Through the years, even though the business has changed dramatically, the challenges for actors seem to be mostly the same. The questions I get asked most often are along the same themes: “How do I get out of my head?” “I feel like I could get more done if only I had the energy.” “What happens when I’m on set and feel trapped by doing it the same way?”
We’ve all struggled with these things at one time or another. We get so wrapped up in those questions that the answers seem like they must be complicated, but they really aren’t.
How do you get out of your head and get more energy? Meditation helps a lot. We’re all so health conscious these days. We go to the gym to be sexy, and eat superfoods because they’re trending and post endless photos of them on Instagram…so they must be good for us! But we don’t always do a lot for our mind. People say to me, “Tony, I can’t sit still for 10 minutes! How in the hell would I ever be able to meditate?” But the point of meditation isn’t just to “be quiet.” Yes, the practice eventually quiets the mind, but sometimes my meditations are filled with loud noise. It’s about engaging in a practice non-judgmentally. Like acting, sometimes you’re going to be amazing, and sometimes your work will be not so stellar. Who cares? It’s all work. It’s all about taking your hands off the reins—even for just a moment—and listening to what is going on all around you and inside you. It’s about discovering a place between thoughts that give us access to something else within us besides our distracting thoughts.
There is a lot of science now that backs up the benefits of meditation and tracks the long-term effects. A lot of our personal energy comes from that practice. Meditation can be as simple as going for a walk and leaving your phone behind. When was the last time you did that? We don’t realize that we are often sapped of our energy because of the stimulus response we have with our phone. As you continue this practice, you will find those moments of being “in your head” happen less and less often.
It’s all practice. All of it. Same with being on set, but we don’t think of it that way because we’re getting paid to do a job and often are paralyzed with the fear of doing something “wrong.” What ends up happening is that we are less likely to take risks and therefore find real creative moments in the spontaneity.
So what happens when you’re on set, and you feel stuck? What then? Breathe. Take a moment. Try to reconnect with your partner. Listen. Do an improv exercise with your partner. Put it in your own words so you don’t get stuck on saying something the same way over and over. If none of that works, ask to take a break and get off set. Take a walk around, clear your head, shake it out and come back to the situation with fresh eyes. Or, and this is going to sound revolutionary, you can ask for help! The last time I checked, directors are there to assist actors. Some do, some don’t. But it’s worth a try to ask. People actually like to help other people. That’s why we’re human. So don’t underestimate the power of asking. And remember, the odds are, if you got the part and are doing the work, you’re doing just fine. So be gentle with yourself. If they haven’t fired you, then you’re doing OK!
Sometimes you won’t “feel it,” but it works. Sometimes you will feel it, and you’ll look back and a take looks like you’re overworking or pushing. Sometimes the work will feel cold and clinical, other times it’s effortless and fun. Either way, you’ll get through it. The most important thing to do when it gets that way is just listen. Listen to each line like it’s the first time you ever heard it. When you put your focus on the other person, you cannot be in your head at the same time.
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