BPN Logo
BPN Logo
The Overthinking Trap

Today we are talking about something that quietly sabotages more auditions than lack of talent, lack of training, or lack of experience combined. Overthinking. Yes. The invisible career killer... Read More

20 mins
Mar 5

About

Today we are talking about something that quietly sabotages more auditions than lack of talent, lack of training, or lack of experience combined.

Overthinking.

Yes. The invisible career killer.

Transcript

1

00:00:02,435 --> 00:00:03,403

Hello my fellow actors.

2

00:00:03,636 --> 00:00:07,640

Welcome back to casting actor's caste,

the podcast for actors from a casting

3

00:00:07,941 --> 00:00:08,108

director.

4

00:00:08,808 --> 00:00:09,709

I'm Jeffrey Dreisbach.

5

00:00:10,343 --> 00:00:14,14

And today we're talking about something

that quietly sabotages more auditions

6

00:00:15,148 --> 00:00:19,986

than lack of talent, lack of training

or lack of experience, combined

7

00:00:20,787 --> 00:00:21,988

overthinking.

8

00:00:22,822 --> 00:00:23,690

Yes, the invisible

9

00:00:24,591 --> 00:00:25,291

career killer

10

00:00:26,192 --> 00:00:27,293

today's episode is

11

00:00:27,627 --> 00:00:28,328

called the overthinking

12

00:00:30,663 --> 00:00:31,831

All coming up right now

13

00:00:32,165 --> 00:00:32,599

on

14

00:00:32,899 --> 00:00:34,567

casting actor's castle.

15

00:01:40,500 --> 00:01:43,937

Well, hello, and welcome to today's

episode of casting actors cast.

16

00:01:44,270 --> 00:01:47,807

I'm Jeff Dreisbach a casting

partner with mccorkl casting in New

17

00:01:47,874 --> 00:01:48,41

York.

18

00:01:48,808 --> 00:01:49,709

Nice to see you.

19

00:01:50,10 --> 00:01:51,878

This is called the overthinking trap.

20

00:01:52,912 --> 00:01:56,349

And before we get into it, I just

wanted to say thank you for tuning in.

21

00:01:56,349 --> 00:02:00,286

Please check out the website, casting

actor's cast, all one word dot com.

22

00:02:00,587 --> 00:02:04,24

You can find some free bees and some

information called jeff's jots, which

23

00:02:04,24 --> 00:02:05,392

are corresponding show notes.

24

00:02:05,792 --> 00:02:07,794

My book is out, my course is available.

25

00:02:08,328 --> 00:02:10,196

It's all at casting actors cast.

26

00:02:10,330 --> 00:02:12,365

Just fill out the form that says, dive

into the talonpool.

27

00:02:12,999 --> 00:02:16,736

And if you like what you hear to day,

please consider leaving me alike a

28

00:02:16,736 --> 00:02:16,903

share.

29

00:02:17,637 --> 00:02:19,72

A review would be phenomenal.

30

00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:21,941

I would really appreciate that.

31

00:02:22,509 --> 00:02:23,777

All right, let's jump into the subject.

32

00:02:24,10 --> 00:02:25,779

Shall we let me first start by

33

00:02:26,813 --> 00:02:27,947

sharing with you

34

00:02:28,982 --> 00:02:29,149

a truth

35

00:02:30,183 --> 00:02:30,717

that, ah,

36

00:02:31,317 --> 00:02:33,119

you know what this might, sting a

little.

37

00:02:33,787 --> 00:02:34,120

Most actors

38

00:02:35,155 --> 00:02:37,924

who don't book are not under prepared.

39

00:02:38,758 --> 00:02:39,526

That's right?

40

00:02:40,427 --> 00:02:41,928

They're over prepared.

41

00:02:42,896 --> 00:02:45,632

Now, before anyone panics, I am not

suggesting you.

42

00:02:45,699 --> 00:02:46,99

Stop preparing.

43

00:02:47,233 --> 00:02:48,268

Preparation is essential.

44

00:02:48,835 --> 00:02:50,270

Preparation is your foundation.

