17,797

Do I refuse to touch you?

286

00:13:17,931 --> 00:13:20,967

None of those things should become

choreography.

287

00:13:21,701 --> 00:13:22,902

We don't want line three.

288

00:13:23,69 --> 00:13:23,403

Look away.

289

00:13:23,636 --> 00:13:24,904

Line five, touch chin.

290

00:13:25,305 --> 00:13:26,906

Line seven, become emotionally

available.

291

00:13:28,274 --> 00:13:31,44

That's not acting, that's assembling

IKEA furniture.

292

00:13:32,278 --> 00:13:34,981

But behavioral awareness gives the

actor.

293

00:13:35,315 --> 00:13:35,849

Choices

294

00:13:36,249 --> 00:13:38,551

and choices create specificity.

295

00:13:39,152 --> 00:13:40,487

And here is an example.

296

00:13:41,54 --> 00:13:43,790

Two actors can have the exact same

need.

297

00:13:44,257 --> 00:13:46,92

I need you to believe me.

298

00:13:46,993 --> 00:13:49,929

Actor a pursues the need by explaining

everything.

299

00:13:50,497 --> 00:13:52,966

They become verbal, detailed urgent.

300

00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:55,35

Actor b, p, p, p, p, p, p, p, p.

301

00:13:55,35 --> 00:13:57,137

P pursues the same need by becoming

302

00:13:58,171 --> 00:13:59,673

completely calm.

303

00:14:01,141 --> 00:14:01,908

Same need,

304

00:14:02,509 --> 00:14:03,677

different behavior,

305

00:14:04,744 --> 00:14:07,213

and therefore a completely different

character.

306

00:14:08,415 --> 00:14:12,919

That is why I think behavior is one of

the most useful places for an actor to

307

00:14:12,919 --> 00:14:14,554

spend preparation time.

308

00:14:15,455 --> 00:14:17,424

Not how do I make this interesting?

309

00:14:18,91 --> 00:14:22,729

But how does this person behave when

they need something badly?

310

00:14:24,497 --> 00:14:25,598

That question

311

00:14:26,733 --> 00:14:27,834

creates character,

312

00:14:28,902 --> 00:14:31,71

and here's where the other actor

becomes essential.

313

00:14:31,471 --> 00:14:31,938

Because behavior

314

00:14:33,73 --> 00:14:34,574

cannot become fixed.

315

00:14:35,375 --> 00:14:38,411

I may enter the scene planning to

reassure you,

316

00:14:38,978 --> 00:14:40,313

but if you laugh at me,

317

00:14:40,814 --> 00:14:42,415

my behavior may change.

318

00:14:43,550 --> 00:14:44,784

Now I challenge you.

319

00:14:45,218 --> 00:14:46,720

If you challenge me back,

320

00:14:47,53 --> 00:14:47,721

I may react.

321

00:14:48,254 --> 00:14:51,24

If you suddenly become vulnerable, I

may soften.

322

00:14:51,791 --> 00:14:53,727

The need may remain the same.

323

00:14:53,860 --> 00:14:57,263

But my character changes according to

what I receive.

324

00:14:57,630 --> 00:15:00,333

And that brings us to the final part of

this process,

325

00:15:00,967 --> 00:15:01,768

emotion.

326

00:15:02,902 --> 00:15:04,604

The thing actors often prepare.

327

00:15:05,138 --> 00:15:05,605

First,

328

00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:11,211

I want to suggest something that may

sound radical, but isn't really.

329

00:15:12,178 --> 00:15:13,446

What if you didn't

330

00:15:13,613 --> 00:15:14,881

prepare the emotion?

331

00:15:16,16 --> 00:15:19,986

What if you prepared everything that

makes emotion possible?

332

00:15:20,987 --> 00:15:24,758

What if emotion is not something you

impose on the scene, but something you

333

00:15:24,891 --> 00:15:26,559

discover inside it?

334

00:15:27,460 --> 00:15:29,596

Because if I know what the story needs,

335

00:15:30,30 --> 00:15:34,868

I know what I need from you, and I know

how I tend to pursue that need,

336

00:15:35,635 --> 00:15:36,436

then something happens.

337

00:15:36,970 --> 00:15:38,71

When you respond,

338

00:15:38,838 --> 00:15:40,173

you give me what I want,

339

00:15:40,907 --> 00:15:41,775

or you don't?

340

00:15:42,575 --> 00:15:43,376

You surprise me.

341

00:15:43,610 --> 00:15:44,511

Do reject me.

