Don't Move, Don't Speak
A familiar and cynical actor/director dialogue goes something like this; Actor: “But what’s my motivation for crossing to the sofa (or “saying this line,” “picking up this book,” “breaking into song,” etc.)?
Director: “Your paycheck.”
Yes, this does happen. The problem with the director’s answer is that in performance, the motivation will actually LOOK like it’s the actor’s paycheck. The paycheck as motivation won’t make sense to an audience captivated by the world of the play or screenplay. Bottom line: any time you move, any time you speak, it must be motivated by need, circumstance, fear, the conscious or unconscious elements contained in the play or screenplay. Do your homework – move by move, line by line. Knowing Why (and making it real to yourself) is everything.
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Testimonials
"An exceptional man of the theatre. The range of his work is enviable and those with whom he has worked and his achievements speak for themselves. He has demonstrated the highest qualities of direction and producing . He has won the respect of my students for whom the collaboration he led was an unmitigated triumph. He shows the key quality of a modern teacher and artist: the capacity to understand the needs of others, motivate and inspire them and bring a team, working in harmony and to the highest standards, to fruitful and acclaimed success."Ian Brown, Dean of the Faculty of Arts
Queen Margaret University, Scotland