Actors and Line Readings
Well.
Don't we all love to be given these...
Not.
Most of us are aware, globally, of the 'no no' that is giving an actor a line reading, either director to actor, or actor to actor, or teacher to actor....
Sometimes we do need it. Ask for it. Just to speed things along.
Sometimes as a standby or cover, we choose to slip into the rhythm of the actor in a role to keep the pacing familiar.
But sometimes we don't.
And when we are 'given' a reading, whether because we request it, or it is simply hurled at us in rehearsal, we have a thought about it.
And that thought generates a feeling.
'I hate saying it that way.'
'That doesn't work for me.'
'That is inauthentic.'
'This director is asking for a result, not my instincts.'
'Thank God I know what they want!'
'I can do that.'
'The director is in a rush and I wasn't getting there fast enough.'
There are as many 'sentences in our heads' as there are actors who receive the line reading.
You can't be in the business for long without getting one. And we all work out our way of dealing with them, generally some continuum of ego, authority, how much we want the job, how much we agree or disagree with the reading, how many people overheard it, or just how we are feeling that day already.
We can accept. Push back. Debate. Ruminate and get heavy into frustration and blame. Or, feel relief that we know what 'they' want.
Decide we think it is insulting. Choose to think they have limited communication skills. Decide to believe they do this to everyone.
But ultimately we decide how we want to respond. And we try to have our own backs.
Let's take that knowledge and look at another angle of relationships.
Expecting someone you have a relationship with to Respond in the Way you Want Them To....
Is giving them a Line Reading.
It may show up in subtler or grander ways. But in the simplest actor terms, it's a line reading!
You already know how that feels when you are given one.
At times, relieved. At times, angry. At times, mortified. At times, indignant. At times, resigned.
Rarely joyous.
Or connected.
Or compassionate.
Or happy.
Possibly motivated... (to not be given one again, to prove that you can deliver the line as asked, to 'get the laugh', 'set up the punch line', 'orchestrate the gasp', 'pick up the cue in a specific way' 'Give Them What They Want But We Haven't Delivered'...)
It can go either way.
In the rehearsal room, or at home.
But the balance in the relationship likely tilts.
Because now, if the person you had the expectation of Delivers that to You, you will not be sure they wanted to do so.
And that could be OK!
Because... you get what you want.
Right?
But.... always a but...
You won't be sure they really wanted to.
We have thought about Relationships and expectations. We can, in a healthy way that serves us, make requests.
"could you"
"I would love it if you..."
"Can you please..."
"I want ..."
But consider not giving the Power to Change Your Feelings away to another person, even one you love.
Especially one you love.
If you need them to do a certain thing, or behave a certain way, ask. Or tell.
But if you decide you will only be
happy, fulfilled, content, seen, heard, loved, respected
IF They do this thing...
You are expecting the line reading to be exactly like you imagined it. You are putting the weight of your idea onto another person.
What you get back might be beautiful. Might solve something. Might work for you.
And.
What does it do for them?
Think about this the next time you feel you are given a specific reading. What your thought makes you feel.
And you get to love them anyway.
Or like them.
Or learn from them.
Whatever the relationship is to you.
One more thing...
This is not about 'being careful, politic, always mindful of not saying the wrong thing'.
The Wrong Things Will Be Said!
By all the humans. All!
This is about not expecting others to give us the feeling we want.
We can do that on our own.
As always, with questions, submit through the Ask tab on the ActorSelfCoach.com site.