45

00:02:51,71 --> 00:02:53,907

Preparation is your safety net.

46

00:02:54,741 --> 00:02:56,142

But overthinking.

47

00:02:56,976 --> 00:03:00,647

Overthinking is fear, dressed up as

discipline.

48

00:03:00,914 --> 00:03:02,82

And casting

49

00:03:02,649 --> 00:03:04,484

casting can see it instantly.

50

00:03:05,151 --> 00:03:06,653

There is a specific energy

51

00:03:07,854 --> 00:03:12,692

that walks into an audition room when

an actor is overthinking.

52

00:03:13,393 --> 00:03:15,161

It feels tight, it feels cautious.

53

00:03:15,528 --> 00:03:18,598

It feels like some one trying not to

make a mistake,

54

00:03:19,632 --> 00:03:23,203

instead of some one trying to tell a

story.

55

00:03:24,437 --> 00:03:27,707

And, you know, story telling is what

books jobs.

56

00:03:28,508 --> 00:03:29,275

You do know that,

57

00:03:30,410 --> 00:03:31,511

not perfection,

58

00:03:32,12 --> 00:03:32,946

not caution,

59

00:03:33,780 --> 00:03:35,248

not calculation.

60

00:03:38,251 --> 00:03:40,153

Often for young people, I say this,

61

00:03:40,754 --> 00:03:41,221

guess what?

62

00:03:41,454 --> 00:03:42,389

School is over?

63

00:03:43,556 --> 00:03:46,393

Your audition is not for a grade.

64

00:03:48,895 --> 00:03:50,463

Here's what overthinking

65

00:03:50,830 --> 00:03:53,933

actually looks like from the casting

table.

66

00:03:54,734 --> 00:03:55,702

A right picture, this.

67

00:03:55,769 --> 00:03:56,970

The actor comes in,

68

00:03:57,537 --> 00:03:59,539

they're polite, they're prepared,

they're focused.

69

00:04:00,674 --> 00:04:01,641

They start the scene.

70

00:04:02,742 --> 00:04:08,682

But instead of watching a human being

experiencing something in real time we

71

00:04:08,748 --> 00:04:11,217

watch someone carefully executing

choices.

72

00:04:11,618 --> 00:04:13,586

They rehearsed at home.

73

00:04:14,521 --> 00:04:15,522

Every beat

74

00:04:15,855 --> 00:04:19,959

feels placed, every pause, feels

measured, every reaction,

75

00:04:21,461 --> 00:04:23,997

feels decided in advance,

76

00:04:24,964 --> 00:04:25,65

technically

77

00:04:26,99 --> 00:04:26,566

correct,

78

00:04:27,834 --> 00:04:28,968

disconnected.

79

00:04:29,936 --> 00:04:31,638

But real moments are not

80

00:04:34,40 --> 00:04:35,8

Real moments unfold.

81

00:04:35,542 --> 00:04:40,13

Real moments surprise even the person

experiencing them.

82

00:04:40,747 --> 00:04:42,882

The best auditions I ever see

83

00:04:43,383 --> 00:04:47,20

are the ones in which the actors

actually surprised

84

00:04:47,787 --> 00:04:50,90

in real time by their own choices.

85

00:04:50,757 --> 00:04:51,791

You see, when an actor overthinks,

86

00:04:52,992 --> 00:04:55,28

they replace discovery

87

00:04:55,795 --> 00:04:56,196

with control.

88

00:04:56,730 --> 00:04:59,32

And control is the enemy of truth.

89

00:05:02,35 --> 00:05:02,202

Ay?

90

00:05:02,335 --> 00:05:03,403

Somebody right that doubt?

91

00:05:05,238 --> 00:05:06,706

is the enemy of truth.

92

00:05:07,774 --> 00:05:10,877

Let's talk about why actors overthink

in the first place.

93

00:05:11,544 --> 00:05:13,146

It's not because they're insecure.

94

00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:15,715

It's not because they're inexperienced.

95

00:05:16,983 --> 00:05:19,686

And it's definitely not because they

lack talent.

