The Actor Who Gets The Job Does This

It’s not about the scene. It’s about this human being.

I recently heard a casting director say:  

“It’s less about coming in and doing really well on the scene, and more about: what’s your take on this character?  We’re looking for the thing you do with the character that lights us up - not that you came in and nailed the scene.”

It’s you, that way. You're always playing yourself.

You’re using the character as a kind of prism to reveal something real about yourself.

How do you find character if you don’t understand that you’re looking to find her?

What kind of person did the writer write?
Who is this human in this human circumstance?
Forget about the story. You can’t act the story.

The sides are your roadmap. Stop at every relationship.

What’s the writer trying to tell you about how you feel?
What are you doing because of it? Why?

Then put your character in action and find out.
You only know him by doing him.

People are what they do.
Step into the shoes of this character.

You can’t be creative when you’re trying to be right.

Dare to do things that may be wrong, but at least try them, get them out of your system.

This gives space for curiosity and playfulness.
You have to be allowed to play and fail.

Don’t interpret the text - interpret the life.

Surrender to the character.
Surrender. Surrender. Surrender.