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.

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.

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.