96

00:05:20,253 --> 00:05:22,555

Actors overthink because they care.

97

00:05:22,889 --> 00:05:27,27

They want to get it right, they want to

impress, they want to be chosen.

98

00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:27,994

So

99

00:05:28,595 --> 00:05:30,63

they plan every

100

00:05:30,397 --> 00:05:30,597

inflection,

101

00:05:31,865 --> 00:05:36,169

every pause, every movement, every

emotional shift.

102

00:05:37,237 --> 00:05:37,871

But guess what?

103

00:05:37,871 --> 00:05:38,438

Here's the problem?

104

00:05:39,72 --> 00:05:40,473

The more you plan,

105

00:05:40,907 --> 00:05:42,575

the less you listen.

106

00:05:43,376 --> 00:05:46,413

And listening is where acting lives.

107

00:05:47,881 --> 00:05:50,283

Acting does not live in your

preparation.

108

00:05:50,817 --> 00:05:52,652

It lives in your response.

109

00:05:53,453 --> 00:05:56,356

If you are busy remembering what you

decided to do.

110

00:05:57,624 --> 00:06:00,493

You cannot respond to what is actually

happening.

111

00:06:01,294 --> 00:06:03,530

See, casting doesn't hire actors who

demonstrate

112

00:06:04,731 --> 00:06:05,432

decisions.

113

00:06:06,266 --> 00:06:07,934

We hire actors who experience

114

00:06:09,69 --> 00:06:09,936

the moments.

115

00:06:11,705 --> 00:06:14,874

There is a massive difference between

those two things.

116

00:06:15,308 --> 00:06:16,276

And let me tell you something.

117

00:06:16,743 --> 00:06:22,248

Casting directors say all the time,

after their auditions.

118

00:06:23,216 --> 00:06:23,450

They say,

119

00:06:24,651 --> 00:06:28,288

after you've left the room, you've

auditions, you've left the room,

120

00:06:28,355 --> 00:06:32,625

whether it be on zoom or whether it be

live, the casting director says

121

00:06:33,293 --> 00:06:34,894

that one felt alive.

122

00:06:36,29 --> 00:06:37,764

They almost never say

123

00:06:38,732 --> 00:06:41,267

that one was technically precise,

124

00:06:44,471 --> 00:06:44,971

active

125

00:06:45,772 --> 00:06:46,873

alive,

126

00:06:47,540 --> 00:06:48,308

that books,

127

00:06:49,609 --> 00:06:51,44

precise auditions

128

00:06:51,778 --> 00:06:52,479

do not.

129

00:06:53,546 --> 00:06:56,149

So how do you stop over thinking?

130

00:06:56,816 --> 00:06:58,184

You don't stop preparing.

131

00:06:59,452 --> 00:07:01,921

You change what preparation means?

132

00:07:02,889 --> 00:07:07,694

Most actors think preparation means

deciding how they will perform

133

00:07:08,94 --> 00:07:08,828

professional actors.

134

00:07:09,129 --> 00:07:10,597

No, preparation means understanding

135

00:07:11,698 --> 00:07:12,966

what is happening

136

00:07:13,233 --> 00:07:15,835

so they can simply let it happen.

137

00:07:17,103 --> 00:07:17,237

Preparation

138

00:07:18,271 --> 00:07:20,807

should give you freedom, not rigidity.

139

00:07:21,875 --> 00:07:25,612

Now, here is a simple shift that

changes everything.

140

00:07:26,413 --> 00:07:29,916

Instead of asking, how should I say

this line?

141

00:07:30,717 --> 00:07:31,518

Ask,

142

00:07:32,252 --> 00:07:34,721

why am I saying this line?

143

00:07:35,789 --> 00:07:38,391

One question leads to performance.

144

00:07:38,992 --> 00:07:39,693

The other

145

00:07:40,93 --> 00:07:41,394

leads to behavior.

146

00:07:42,662 --> 00:07:42,896

And behavior

147

00:07:43,930 --> 00:07:46,866

is always more interesting to watch.

148

00:07:47,634 --> 00:07:48,968

That's absolutely true.

