quote:

What I wanted to say...

If there's a line. For example, "what time is it?"

I understand that someone could point at a clock, and non-verbally communicate the same message, but it simply wouldn't make sense in the scene to do so.

quote:

Originally posted by raphael9:
What I wanted to say...

If there's a line. For example, "what time is it?"

I understand that someone could point at a clock, and non-verbally communicate the same message, but it simply wouldn't make sense in the scene to do so.

That's why I believe the importance of the actual words gets overlooked sometimes in favor of "acting", no matter how short the line is.

quote:

Originally posted by toonaive:

quote:

Originally posted by TRUTHTELLER59:
2. Run through every line of mine MONOTONOUSLY until I know most of it. The other person, PRAY THAT THEY DON'T SUCK, will give me how to say it.

I would like to ask for your opinion on this.

Obviously it's about listening, but how long does it take you personally to shoot back responding to the actor? Do you still think after you've listened, or do you let your response go naturally, as in real life?

This is completely dependent on the context of the scene, and the character you're playing. Think about it, when you are passionately arguing with someone, you are shooting back responses lightning fast, sometimes without giving them full thought. When talking for the first time to a girl you've had a crush on for ages, you'd almost be out of words and thus take longer. Other times circumstances might have you take less time when replying, but there is no set method, this is your character and your creation. A loud mouth jock might reply faster than a shy guy. I'm intellectualizing it here for the purposes of explanation, but this should happen naturally.

It's pretty obvious which way it should be done, however the reason I am asking is that during an audition, what if a CD/director would ask you to do it in the way he/she wants it? What if they want you to respond not as you would naturally respond? That means that after your partner delivered his line and a cue for you, you have to THINK about what was told to you, and only then deliver. Right? So it's not as natural anymore, and the whole "listening thing" is just going out the window.

Truly listening is allowing everything to affect you in one way or another, dependent on the character and the given circumstances. Yes, you have a basic idea of when the other persons lines end and yours begin because you're familiar with the script. However, when in the moment and listening you don't "listen" for that, there are no cues, we don't think in term of cues.

Regarding your comment, I think you mean to say that what if you were replying fast, and the casting director told you to slow it down a bit. In that case you trigger that in yourself, for example, you just cheated on your wife, she comes in and catches you in the act. Originally you make the choice to shoot back responses fast because you are repentant and don't want her to leave, but then the casting director says to you "go slower", so you quickly adjust to that, you picture images of your future life with her not happening anymore, divorce, maybe she keeps the house, maybe you can still talk your way of it if you calculate what you are saying. The point is that you adjust internally and organically, if you just go slower because they say so then it looks fake and bad. When directors or casting directors ask for adjustments, and they will, you should be able to adjust quickly because most of the preparation should already be done, but you should always remain flexible, to give the director options.

This freedom you talk about below is a little non existent, the director is there for a reason, he needs to steer the ship. Most of the time, with a talented cast all that is needed are small adjustments, but remain flexible.

Of course it might be, and probably is, different with good directors that give actors the complete freedom to do their job, but sure not all of them are willing to do that, because it's "their vision".

quote:

Originally posted by raphael9:
I understand words can be influenced by tone, range, inflection, etc.

The point I was trying to make...in many instances words still typically mean the same thing, regardless of how they are "acted".

quote:

Originally posted by TRUTHTELLER59:

quote:

Originally posted by toonaive:

quote:

Originally posted by TRUTHTELLER59:
2. Run through every line of mine MONOTONOUSLY until I know most of it. The other person, PRAY THAT THEY DON'T SUCK, will give me how to say it.

I would like to ask for your opinion on this.

Obviously it's about listening, but how long does it take you personally to shoot back responding to the actor? Do you still think after you've listened, or do you let your response go naturally, as in real life?

It's pretty obvious which way it should be done, however the reason I am asking is that during an audition, what if a CD/director would ask you to do it in the way he/she wants it? What if they want you to respond not as you would naturally respond? That means that after your partner delivered his line and a cue for you, you have to THINK about what was told to you, and only then deliver. Right? So it's not as natural anymore, and the whole "listening thing" is just going out the window.

Of course it might be, and probably is, different with good directors that give actors the complete freedom to do their job, but sure not all of them are willing to do that, because it's "their vision".

WTF?

When you listen IN REAL LIFE, you don't always instantly respond right away. You naturally take a moment, think about what was said, form thoughts and opinions about what was said, and then respond. If you're not doing that and rapidly responding every time, then it looks like you're saying your lines because you know that it's written in the script.

What do you mean "your partner delivered...a cue for you?" When you have a conversation in REAL LIFE, you don't always know when they've said everything for you to say something in response. If there's some silence in between, cool. You know we have this awesome thing with editing.

With the exception of sit-coms where it's a fast pace, it's okay to take your time. Especially in cold read auditions, it's not about rapid fire responses.