In my mind, there is one skill that, if done well, can almost guarantee success and growth for any actor. In fact, without it, your life on stage can become stale and lifeless. The skill is not for the faint of heart and does not offer immediate gratification, but if done often enough, can lead to great leaps of creativity and higher levels of mastery. It is also a skill that is rarely practiced.
So what is this secret skill that can build a long and fulfilling career on the stage?
Give yourself full permission to act badly.
Let me explain. Theatre is a collaborative art, and sets itself apart from other art forms in one obvious way. You see, a visual artist can work through several incarnations of a painting until a final piece is proudly on display. A writer can generate numerous drafts until he is satisfied enough even to hand it over to editorial eyes. In acting, however, others are always present to witness the process of your creation, in rehearsal, previews, etc.
We've all been there before. The eyes and ears of too many people in the room seem to target us as we falter through a scene. At the same time, we are desperately trying to silence our own violent censor that chokes our creative impulses. So the only true antidote is the continuing practice of 'permission to suck'. Go ahead...read it again. I said 'suck'.
There is a link with this practice and a similar spiritual practice in zen traditions. It's called cultivating the 'beginner's mind'. It is about forgetting what you think you already know about acting, creating, and experiencing, because that road leads to imitation, lifelessness, and death.
When you can learn to be vulnerable with your peers and co-creators, then you learn to be vulnerable to your audience, and your audience will follow your open heart to wherever you want to take them.
Perhaps it is not so much a skill to practice, but a frame of mind to adopt.
So have I mastered this mind frame myself?...absolutely not...but I'll be embracing my inner 'suck' right along with you on stage!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Can't imagine doing anything else?
You may have heard this one before. When you ask an actor why they do what they do, why they decide to dismiss the idea of a 9-5 existence, and live a precarious life treading the boards, they'll often answer, "I can't imagine doing anything else with my life." When I hear the words, I know that the actor-person/artist is trying to convey a sense of passion about what they do, but...wait, hold on...what? Did I hear you correctly?
The Kings and Queens of Imagination-land can't imagine doing anything else with their lives? (Isn't that among one of your key job-descriptions?)
Furthermore, it doesn't sound very self-affirming or confident.
So I resolve to put a small, more life-affirming spin on that little phrase. "I can imagine doing and being so many things, and acting is the greatest way to make that happen...and share it with you !"
Maybe the theatre or film chooses us because we have a subconscious sense of our own infinite nature. We imagine ourselves in so many different worlds, because the idea of one world, my world just doesn't ring true to us.
The Kings and Queens of Imagination-land can't imagine doing anything else with their lives? (Isn't that among one of your key job-descriptions?)
Furthermore, it doesn't sound very self-affirming or confident.
So I resolve to put a small, more life-affirming spin on that little phrase. "I can imagine doing and being so many things, and acting is the greatest way to make that happen...and share it with you !"
Maybe the theatre or film chooses us because we have a subconscious sense of our own infinite nature. We imagine ourselves in so many different worlds, because the idea of one world, my world just doesn't ring true to us.
Changing the Tone!
Ok, ok. So far his blog has not just one, but TWO introductions, and both a little too formal for my taste. So in true blog spirit, I am going to change the approach and offer a little more as the thought happens, off the cuff reporting on my progress and challenges as I get this venture up and running.
I am glad you stuck with me so far, with those lengthy intros...To be absolutely honest (and we all should be) I am still trying to get some clarity on what it is I want to offer you the reader. I have all sorts of ideas about things to include in a website for actors, but not sure what is way too much information, what will actually be useful. Any thoughts you may have, friends, is much welcome. I mean maybe the way to make this site useful for you the actor is to supply a whole lot of helpful and inspiring info, but easily organized and well-managed. Stream-line it, baby! I can't tell you how often I've been tangled in the web of the web, just looking for a few pieces of key information to get me moving forward, and I fall into a rabbit hole. Immediate overload.
This more talky way of blogging feels much better. Ahhh release! I hope you join to hear more thoughts and I hope you might add some thoughts of you own. Please comment if you'd like, and if you'd like to follow, just click on the old follow button on the upper-right corner of the page.
On another note, how can you not help but be inspired by yesterday's inauguration ceremony! The people, the pure energy and coming together. Here is a thought for you. I know some of us hold a lot of anger about the former leadership in the US. I'm going to be talking a lot about re-framing, or changing a perspective that we currently have about a situation, in order to understand and deal with it in a different way. So the energy we put forth with our anger...can we release on some of that? Is there a danger that our un-released anger from the past leadership can contaminate the quality of our current leadership? Maybe we should try to make peace with that 'situation' so we don't take that collective energy into the present, and of course the future? Just like we do with our personal lives.
Huh...a little preachy, but food for thought.
