inspired

Hi!

For many years I have been in productions at my school and I am a very serious actor and want to pursue acting after I graduate from high school (I'm a junior).

However, there is an issue which has been bothering me greatly and is hard to talk about because I'm a little ashamed by it.

Over the years, I have had greater difficulty remembering blocking (lines are no problem). I work very very hard but my brain doesn't retain memory of blocking and it is extremely embarrassing to forget the staging (eg. exits, where one goes on stage at a point, etc.).

It makes me look unprofessional and unprepared. I am wondering if others have had the same issue. Perhaps the techniques I have tried over the years are not the best techniques to use. I know actors develop their own techniques that work best for them and I have been working on this in many areas of my acting career (as does everyone else).

During rehearsals it takes a longer amount of time for my brain to absorb the staging/blocking so as a result I become frustrated and I undoubtedly feel the frustrations of the director in my imperfections.

However, I do eventually memorize the blocking perfectly and perform on opening night with no problem.

But this still frustrates me. Maybe it's the way my brain is wired; but if that's the case I don't know if I can accept that because I always strive to be better and this is something I can improve upon.

Please help if you have any suggestions/advice/experience with this issue, etc.!

Thanks!

John

SWK78

hi, i am a junior as well, and so far i've been involved in some plays, done dinner theatre, and done a scene for a "spooky train ride" here in my home town. i've acting and directing experience, having directed our last school play in my drama class.

i personally do not have this issue that you've described as seriously as you seem to. i sometimes forget what i am supposed to do in a scene, but i remember. since you said that you eventually get the blocking, and everything is okay by the curtain date, i would say that you have nothing to worry about.

however, if you are thinking about going into film acting, then that is a whole other ballpark. i myslef am going into film acting, directing, and screenwriting. and for film, you have to memorize your lines virtually the night before and then sometimes there will be line chaning in the middle of the day, when you will have to memorize on the spot. this should be no problem for you with that. however, the director may take the actors in the scenes to be shot that day and rehearse for an hour or so. you'll have to get it then, not while you're shooting. though its okay if you mess up while shooting, thats why they make blooper reels, so we can laugh at ourselves. i was watching some of the third starwars not long ago (dont know if you've seen it) but when anakin has obi on his shoulders and is supposed to go to the elevator, the actor, hayden, goes to it, pushes the "button" and you can hear the director off-camera yell to him "wrong door!" and laughing he just trots over to the other door as a joke, and of course "cut!" is called and they do it again.

you see, even seasoned actors get it wrong sometimes. hardly ever is a set-up satisfying in only one take.

i wouldnt sweat over this blocking thing you have here. it sounds to me like your brain (and, no, i dont think its wired wrong) is just trying to push you to do an above average job, and thats how it is when we want to win a game, we put so much pressure on ourselves, that it is OURSELVES making us mess up. perhaps this is you. you want to do a good job, and so you push yourself (which isnt a bad thing).

maybe you could practice at home. write up some blocking, like:

start by sitting on the bed...
stand and walk to the dresser...
then look out the window...
then turn around like you're frustrated...
go to the door...
stop yourself...
turn back around....
and that's when you deliver your line to your cheating girlfriend "why did you do it?"....

there is a simple simulation for you (off the top of my head) so there you go. write up some short things act them out. see if you can remember them. then ocassionally get bigger and more complex with them. you'll get better at it if you start small and work your way up...practice, practice, practice.

so go have the time of your life....

need anything else, just ask...

SWK78

Edder

I'm also more of a director/film maker/screenwriter, but I find acting very enjoyable.

http://www.fobfilms.com/

This summer I'm looking to work on a few short films with my friends.

SWK78

What genre/s do you like to work in, Edder?

SWK78

Edder

The movies over at SevenOhFive.com inspired me to begin directing/producing short films. Skidmarks is my personal favorite.

Check it out! http://www.sevenohfive.com