Chekhov spent a year writing “3 Sisters” and he was a professional writer for over 20 years by then, the famous one (in Russia). How can I assume that I can do it in the shorter period? History proved that he did enough thinking, which is the emotional composition and
choreography, so actors can PERFORM it. Am I more talented than Chekhov not to put
at least as much work as he did?
I would think that each actor must spend as much time on his or her character as writer -- and more. If you are a professional actor, you know what you are doing at every step. Your choice maybe a wrong one, but the choosing must be done. A professional musician starts his training in his childhood. Actor doesn’t because your instrument (soul and mind) isn’t grown up yet. All those missed years of training must be compensated. Why any doctor have to go through so much reading and memorization, when he is about to be
a surgeon (who is a practitioner)?
Memorizing and delivering lines has nothing to do with acting. If you do it better than
nine out of ten on the street, you are not thinking right -- there are 6 million people out there. You do your math to figure out the competition.
When I worked with professional actors I didn’t ask those questions I ask in acting
class -- they were asking me. They had them and I learned how to understand plays the
way they did, so I can question too.
Theatre is about commitment. When you want to become a priest, you change you way of living. There is no acting 9 to 5. Artist doesn’t have lunch hour. It’s a way of living. Are you an actor or not? -- You decide. There is no middle ground -- if you are a little bit pregnant, you can act in your normal daily life, many do. It is easy to pretend that you are "actor" than a computer programmer. you can do it throughout your entire life -- nobody
cares, because it is YOUR life and can do whatever you want with it.
When I was young, I complained about not having real teachers and mentors. I didn’t
know that it has to be a self-learning experience. The old saying --Art can’t be taught, you can learn it -- means that you are the one who does both -- learning and teaching. How can you know how to learn, if you don’t know how to teach?
I had many changes in my life, I even managed to change the culture and language -- one thing dictated those changes (including my marriages) and kept the continuity -- theatre. Yes, I got divorced and defected because I had to SERVE this desire for theatre. There is nothing of real value is free, never. You should know how much you are willing to pay. Acting and directing are very expensive gifts to give yourself, you will paying for it longer than the life of your mortgage. If it’s too much, make your mind. Theatre could be a wonderful hobby, better than golf.
I wish I can tell it in Acting One and I try, but they can’t listen (like talking about sex with a 3 year old). Look at their answers why they got enrolled in theatre class! I wish I learned what I want before I got my first degree -- in thermo-dynamics. But this is a self-learning process, remember? Nobody knows what is for you, not even you -- you have to discover it and it takes time, labor and guts.
Art is personal, acting is the most personal of all arts, because your material is you. If you are willing to expose yourself for all to see, do go there. There are many safe ways to make a living.
I’ll finish and webpost this note after I read all your journals.
I never liked Stanislavsky because of his badly written books (I'm sure I said alredy), but I understand his frustration with actors, who refuse to understand anything. They want to be more stupid than they are. "Direct me!" As if directors have nothing else to do besides working on actors. Actor is not a violin, but a violinist! Why would anyone try to get it out of you? What is this role for you? Who can answer it, if not the actor himself? Of course, a good director can make "act" even a dog (see commercials).
What do I do as a director? I don't understand what I see -- and I ask. Give it to me right in the first place and I won't ask. Can you take directions? Do you understand what was said? If you about to blaim directors, it's unlikely that you will have any professional future.
Your resumes are in the same directory “students” (if you didn’t submit them, you will see it in your grade).