Thanks for coming, sending you the goooood vibes!
I am glad you stuck with me so far, with those lengthy intros...To be absolutely honest (and we all should be) I am still trying to get some clarity on what it is I want to offer you the reader. I have all sorts of ideas about things to include in a website for actors, but not sure what is way too much information, what will actually be useful. Any thoughts you may have, friends, is much welcome. I mean maybe the way to make this site useful for you the actor is to supply a whole lot of helpful and inspiring info, but easily organized and well-managed. Stream-line it, baby! I can't tell you how often I've been tangled in the web of the web, just looking for a few pieces of key information to get me moving forward, and I fall into a rabbit hole. Immediate overload.
This more talky way of blogging feels much better. Ahhh release! I hope you join to hear more thoughts and I hope you might add some thoughts of you own. Please comment if you'd like, and if you'd like to follow, just click on the old follow button on the upper-right corner of the page.
On another note, how can you not help but be inspired by yesterday's inauguration ceremony! The people, the pure energy and coming together. Here is a thought for you. I know some of us hold a lot of anger about the former leadership in the US. I'm going to be talking a lot about re-framing, or changing a perspective that we currently have about a situation, in order to understand and deal with it in a different way. So the energy we put forth with our anger...can we release on some of that? Is there a danger that our un-released anger from the past leadership can contaminate the quality of our current leadership? Maybe we should try to make peace with that 'situation' so we don't take that collective energy into the present, and of course the future? Just like we do with our personal lives.
Huh...a little preachy, but food for thought.
Thanks for coming, sending you the goooood vibes!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
The Inception of Innerstage: a brief personal history
I'd like to take just a moment to communicate the true story behind Innerstage and what led to its inception.
I, Joel, graduated from a small, but fine conservatory theatre program in Pittsburgh with a Fine Art's Degree in Acting Performance. Almost immediately after graduation, I found myself working in prominent theatres in Western PA. And so I continued to work in theatre in Pittsburgh, gliding effortlessly from one role to another, and surviving the leaner times by taking any type of work I could find, from painter, admission counselor, waiter. etc. The familiar and numbingly cliche life-path for the performing artist.
Now because Pittsburgh is a comparatively small market, and I was becoming a larger fish in the proverbial pond, my work would often be observed by directors and producers in the Steel city, and I'd be invited to audition for roles in the surrounding houses. In some ways I was lucky. I was able to perform in quite a few productions, and create wonderful pieces with many successful theatre artists in the area. On the flip side, I was completely under-developed in any kind of business savvy and marketing skills. My circle of influence was relegated to this pond only.
At the same time, I found my development as an artist to be sporadic, and often quite accidental. My undisciplined approach to my own development as an actor and human came with severe costs to my emotional and spiritual health. And I had deep sense of my own short-comings on and off the stage.
I was losing my grip. I was becoming more and more isolated and less and less authentic as a performer and human.
In desperation, I turned to the more spiritual wisdom traditions for guidance. I started a meditation practice, and devoured wisdom literature from both the East and the West, and slowly, in contemplating my own precarious situation, it became obvious to me that I was missing some vital life-training on and off the stage.
As actors and performers, we use our entire beings to create and commune with our fellow beings, yes?
And yet most our training is compartmentalized and focused on very specific tools. We train the voice, we train the body, we train the imagination, and we train the intellect, we train a method (or two or three). Often one module of training is taken and practiced in isolation from the others.
But how do we train empathy? How do we train access to higher consciousness? Creativity? Most would answer: Hard-earned life experienced. And they are absolutely right...
But what if we were to add the ingredients of the reflective aspects of wisdom traditions east and west to assist the actor in this more holistic human development. And further more, can we develop ways to access higher levels of creativity and connection to the source through this more integrated approach? Not just theoretically but practically?
I am not suggesting yet another acting method. Most actors I know do not consciously employ methods in their work anyway. Can actors find a way of working that makes room for any approach they choose to employ in the moment? And what does 'being in the moment' mean?
The GREAT SUMMARY:
Question 1:
Can we help the actor find a way of working on themselves on and off the stage?
Question 2:
Are they not the very same thing?
I, Joel, graduated from a small, but fine conservatory theatre program in Pittsburgh with a Fine Art's Degree in Acting Performance. Almost immediately after graduation, I found myself working in prominent theatres in Western PA. And so I continued to work in theatre in Pittsburgh, gliding effortlessly from one role to another, and surviving the leaner times by taking any type of work I could find, from painter, admission counselor, waiter. etc. The familiar and numbingly cliche life-path for the performing artist.
Now because Pittsburgh is a comparatively small market, and I was becoming a larger fish in the proverbial pond, my work would often be observed by directors and producers in the Steel city, and I'd be invited to audition for roles in the surrounding houses. In some ways I was lucky. I was able to perform in quite a few productions, and create wonderful pieces with many successful theatre artists in the area. On the flip side, I was completely under-developed in any kind of business savvy and marketing skills. My circle of influence was relegated to this pond only.