342

00:15:45,78 --> 00:15:46,179

You misunderstand me.

343

00:15:46,179 --> 00:15:47,547

You forgive me, you betray me.

344

00:15:47,547 --> 00:15:51,351

And suddenly I feel something, not

because I manufactured it,

345

00:15:51,951 --> 00:15:53,453

because something happened.

346

00:15:54,587 --> 00:15:57,424

This is a very different acting

experience.

347

00:15:57,791 --> 00:15:59,693

Emotion becomes consequence.

348

00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:02,495

And this is the phrase I want you to

remember.

349

00:16:04,30 --> 00:16:05,765

is not the instruction.

350

00:16:06,232 --> 00:16:07,200

Emotion

351

00:16:07,634 --> 00:16:08,802

is the information.

352

00:16:09,769 --> 00:16:10,603

It tells us.

353

00:16:10,970 --> 00:16:15,508

What is happening to the character as

they pursue what they need.

354

00:16:17,610 --> 00:16:18,712

Think about real life.

355

00:16:19,779 --> 00:16:23,316

You usually don't walk into an

important conversation thinking at

356

00:16:23,316 --> 00:16:24,17

exactly 317.

357

00:16:24,818 --> 00:16:27,854

This afternoon, I intend to become

devastated.

358

00:16:29,389 --> 00:16:30,23

You don't do that.

359

00:16:30,190 --> 00:16:32,325

It happens because something occurs.

360

00:16:33,59 --> 00:16:36,496

You hear something, you realize

something, you lose something, you get

361

00:16:36,663 --> 00:16:38,865

something, you desperately wanted

362

00:16:39,466 --> 00:16:41,267

emotion follows experience.

363

00:16:42,35 --> 00:16:44,4

Why shouldn't acting work the same way?

364

00:16:45,305 --> 00:16:48,641

Now, obviously, actors sometimes know

where a scene is headed.

365

00:16:49,209 --> 00:16:52,145

The script may say that the character

cries fine.

366

00:16:52,812 --> 00:16:55,682

The actor still has to arrive there

truthfully.

367

00:16:56,583 --> 00:17:00,320

And chasing the tears is often the

fastest way not to get them,

368

00:17:01,321 --> 00:17:03,189

because now you're monitoring yourself,

369

00:17:03,957 --> 00:17:04,824

am I feeling it?

370

00:17:05,158 --> 00:17:05,925

Is it coming?

371

00:17:06,493 --> 00:17:07,527

Should I blink less?

372

00:17:08,194 --> 00:17:09,763

Do my eyes look watery?

373

00:17:10,830 --> 00:17:14,501

Meanwhile, the other actress just

revealed that they have been having an

374

00:17:14,501 --> 00:17:18,338

affair with your sister, and you have

completely missed it because you are

375

00:17:18,438 --> 00:17:20,6

checking your tear production.

376

00:17:21,541 --> 00:17:22,876

Now, this is not ideal.

377

00:17:23,610 --> 00:17:27,313

The audience does not care whether the

actor has successfully produced the

378

00:17:27,313 --> 00:17:28,314

assigned emotion.

379

00:17:29,49 --> 00:17:31,851

The audience cares whether something is

happening.

380

00:17:32,986 --> 00:17:34,521

That distinction matters.

381

00:17:34,988 --> 00:17:35,855

Enormously.

382

00:17:36,756 --> 00:17:41,428

I have watched auditions where an actor

became emotional, and it was very affecting.

383

00:17:42,495 --> 00:17:46,766

And I have watch auditions where an

actor became emotional and absolutely

384

00:17:47,534 --> 00:17:48,468

nothing happened.

385

00:17:49,469 --> 00:17:50,837

Because emotion alone

386

00:17:51,871 --> 00:17:53,106

is not story telling.

387

00:17:54,174 --> 00:17:58,278

Sometimes the most moving moment in the

scene is the character trying not to

388

00:17:58,278 --> 00:18:00,313

feel what they are clearly feeling.

389

00:18:01,214 --> 00:18:04,784

Trying not to cry can be more

compelling than crying.

390

00:18:05,452 --> 00:18:09,456

Trying not to become angry can be more

dangerous than shouting.

391

00:18:10,357 --> 00:18:12,492

Trying desperately to remain

professional

392

00:18:12,826 --> 00:18:15,462

can reveal far more than collapsing.

393

00:18:16,96 --> 00:18:16,963

Emotionally,

394

00:18:18,431 --> 00:18:20,967

behavior gives emotion shape.

