Ask Judith: Submission #8

Submission Number: 8
Submission ID: 92
Submission UUID: 5334d7fc-bd02-4f10-bf5c-ce959964a18c
Submission URI: /web/ask-judith

Created: Sat, 08/14/2021 - 03:53 PM
Completed: Sat, 08/14/2021 - 03:53 PM
Changed: Tue, 12/26/2023 - 12:58 PM

Remote IP address: 66.212.210.82
Submitted by: Anonymous
Language: English

Is draft: No
Webform: Ask Judith
Submitted to: Ask Judith
Name Robert
Email (optional) memorare.members@gmail.com
Question Hi Judith!

I had an idea on how a director could encourage listening. I'd like to ask your opinion on it. I would ask each scene partner to tell me between takes if the other actor was listening or not. No one would be in a better position to see the subtleties a distant director might not catch! And this would be not just another pair of eyes for the director, but also a strong motivation for every actor to listen, knowing he's being watched at close range. There's even a third benefit: the "observer" will be concentrating on his partner's face with the "task" of detecting signs of listening, signs of his affecting him. Wouldn't that be great? What do you think?
Reply Thank you, Robert. This idea reminds me of something I sometimes do in rehearsal. I sometimes give the actors permission to say to the other actor, "I don't believe you," or "Why did you say that," during rehearsal, anytime they have that impulse. But I only do an exercise like that if I know that the actors trust me. Actors are often protective of each other and I think you need to be aware that they might have a negative reaction to your idea - because they might feel that you are asking them to "rat each other out." Actually the actors should not be evaluating each other's performance - they should be absorbing and reverberating to their character's emotional situation, and responding to whatever they are receiving from their partner. I suggest that you only try your idea if you first ask the actors how they feel about trying it. I also think you should *practice* with this idea in "practice rehearsals" before you try it in a professional situation. I also suggest that you take an acting class yourself, in order to deepen your understanding of actors' vulnerabilities. Take care, Robert, and best wishes, Judith
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