Showing posts with label THE INDEPENDENT ACTIVITY. Show all posts
Showing posts with label THE INDEPENDENT ACTIVITY. Show all posts

Saturday, November 13, 2010

"CHARACTER" IN THE PERFORMANCE OF EVERYDAY LIFE OF THE "SUCCESSFUL ARTIST"



In the video clip referenced below (yesterday's post), from "char•ac•ter," Sidney Pollack talks about how the "Independent Activity" is the key that opens all the doors to acting and directing actors, I mentioned too (below) how the Mamet memo has its roots in the "Indpendent Activity." In the above clip, shard with me by
Risa Bramon Garcia Master Class and Coaching, Kevin Spacey talks about the "character" of the successful artist, like an actor nailing down the "character" of the "successful artist," in terms of the "what," the "why," the "urgency," in show business the "where," - the elements of "Independent Activity" of the successful actor in the performance of everyday life.


Oh, and what the heck, this is: SHOW BUSINESS!

"Real Dreams" by Trevor Griffiths
The Other Stages August 8 - August 18, 1984

José Angel Santana and Kevin Spacey: credit Bob Marshak

From Trevor Griffith's "Real Dreams" clockwise in the rear Nina Bernstein, Scott Burkholder, Lucinda Jenny. - Williamstown Theatre Festival, 1984.

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"The play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king."

Friday, November 12, 2010

THE INDEPENDENT ACTIVITY

Disclaimer and in full disclosure: I do not know, have never met nor spoken to the makers of the documentary "char•ac•ter".


















From the last recorded interview with Sidney Pollack from "char•ac•ter" produced and directed by Drago Sumonja.

Greetings everyone,

Not long ago I posted about the documentary "char•ac•ter"

http://working-with-actors.blogspot.com/2010/10/character.html


Today, a very well regarded, highly respected, and fine actor colleague friend of mine sent me this email note after I recommended and he watched the movie
documentary "char•ac•ter". He wrote:

"The film is wonderful, especially the supplemental footage.
Tell me, Pollack was fascinating about the "Independent Activity."

Care to elucidate?"
It would take volumes . . . to really get into it, but the questions raised
by Pollack's segment about the "Independent Activity" reverberate through Mamet's notorious "MASTER CLASS MEMO"

http://working-with-actors.blogspot.com/2010/03/david-mamets-master-class-memo.html


Which is to say that the "Independent Activity" impacts writing, directly, and acting in a most powerful way. It's a technical term and approach to expressing, finding and portraying the inner life of a character at all phases of the creative process.

It's actually a lot more than that too . . .

Sometimes questions are better than answers.

Good morning,
José


Note: The only issue I take with this otherwise extraordinary and essential documentary "char•ac•ter" is that it's devoid of a feminine perspective on the subject of acting and directing. This thus opens the door for that doc, that has yet to be made.

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"The play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king."