A few months ago, I decided to write a book. Life as an agent keeps me pretty busy, but this is something I’ve always wanted to do, and it’s not like I don’t have any writing experience. I’ve been working on this column for years, so how hard could it be?
The answer to that question: damn hard.
I forgot that these columns are 600 words long and an average book is around 80,000. So that’s one big difference right there. Also, I’m writing a novel, not an advice book for actors, which means characters and structure and setting and all these other things I’m not used to thinking about. But hey, that’s what I signed up for, and so far I’m enjoying the process.
To get a handle on the story, I signed up for a class that’s supposed to introduce writers to different ways of thinking. The first assignment was to choose one of my favorite books, and I picked “The Great Gatsby.” Then the teacher gave us an intriguing task: She told us to type the first chapter of the book without making any changes.
This sounded like a colossal waste of time, but I had already paid for the class so I did it anyway. And halfway through the assignment, I found myself sitting right next to Fitzgerald, understanding the choices he made and appreciating his skill even more than I had before.
Copying that chapter word for word helped me understand how the book was created.
That got me thinking. This could be a great exercise for actors who want to take their craft to the next level. So I’m going to assume the teacher role now and I’d like you to be my student. Ready?
Your assignment is to choose one of your favorite film performances. If it’s a scene between two characters, you should enlist the help of an actor friend. And make sure it’s a part you could actually play in real life. In other words, if you’re a man in your 40s, don’t pick Matt Damon’s big moment in “Good Will Hunting.”
The next step is to make a written transcript of the scene. Besides the dialogue, include notes on movement and expression. Consider the wardrobe and props—really get into it.
Now copy the performance, beat for beat. Take your time and get it right. Consider this the ultimate mirror exercise.
If all goes well, this assignment will give you a greater understanding of how your favorite performance was created, and that knowledge might come in handy when you have to build your own complex character. At the very least, you’ll get to flex muscles you never knew you had.
The last step is to make the performance your own. Now that you understand it, inside and out, give yourself the freedom to take the character in new directions. Imagine you’ve been hired to play the part in a remake. What would you do differently? What could you bring to the role based on your own life experience? These are questions worth exploring, and the answers will make you a better actor.
Now I have to get back to work on my book. The main character is an actor and at this point in the story, he needs to make a major mistake that will destroy his career. Let’s see. Maybe I should retype some of my own columns. That might lead to some ideas…
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