149

00:07:49,636 --> 00:07:52,38

And when actors overthink they perform

results.

150

00:07:52,505 --> 00:07:54,741

When actors trust, they play emotions.

151

00:07:55,942 --> 00:07:58,878

Casting always chooses action.

152

00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:02,282

So here's a practical example.

153

00:08:02,749 --> 00:08:04,317

Let's say the line is,

154

00:08:05,318 --> 00:08:07,854

I didn't expect to see you here.

155

00:08:08,755 --> 00:08:09,923

All right, that's the line.

156

00:08:10,657 --> 00:08:11,57

Now, listen.

157

00:08:11,291 --> 00:08:13,560

An overthinking actor decides the tone,

158

00:08:14,594 --> 00:08:20,100

the meaning, the intention, the back

story, the emotional color, the tempo,

159

00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:21,301

the facial expression

160

00:08:22,669 --> 00:08:24,804

and physical stance,

161

00:08:25,872 --> 00:08:30,76

even how they're going to stand before

they actually walk into the audition room.

162

00:08:31,878 --> 00:08:35,348

A present actor decides only one thing,

163

00:08:36,649 --> 00:08:37,917

what they want

164

00:08:38,351 --> 00:08:39,519

from the other person.

165

00:08:41,54 --> 00:08:41,755

That's it.

166

00:08:42,655 --> 00:08:44,491

Because if you know what you want,

167

00:08:45,291 --> 00:08:48,94

your body, your voice, your timing and

recognition,

168

00:08:49,229 --> 00:08:50,263

will organize themselves.

169

00:08:51,398 --> 00:08:52,165

Naturally.

170

00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:54,601

Want organizes

171

00:08:55,635 --> 00:08:56,469

behavior.

172

00:08:56,970 --> 00:08:57,237

Planning

173

00:08:58,271 --> 00:09:00,140

organizes presentation.

174

00:09:01,74 --> 00:09:02,275

Behavior feels real.

175

00:09:02,676 --> 00:09:04,944

Presentation feels acted.

176

00:09:05,311 --> 00:09:07,47

Casting hires real.

177

00:09:08,14 --> 00:09:12,419

Another truth from the audition room,

the actors who book most often are not

178

00:09:12,519 --> 00:09:15,689

the actors who make the most

interesting choices.

179

00:09:16,256 --> 00:09:18,658

They are the actors who make the

cleanest

180

00:09:19,959 --> 00:09:20,627

clearest

181

00:09:21,294 --> 00:09:22,95

choices.

182

00:09:23,296 --> 00:09:25,699

You see, clarity is absolutely

watchable.

183

00:09:26,199 --> 00:09:27,467

Confusion is tiring.

184

00:09:29,536 --> 00:09:31,504

often leads actors to,

185

00:09:32,105 --> 00:09:34,240

I don't know, pile on layers.

186

00:09:35,75 --> 00:09:35,709

They add complexity,

187

00:09:36,743 --> 00:09:37,277

nuance,

188

00:09:38,78 --> 00:09:38,712

invention,

189

00:09:39,412 --> 00:09:40,413

cleverness

190

00:09:42,182 --> 00:09:43,149

all kinds of stuff.

191

00:09:43,850 --> 00:09:46,386

But casting is not looking for

complexity.

192

00:09:46,986 --> 00:09:49,122

Casting is looking for truth.

193

00:09:49,689 --> 00:09:50,357

Truth is simple.

194

00:09:50,757 --> 00:09:51,458

Truth is direct.

195

00:09:51,858 --> 00:09:52,592

Truth is grounded.

196

00:09:53,393 --> 00:09:55,528

Truth is specific.

197

00:09:56,429 --> 00:10:01,134

The moment an actor starts trying to be

interesting, they stop being

198

00:10:01,434 --> 00:10:02,235

believable.

199

00:10:03,470 --> 00:10:05,138

Believability is your currency,

200

00:10:06,439 --> 00:10:06,673

not originality.

201

00:10:08,41 --> 00:10:10,243

Originality is a byproduct of truth.