395

00:18:21,534 --> 00:18:23,370

Not because it is less important

396

00:18:23,937 --> 00:18:26,72

because it has to earn its place

397

00:18:27,841 --> 00:18:28,475

one.

398

00:18:28,975 --> 00:18:31,344

But does the scene need to accomplish

399

00:18:32,312 --> 00:18:32,946

need?

400

00:18:33,613 --> 00:18:35,348

What do I need from you?

401

00:18:36,483 --> 00:18:37,584

Behavior?

402

00:18:38,251 --> 00:18:40,320

How do I pursue that need?

403

00:18:41,454 --> 00:18:42,255

Emotion?

404

00:18:42,822 --> 00:18:45,592

What happens to me because of what I

received?

405

00:18:47,293 --> 00:18:48,495

That is the order.

406

00:18:49,629 --> 00:18:49,796

Story.

407

00:18:51,798 --> 00:18:51,965

Action.

408

00:18:52,665 --> 00:18:53,266

Result.

409

00:18:55,535 --> 00:18:56,803

This does for the actor,

410

00:18:57,537 --> 00:19:01,307

it gives you something concrete to

prepare, without forcing you to decide

411

00:19:01,541 --> 00:19:04,144

and advance exactly how the scene must

feel.

412

00:19:05,78 --> 00:19:08,948

That's what makes preparation useful

without making the performance predetermined.

413

00:19:09,449 --> 00:19:12,952

And I think that is one of the great

challenges of acting.

414

00:19:13,787 --> 00:19:16,489

We have to prepare enough to know what

we're doing

415

00:19:17,57 --> 00:19:19,993

and remain free enough to discover what

happens.

416

00:19:21,227 --> 00:19:23,830

Those two ideas are not opposites.

417

00:19:24,998 --> 00:19:27,667

Good preparation actually creates

freedom.

418

00:19:29,69 --> 00:19:30,704

Imagine a Jazz musician.

419

00:19:31,638 --> 00:19:34,574

They know the instrument, they know the

key, they know the structure, they know

420

00:19:34,574 --> 00:19:35,208

the tune.

421

00:19:35,542 --> 00:19:37,911

And because they know all of that,

422

00:19:38,578 --> 00:19:39,512

they can improvise.

423

00:19:40,914 --> 00:19:42,415

Actors work the same way.

424

00:19:42,982 --> 00:19:44,684

Preparation should not make you rigid.

425

00:19:45,151 --> 00:19:46,419

Preparation should make you available.

426

00:19:47,554 --> 00:19:51,57

That's why I would never want an actor

to leave this episode thinking

427

00:19:52,92 --> 00:19:52,258

wonderful.

428

00:19:52,659 --> 00:19:54,894

Jeff has given me four more things to

control.

429

00:19:56,730 --> 00:19:56,896

Nano.

430

00:19:57,697 --> 00:20:00,800

If anything, I want you to control less.

431

00:20:01,401 --> 00:20:04,4

I want you preparing the conditions

432

00:20:04,904 --> 00:20:06,873

then letting the scene happen.

433

00:20:08,908 --> 00:20:12,12

Here's an exercise you can try with

almost any scene.

434

00:20:12,746 --> 00:20:15,48

Take the script and do not perform it.

435

00:20:15,782 --> 00:20:16,916

Just answer four questions.

436

00:20:17,317 --> 00:20:19,853

First, why did the writer write this

scene?

437

00:20:20,754 --> 00:20:21,921

Write one sentence.

438

00:20:22,255 --> 00:20:23,56

Second,

439

00:20:23,390 --> 00:20:25,291

what do I need from the other character?

440

00:20:26,359 --> 00:20:27,360

Again, one sentence.

441

00:20:28,728 --> 00:20:31,531

Third, what behaviors do I use to

persuade

442

00:20:32,599 --> 00:20:33,433

that need?

443

00:20:35,68 --> 00:20:36,803

Choose two or three possibilities.

444

00:20:37,704 --> 00:20:41,474

Maybe you reassure, maybe you provoke,

maybe you conceal, maybe you protect,

445

00:20:42,8 --> 00:20:42,742

maybe you dominate.

446

00:20:43,376 --> 00:20:44,10

And 4th,

447

00:20:44,678 --> 00:20:46,246

do not write down the emotion.

448

00:20:47,80 --> 00:20:48,314

Leave that one blank.

449

00:20:49,149 --> 00:20:50,717

Then I want you to play the scene,

450

00:20:51,51 --> 00:20:51,851

see what happens

451

00:20:52,919 --> 00:20:57,424

when you finish, ask yourself, what

emotional shifts actually occurred?

