Let's talk acting

Diane Havens · **Voice Talent** Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Posts: 1281

I am so glad, John. Since you mentioned Zen...

In college, I had a poetry professor who was a Zen Buddhist, and the poetry I wrote as a result of his influence, saved my life. It spilled out into everything I've done from then on, in all facets of my life. It is what I want to pass along to my son. Love what you do, whatever it is, for that is what will make the work excel, and you happy. Love the work itself, not the trappings of the work -- not the money, nor the attention, nor the prestige it may bring you. That has been my philosophy. For years, I loved the stage, then teaching, and now this. I work every day to find what I am most excellent at in this field, what niche, what kind of work makes me happiest. And I am tough on myself. I am not easy to please. And with that, with healthy ego, with passion and determination, I will let nothing deter me. No negative energy enters in -- not the ratings or rantings of 123, not anyone else's subjective opinion, not the rejection of some nameless, faceless business man. I know whose opinions matter to me -- and my opinion, in the end, is the one that matters most.

John Bigl · **Voice Talent** Joined: 13 Aug 2005 Posts: 905

Diane et al ...

while hitting the net for Zen ways of acting, i found of few pieces you may find interesting....

http://www.n2arts.com/ee/theatre/storypage/the_zen_of_acting/

http://www.westernchanfellowship.org/zen-art-of-acting.html

http://www.jrosestudio.com/donothingfinal.html

thanks so much again for your thoughtful and thought provoking words...

Be Well

Diane Havens · **Voice Talent** Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Posts: 1281

Wow, John -- yes!!!

Thanks for the links!

Craig Crumpton · **Voice Talent** Joined: 10 Mar 2008 Posts: 58

Dianne,

From my experience, overthinking is the enemy of acting. That's why quality workshops (like Bob's) are so great--they help you develop a simple system, a process, which you can apply to your acting and auditioning. Over time, those techniques become second nature and you don't have to think so much. You just have confidence in yourself and your abilities and training and go for it.

From workshops I've done and based on my own experience and personal observations...acting is all about character and/or simply being real and genuine (and a combination of both).

I approach voice acting much in the same way that I do "live" acting. I use the same physicalities: guestures, facial expression, and body movement. For me, the only "real" difference is just that with voice acting you have to have a bigger, more detailed imagination because in most cases, it's just you in the booth, and you have to imagine who you're talking to.

I've done a fair amount of stage work, and even more experience doing live promotions. And honestly, I still don't feel like voice acting is much different.

To give you an example, in college, I was cast as the teacher Mr.Phillips in a production of "Anne of Green Gables", and my physical acting "skills" weren't what got me the part. It was the character voice I did.

Instead of doing the dry, boring teacher stereotype like everyone else who read before me, I saw the comic potential in the character and did a brash, whining, and a little guttural character voice (something like "The Monarch" villain from Adult Swim's "The Venture Bros", although this was more than a decade before that show aired).

They laughed, and I got the part.

Diane Havens · **Voice Talent** Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Posts: 1281

Yes, Craig, I so totally agree -- no over thinking! As I told John, that applies to everything creative, or physical/athletic -- even driving. Instincts must take over. Relax and react. And make it new -- every time. That was the major challenge of the stage. So I'd find different ways to keep each performance fresh.

So it really isn't much different from stage acting, I guess.

Except usually it's a one man show playing to an empty (or near empty) house. And your mouth has to stay in the same neighborhood all the time.

Craig Crumpton · **Voice Talent** Joined: 10 Mar 2008 Posts: 58