202

00:10:10,910 --> 00:10:14,414

Now here's something I want you to

remember for the rest of your career.

203

00:10:15,48 --> 00:10:15,949

You cannot indicate

204

00:10:17,150 --> 00:10:18,385

and experience

205

00:10:18,985 --> 00:10:19,986

at the same time.

206

00:10:21,388 --> 00:10:23,523

If you are showing emotion,

207

00:10:24,190 --> 00:10:25,925

you are not feeling emotion.

208

00:10:26,426 --> 00:10:27,794

If you are demonstrating behavior,

209

00:10:28,895 --> 00:10:31,364

you are not living behavior.

210

00:10:32,98 --> 00:10:34,567

The camera knows the difference always.

211

00:10:35,935 --> 00:10:40,974

Now let's talk about one of the biggest

overthinking traps actors fall into.

212

00:10:41,775 --> 00:10:44,10

And we're going to do that right after

this message.

213

00:10:46,913 --> 00:10:49,883

So what is one of the biggest

overthinking traps?

214

00:10:50,417 --> 00:10:51,851

Actors fall into?

215

00:10:53,153 --> 00:10:54,888

The fear of silence.

216

00:10:56,756 --> 00:10:58,391

Many actors rush

217

00:10:58,658 --> 00:10:59,693

because silence

218

00:11:00,193 --> 00:11:01,294

feels dangerous.

219

00:11:02,28 --> 00:11:04,631

But silence is where life happens.

220

00:11:05,265 --> 00:11:06,66

Silence

221

00:11:06,833 --> 00:11:07,834

is processing.

222

00:11:08,735 --> 00:11:09,636

Silence is listening.

223

00:11:10,36 --> 00:11:11,371

Silence is truth.

224

00:11:12,839 --> 00:11:18,545

When you rush to your next line because

you planned the timing at home,

225

00:11:19,212 --> 00:11:22,248

you eliminate the possibility of

discovery.

226

00:11:22,882 --> 00:11:23,216

Discovery

227

00:11:24,417 --> 00:11:26,553

is magnetic to watch.

228

00:11:27,387 --> 00:11:29,289

Planned timing is predictable.

229

00:11:29,856 --> 00:11:31,524

Predictable is forgettable.

230

00:11:32,659 --> 00:11:37,931

Memorable actors allow moments to land

on them before responding.

231

00:11:39,65 --> 00:11:39,466

They receive

232

00:11:40,500 --> 00:11:41,768

before they send.

233

00:11:43,303 --> 00:11:44,804

That is presence.

234

00:11:46,339 --> 00:11:48,742

Here's a test you can try at your next

rehearsal.

235

00:11:49,776 --> 00:11:52,145

Do the scene exactly as planned,

236

00:11:52,812 --> 00:11:56,783

then do it again and allow yourself to

be surprised

237

00:11:57,717 --> 00:11:58,818

nine times out of ten.

238

00:11:59,152 --> 00:12:00,653

The surprise version,

239

00:12:01,388 --> 00:12:02,88

the one

240

00:12:02,989 --> 00:12:04,624

that you don't think about,

241

00:12:05,392 --> 00:12:07,27

that feels alive.

242

00:12:07,694 --> 00:12:08,328

Why?

243

00:12:09,229 --> 00:12:13,266

Because you're not reciting any more,

you're reacting.

244

00:12:14,34 --> 00:12:17,137

Casting is not watching to see you

remember your choices.

245

00:12:17,871 --> 00:12:20,974

We're watching to see if you can forget

them

246

00:12:21,775 --> 00:12:21,941

forgetting.

247

00:12:22,575 --> 00:12:23,510

Preparation

248

00:12:24,110 --> 00:12:25,445

is the final step

249

00:12:25,945 --> 00:12:26,880

of preparation.

250

00:12:27,714 --> 00:12:29,449

Ok, that was really good too.

251

00:12:31,951 --> 00:12:33,753

So let's just think about athletes.

252

00:12:34,654 --> 00:12:37,57

They, well, you know this, you're

watching the Olympics.