452

00:20:58,491 --> 00:20:59,526

Not what you planned,

453

00:21:00,93 --> 00:21:00,794

what happened?

454

00:21:01,695 --> 00:21:03,196

You may be surprised.

455

00:21:03,630 --> 00:21:07,367

The scene you thought was furious may

actually contain, humor

456

00:21:08,568 --> 00:21:12,172

the scene use that was heartbreaking

may contain enormous relief.

457

00:21:12,906 --> 00:21:16,810

The scene you thought was romantic may

actually be about power.

458

00:21:17,711 --> 00:21:21,281

And that discovery is one of the

reasons acting remains interesting.

459

00:21:21,715 --> 00:21:25,552

Because you can study a script for days

and still discover something.

460

00:21:26,119 --> 00:21:28,154

When another human being looks at you,

461

00:21:29,789 --> 00:21:30,724

that's the magic,

462

00:21:31,458 --> 00:21:32,25

not the emotion.

463

00:21:32,258 --> 00:21:32,959

You planned,

464

00:21:33,293 --> 00:21:34,894

the response, you didn't.

465

00:21:36,429 --> 00:21:37,397

So here's today's reset.

466

00:21:37,697 --> 00:21:41,935

The next time you receive a scene,

resist the temptation to decide how

467

00:21:42,35 --> 00:21:43,370

you're supposed to feel.

468

00:21:44,270 --> 00:21:44,437

Start.

469

00:21:44,571 --> 00:21:45,271

Somewhere else.

470

00:21:46,272 --> 00:21:47,374

Start with the writer.

471

00:21:48,408 --> 00:21:49,609

What does the scene want?

472

00:21:50,677 --> 00:21:51,544

Then move to relationship.

473

00:21:52,178 --> 00:21:53,446

What do I need from you?

474

00:21:54,414 --> 00:21:55,548

Then examine the behavior.

475

00:21:56,249 --> 00:21:57,917

How do I go about getting it?

476

00:21:58,752 --> 00:21:59,686

And only then

477

00:22:00,253 --> 00:22:01,921

allow emotion to arrive.

478

00:22:04,157 --> 00:22:04,791

Want

479

00:22:05,592 --> 00:22:06,226

need

480

00:22:06,726 --> 00:22:07,694

behavior,

481

00:22:07,994 --> 00:22:08,795

emotion.

482

00:22:09,796 --> 00:22:11,364

You don't have to force the last one.

483

00:22:11,931 --> 00:22:13,767

If the first three are alive,

484

00:22:14,267 --> 00:22:16,803

emotion usually knows where to find you.

485

00:22:17,637 --> 00:22:20,306

And that may be the most freeing part

of all.

486

00:22:21,74 --> 00:22:23,510

Motion isn't something you bring to the

scene.

487

00:22:24,310 --> 00:22:25,111

Sometimes

488

00:22:25,311 --> 00:22:27,514

it's what the scene does to you.

489

00:22:29,149 --> 00:22:31,217

I know, this was a lot, this dense

episode.

490

00:22:31,618 --> 00:22:33,153

You might want to listen to this again.

491

00:22:33,386 --> 00:22:35,989

Maybe that's a good suggestion as well,

492

00:22:36,589 --> 00:22:39,793

because I know there's a tendency for

me, with my energy and all the coffee

493

00:22:39,959 --> 00:22:42,95

I've had today, to go really fast with

this stuff.

494

00:22:42,262 --> 00:22:45,865

And I really, really want this to be of

value to you.

495

00:22:46,99 --> 00:22:50,103

So it might take you to go to the

website, for example, and download

496

00:22:51,371 --> 00:22:56,109

the jeffs jots, which is the blog that

corresponds to the episode.

497

00:22:56,676 --> 00:23:00,480

There are all kinds of ways that you

can kind of absorb this even more

498

00:23:01,81 --> 00:23:01,548

in the meantime.

499

00:23:02,15 --> 00:23:03,450

Thank you so much for joining me.

500

00:23:03,450 --> 00:23:04,184

I'm jeffer eisbach.

501

00:23:04,417 --> 00:23:05,885

And this is casting actors cast.

502

00:23:06,586 --> 00:23:08,655

And I will talk to you next time.

503

00:23:08,988 --> 00:23:09,155

Thanks.

504

00:23:09,289 --> 00:23:09,756

So,

© Broadway Podcast Network, All Rights Reserved

An error occurred