mental downloadables

the newsletter for to git gud in acting 'n stuff

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Just Listen to Yourself

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The Preparation of Cues

So often I see actors know their lines BUT they seem still lost during an audition. They worked really hard, you can tell, but they missed one key part of the process of preparation ...

... they forgot to memorize their cue lines!

When an actor doesn't know their cue lines they appear:

• Unprepared
• Confused
• Flustered
• Lost

Not exactly adjectives that inspire confidence in a casting director.

Speaking on cue can be tricky.

When done poorly it can make you look unprofessional ...

... and not get the part.

Let's not do that.

Running Lines, Tackling Cues ...

So you need to run cue lines but:

1. No one is around because it's midnight and your audition is tomorrow
2. Your bestie/partner/spouse is around but they are sick or running lines with you
3. Your bestie/partner/spouse is around, they want to help you, but they are really bad actors
4. You just want to work in solitude

I'll tell you what you're gonna do!

You are going to ...

LISTEN TO YOURSELF ... SERIOUSLY

... literally listen to yourself ...

... on a digital recorder.

So here’s what you do:

1. Record yourself with a physical digital recorder (I’ll explain). Record all the lines BEFORE your character’s lines in a scene. This will be Track #1.

2. Record all of your scene partners lines with a 1-2 second pause, then record your line VERBATIM.

3. On second track record all the cue lines again. Leave 3-5 seconds between each of your scene partners lines, this time WITHOUT your lines.

4. Start track one and when you hear the cue word, press pause as quickly as possible!

5. Immediately speak without thinking, just say aloud what line you feel comes next.

6. Press play, and listen to your verbatim recorded line. How did you do?

7. Once you’ve gone through track #1, go to track #2 and see far you can go without the aid of hearing the correct line next.

8. Repeat 50 times!

Fifty Times!!!

Yes.

Here's why.

In his book "True and False" David Mamet says:

You do want to reveal the "true lost art of the actor" don't you?

Good.

Buy a digital recorder and keep reading.

A PHYSICAL Digital Recorder?

I recommend you buy a physical digital recorder with real life buttons like this:

Why?

Because it's psycho ...

... psychosomatic that is.

Have a recorder with a physical button will help you have a visceral reaction to hearing your cue line. But running lines with a physical recorder you get a "feel" for when you are supposed to speak on stage.

You deepen psychosomatic connections between your mind, body, and the script, very similar to the connections you made when you wrote all your lines out by hand as a continuous monologue.

You did write out all of your lines a continuous monologue, right?

If you have no idea what I'm talking about click the button below:

“ If you insist on using your phone for this task there are some apps that you can use to help you run lines and cues. ​ I'll explore those in a future email. — Name

CUES SO FAST THEY'LL FREAK OUT!

Once you've done the cue drill with the recorder 50 times (100x if you're really dedicated) your cues will be so clean that the auditors will immediately view you as a professional.

Hopefully, you scene partner will be able to keep up.

If you put in the work you'll gain confidence to be courageous.

One more from Mamet:

Be courageous my friend ...

... but know your darn cues!

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See you next week!