253

00:12:37,557 --> 00:12:38,358

They train relentlessly

254

00:12:39,859 --> 00:12:41,594

so that in the game

255

00:12:41,795 --> 00:12:43,196

they don't think they trust

256

00:12:44,197 --> 00:12:45,865

actors, must do the same thing.

257

00:12:46,99 --> 00:12:47,834

Preparation is rehearsal.

258

00:12:48,101 --> 00:12:49,936

Audition is play.

259

00:12:51,71 --> 00:12:54,240

If you bring rehearsal energy into the

audition,

260

00:12:54,974 --> 00:12:56,309

it feels practiced.

261

00:12:57,143 --> 00:13:00,13

If you bring play energy into the

audition,

262

00:13:00,580 --> 00:13:01,915

it feels real.

263

00:13:03,49 --> 00:13:05,785

Now, let me just take a moment and

share this with you.

264

00:13:05,952 --> 00:13:08,321

I often tell actors to

265

00:13:09,222 --> 00:13:11,858

say to themselves, an audition is not

an event.

266

00:13:12,492 --> 00:13:13,793

I think that's really, really healthy.

267

00:13:14,594 --> 00:13:19,799

I also sometimes go on to say, if you

could treat the audition like it's the

268

00:13:19,799 --> 00:13:21,267

first day of rehearsal.

269

00:13:22,168 --> 00:13:25,238

Then you're in a different energy,

you're in a different frame of mind

270

00:13:25,305 --> 00:13:26,873

because you're collaborating,

271

00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:29,75

you're looking forward to working with

others.

272

00:13:29,609 --> 00:13:33,747

You have a different mindset when you

know you've already booked the job.

273

00:13:34,748 --> 00:13:36,783

That is not what I'm saying here.

274

00:13:37,617 --> 00:13:41,755

Because if you bring that sense of play

into the rehearsal room,

275

00:13:42,655 --> 00:13:44,491

then that energy,

276

00:13:45,392 --> 00:13:47,827

that energy in that audition, it feels

real.

277

00:13:49,129 --> 00:13:53,466

I think that playfulness is one of the

most bookable qualities an actor can

278

00:13:53,466 --> 00:13:54,401

have, not

279

00:13:54,567 --> 00:13:54,668

comedy

280

00:13:55,769 --> 00:13:56,636

playfulness,

281

00:13:57,470 --> 00:13:59,372

the willingness to explore,

282

00:14:00,40 --> 00:14:04,310

to adopt, to shift, to respond to be

affected.

283

00:14:05,311 --> 00:14:06,513

Playfulness tells casting.

284

00:14:06,980 --> 00:14:08,481

You are directible.

285

00:14:08,982 --> 00:14:10,884

Directible actors get hired.

286

00:14:11,384 --> 00:14:12,318

Rigid actors.

287

00:14:12,752 --> 00:14:13,920

They get remembered,

288

00:14:14,821 --> 00:14:16,956

but not rehired.

289

00:14:18,425 --> 00:14:19,159

Here is the sentence.

290

00:14:19,793 --> 00:14:19,959

Casting.

291

00:14:20,260 --> 00:14:21,761

Directors love to say

292

00:14:22,729 --> 00:14:24,597

they were great to work with.

293

00:14:24,731 --> 00:14:26,232

I say that all the time.

294

00:14:26,833 --> 00:14:31,705

I get calls all the time from directors

or producers that are interested in an

295

00:14:31,705 --> 00:14:31,871

actor.

296

00:14:32,105 --> 00:14:36,976

And if I know the answer, I'm going to

tell them, this actor is so great to

297

00:14:36,976 --> 00:14:38,712

work with, you're going to love him.

298

00:14:39,212 --> 00:14:40,13

Now notice

299

00:14:40,413 --> 00:14:44,517

that sentence has nothing to do with

performance quality, right?

300

00:14:44,984 --> 00:14:48,321

It has everything to do with experience

quality.

301

00:14:49,222 --> 00:14:52,158

If working with you feels easy,

302

00:14:52,826 --> 00:14:55,362

collaborative, alive and flexible.