At the same time, I found my development as an artist to be sporadic, and often quite accidental. My undisciplined approach to my own development as an actor and human came with severe costs to my emotional and spiritual health. And I had deep sense of my own short-comings on and off the stage.
I was losing my grip. I was becoming more and more isolated and less and less authentic as a performer and human.
In desperation, I turned to the more spiritual wisdom traditions for guidance. I started a meditation practice, and devoured wisdom literature from both the East and the West, and slowly, in contemplating my own precarious situation, it became obvious to me that I was missing some vital life-training on and off the stage.
As actors and performers, we use our entire beings to create and commune with our fellow beings, yes?
And yet most our training is compartmentalized and focused on very specific tools. We train the voice, we train the body, we train the imagination, and we train the intellect, we train a method (or two or three). Often one module of training is taken and practiced in isolation from the others.
But how do we train empathy? How do we train access to higher consciousness? Creativity? Most would answer: Hard-earned life experienced. And they are absolutely right...
But what if we were to add the ingredients of the reflective aspects of wisdom traditions east and west to assist the actor in this more holistic human development. And further more, can we develop ways to access higher levels of creativity and connection to the source through this more integrated approach? Not just theoretically but practically?
I am not suggesting yet another acting method. Most actors I know do not consciously employ methods in their work anyway. Can actors find a way of working that makes room for any approach they choose to employ in the moment? And what does 'being in the moment' mean?
The GREAT SUMMARY:
Question 1:
Can we help the actor find a way of working on themselves on and off the stage?
Question 2:
Are they not the very same thing?
Monday, January 12, 2009
Welcome
First and foremost, a warm welcome to friends and visitors! I hope you will find the ideas and thoughts helpful and inspiring on your continual journey in life and acting.
And welcome to the first incarnation of Innerstage.
I have been a professional actor for over half of my life on earth. I have experienced thrilling success, and I have also 'gone-up'*, on stage and in life. I would like to share with you my own wild thoughts and some collected wisdom for your journey ahead. More specifically, I would like to take the time to explore the many facets of the actor's life and challenges from a higher and empowering perspective. I will not profess to have the 'answers' to a successful life and career, in fact this blog will not profess to have any concrete answers. However, I can say that I have, on occasion, tasted that place of silence where the answers (and questions, for that matter) originate. More on that to come.
*going-up: In a play, forgetting ones lines in the middle of a scene or monologue, causing massive confusion, panic, and fear in the actor who forgets the line, and paralysis, rage, hysteria, and/or murderous thoughts in the other actors on stage at the time of offense.
A Higher Perspective
Maybe you are searching for a way to engage in this business of acting with an empowered and unshakable frame of mind. I know I am.
I look forward to serving you, and send you positive thoughts in reaching your limitless goals.
You are limitless, you know.
And welcome to the first incarnation of Innerstage.
I have been a professional actor for over half of my life on earth. I have experienced thrilling success, and I have also 'gone-up'*, on stage and in life. I would like to share with you my own wild thoughts and some collected wisdom for your journey ahead. More specifically, I would like to take the time to explore the many facets of the actor's life and challenges from a higher and empowering perspective. I will not profess to have the 'answers' to a successful life and career, in fact this blog will not profess to have any concrete answers. However, I can say that I have, on occasion, tasted that place of silence where the answers (and questions, for that matter) originate. More on that to come.
*going-up: In a play, forgetting ones lines in the middle of a scene or monologue, causing massive confusion, panic, and fear in the actor who forgets the line, and paralysis, rage, hysteria, and/or murderous thoughts in the other actors on stage at the time of offense.
A Higher Perspective
Maybe you are searching for a way to engage in this business of acting with an empowered and unshakable frame of mind. I know I am.
Perhaps you crave insights, wisdom, or a more holistic and deeply fulfilling approach to life and balance. I know I do.
So let's do it. These thoughts, reflections, ideas are dedicated to the Actor, the Self, and Higher-Self.With your comments and help, we'll explore:
- The business side of acting
- acting craft
- personal life issues/relationships
- the spiritual/internal life of the actor
- balance
- personal growth
- integrity in the business
- contribution
When I talk about the spirit and spiritual issues, I will address spirituality from a universal standpoint, and not exclude any religious beliefs or affiliations.
I do not know what form these writings and teachings will take, but I have faith that the words will come as inspiration strikes. As the collections grows, I'll group writings together, so you have an arsenal of affirmations and support as you become whatever you set your mind to become.I look forward to serving you, and send you positive thoughts in reaching your limitless goals.
You are limitless, you know.
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