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Nerves, Part Two - Playing with Oscar Winners. And Guns.

2/22/2016

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A common goal I hear from students is “to be less nervous.” The obvious irony is that my most widely seen role is as the Nervous Accountant in No Country for Old Men, a role I earned through an anxiety-ridden audition. 
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I was surprised, however, by my lack of nerves on the day of the shoot. The Coens’ assured craft and easy-going nature trickled down throughout the set. Besides, I was there to do the thing I love to do most in the world, and on this day I would get to do it with some outstanding playmates. As I sat next to Stephen Root in the makeup trailer and watched Javier Bardem’s disheveled hair being brushed into Chigurh’s distinctive mop, I could only think, “Man, this is going to be fun.”

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Nerves, Part One - Auditioning for the Coen Brothers

2/15/2016

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This is a reprint of an article I wrote for the local paper when No Country for Old Men first came out. It's just a story - no big acting lessons - but it's a worthy preface to my next post, so I'll just put it here without further explanation:

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When The Dream Won't Come Through the Straw

10/8/2015

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That Tom Waits sure can turn a phrase. He said one of the best things about the creative process (as told though Elizabeth Gilbert here, among other places):
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I Was There Too and Learned a Thing or Two

10/1/2015

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​If you've been on a set or have longed to be on a set, you should really be listening to I Was There Too, Matt Gourley's wonderful podcast featuring actors who had small roles in big films.
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The Kicking Ass Threshold

9/19/2015

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A nice visual aid to accompany my last post . . . 
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I'm afraid I can't find the original creator to give credit. But they are a badass and have my thanks.
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How To Train Your Actor

9/17/2015

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Training is about more than learning how to act; it’s about learning how to learn to act.

Simple scene work is fine for maintenance, but if you really want to get better and better, you have to train in a way that challenges you and pushes you beyond your boundaries. You have to get your ass kicked a bit, and learn how to kick it yourself. I’d like to help out with that.

In the Dynamic Actor Workshop, you will:

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Habits, Part 3: No Looking Down

10/25/2012

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It’s prevalent to the point of cliché, seen in countless gag reels: an actor loses focus and starts to laugh, so he stops to gather himself. He comes back into the scene and only gets a word or two out before falling apart all over again.



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Habits, Part 2: Time with the Page

10/18/2012

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So you have avoided the character breakdown, you started by reading the script out loud, and you’re ready to start really digging in. At this point, many actors will highlight their lines in the script.

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Habits, Part 1: The Character Breakdown

10/17/2012

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This is the first in a series of posts on habits that can be practiced every time you work. On its own, each habit is small – just something practical to keep in mind. But practicing enough small habits of craft can lead to big breakthroughs of artistry.

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The Acting and The Performance: Know the Difference

2/15/2012

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It’s a bit ironic that our art, which is the most collaborative of all art forms, can be so quickly poisoned by ego.

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    The ideas, big and small, that form my approach to the craft of acting. If it's your first time here, might I suggest this post to get you started?

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