303

00:14:55,795 --> 00:14:56,963

You become valuable

304

00:14:57,931 --> 00:14:58,98

value.

305

00:14:58,598 --> 00:14:59,532

Books work.

306

00:15:01,234 --> 00:15:04,471

Now let's talk about how to practice

owning the moment.

307

00:15:04,838 --> 00:15:06,239

Starting to day,

308

00:15:07,140 --> 00:15:08,975

when you rehearse, stop

309

00:15:09,376 --> 00:15:10,877

locking choices.

310

00:15:11,211 --> 00:15:12,312

Instead,

311

00:15:13,79 --> 00:15:14,547

lock intentions.

312

00:15:16,16 --> 00:15:16,416

Your intention

313

00:15:17,550 --> 00:15:18,585

is your anger.

314

00:15:18,985 --> 00:15:19,219

Your delivery

315

00:15:20,253 --> 00:15:20,987

is your sale.

316

00:15:21,554 --> 00:15:23,356

Sales move with the wind.

317

00:15:23,857 --> 00:15:25,925

Anchors stay grounded.

318

00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:32,365

If your intention is clear, your

performance can change every time and

319

00:15:32,665 --> 00:15:33,767

still be truthful.

320

00:15:34,567 --> 00:15:35,368

That

321

00:15:35,935 --> 00:15:37,437

is what directors want.

322

00:15:38,505 --> 00:15:40,306

They don't want a finished product.

323

00:15:40,907 --> 00:15:42,742

They want a responsive instrument.

324

00:15:43,943 --> 00:15:44,978

You are the instrument.

325

00:15:45,779 --> 00:15:46,980

The scene is the music.

326

00:15:47,547 --> 00:15:49,282

Your partner is the conductor.

327

00:15:50,250 --> 00:15:50,417

Ok.

328

00:15:50,583 --> 00:15:51,451

How about that for a metaphor?

329

00:15:53,153 --> 00:15:54,354

If you are too busy remembering

330

00:15:55,455 --> 00:15:59,359

how you planned to play the note you

missed the cue,

331

00:16:00,193 --> 00:16:03,29

missing q's is what overthinking does.

332

00:16:03,797 --> 00:16:04,798

Owning the moment

333

00:16:05,298 --> 00:16:07,200

is what presence does.

334

00:16:08,435 --> 00:16:09,469

So let me give you a phrase.

335

00:16:09,636 --> 00:16:10,970

I would love, love, love, love, love,

love, love, love, love, love, love,

336

00:16:10,970 --> 00:16:12,272

love for you to adopt immediately.

337

00:16:12,906 --> 00:16:14,874

Replace don't mess up.

338

00:16:15,875 --> 00:16:18,244

Dev, you said that to yourself, don't

mess up.

339

00:16:19,212 --> 00:16:20,113

Replace that phrase.

340

00:16:20,580 --> 00:16:22,82

Don't mess up with,

341

00:16:23,316 --> 00:16:24,150

let it happen.

342

00:16:25,452 --> 00:16:26,86

Three words,

343

00:16:26,753 --> 00:16:27,854

let it

344

00:16:27,987 --> 00:16:28,488

happen.

345

00:16:29,622 --> 00:16:33,159

Those words shift your nervous system

from control

346

00:16:34,361 --> 00:16:35,195

to trust.

347

00:16:35,695 --> 00:16:39,532

And trust reads on camera as confidence

348

00:16:40,500 --> 00:16:42,402

confidence is calming to watch.

349

00:16:43,69 --> 00:16:46,573

Anxious control is uncomfortable to

watch.

350

00:16:47,774 --> 00:16:50,710

Casting always chooses the actor who

feels safe

351

00:16:50,910 --> 00:16:51,678

to watch.

352

00:16:52,579 --> 00:16:55,849

Not safe, as in boring, safe as in

grounded.

353

00:16:56,583 --> 00:16:58,251

Because grounded actors

354

00:16:58,651 --> 00:17:00,920

that moments land pushing is effort.

355

00:17:01,388 --> 00:17:02,355

Landing is truth.

356

00:17:02,989 --> 00:17:05,58

Here is your action step for this week.

357

00:17:05,158 --> 00:17:06,359

I want you to pick one audition,

358

00:17:07,627 --> 00:17:09,963

whether it's a rehearsal or it's a self

tape.

359

00:17:10,330 --> 00:17:13,266

And I want you to give yourself one rule

360

00:17:14,734 --> 00:17:14,901

here.

361

00:17:15,1 --> 00:17:15,535

It is

362

00:17:16,670 --> 00:17:18,872

no planned line readings.

363

00:17:20,40 --> 00:17:21,274

Know your objective,

364

00:17:21,775 --> 00:17:22,342

no, your circumstances.

365

00:17:23,76 --> 00:17:24,310

Know your relationship.

366

00:17:25,78 --> 00:17:28,815

But do not plan how lines sound.

367

00:17:29,616 --> 00:17:31,685

Let your partner determine that

368

00:17:32,185 --> 00:17:35,288

you may feel terrified the first time

you try this that's pretty normal,

369

00:17:36,423 --> 00:17:38,191

because you're giving up control.

370

00:17:38,825 --> 00:17:39,793

But here's the secret.

371

00:17:40,93 --> 00:17:41,795

Casting does not want control.

372

00:17:42,262 --> 00:17:43,997

Casting wants life

373

00:17:45,298 --> 00:17:46,66

is messy.

374

00:17:46,900 --> 00:17:48,501

Life is uneven, life is surprising.

375

00:17:49,135 --> 00:17:50,570

Life is human.

376

00:17:51,638 --> 00:17:53,773

Before we close, I want to leave you

with this.

377

00:17:54,341 --> 00:17:56,576

Overthinking is not a disciplined

problem.

378

00:17:57,610 --> 00:17:59,212

It's a trust problem.

379

00:18:00,13 --> 00:18:00,680

Trust your preparation,

380

00:18:01,781 --> 00:18:03,717

trust your instincts, trust your

listening.

381

00:18:04,517 --> 00:18:06,553

Trust that you are enough

382

00:18:07,220 --> 00:18:07,854

without the

383

00:18:10,23 --> 00:18:11,358

decorating the moment.

384

00:18:12,92 --> 00:18:13,760

I see that all the time.

385

00:18:14,361 --> 00:18:15,161

Because guess what?

386

00:18:15,628 --> 00:18:15,929

Because actors

387

00:18:17,63 --> 00:18:18,798

who work consistently

388

00:18:19,466 --> 00:18:21,534

are not the ones who control the scene

389

00:18:22,569 --> 00:18:25,271

they're the ones who live inside it.

390

00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:27,640

Come on.

391

00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:29,409

Now that's another gem.

392

00:18:30,910 --> 00:18:36,182

If you listened to this episode very

deeply and you got it, then you are

393

00:18:36,249 --> 00:18:39,486

well on your way to feeling more

confident and more successful.

394

00:18:39,853 --> 00:18:43,523

And if this episode helped you, please

do yourself and me a favor

395

00:18:43,857 --> 00:18:49,429

shared with an actor who tends to live

in their head instead of the moment.

396

00:18:50,263 --> 00:18:53,133

And if you want more insider guidance,

397

00:18:53,533 --> 00:18:57,437

practical tools and real worldcasting

perspective,

398

00:18:58,104 --> 00:19:00,607

be sure to follow casting actors, cast

and visit.

399

00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:05,945

Casting actor's cast dot com, where we

help you prepare smarter, perform

400

00:19:06,346 --> 00:19:08,14

better and book more.

401

00:19:08,581 --> 00:19:09,482

I'm Jeffrey Dreisbach.

402

00:19:10,116 --> 00:19:11,184

Thanks for listening.

403

00:19:11,985 --> 00:19:12,318

Now

404

00:19:12,585 --> 00:19:14,888

I want you to go out there and do your

best,

405

00:19:16,423 --> 00:19:18,91

live truthfully.

406

00:19:18,758 --> 00:19:19,693

See you next

© Broadway Podcast Network, All Rights Reserved

An error occurred