This week, we began diving into the study of human behavior and organic reaction. What most of us don't realize is that we are constantly bombarded with information from other people. Most of us don't pick up on it. It's less about words and more about the raising of an eyebrow, the inflection of a syllable, the shrug of a shoulder, the slight glace to the left or right. These underlying messages are what make up interpersonal connections; these are the life of acting.
I found that the more I pay attention and receive, the more in tune I am with other actors, other people, life and communication in general. For instance, a young student recently came to talk to me about vocal work she was going to do. Her words were, "Are will still going to sing?" However, her body language told me everything I needed to know. She shrugged her shoulders, kept looking to the right, sighed heavier than usual after her sentence, put all her weight on one leg, and pivoted slightly away from me. Because I have been practicing looking for these clues in class, it spilled over into real life. The message I received from her was: "I know we have to sing soon, but I don't feel comfortable, I'm worried about the performance, and I'd rather not do it."
Crazy ain't it?
This kind of perception is what makes a good performance a gotta-hold-my-breath-because-I-don't-know-what's-coming-next kind of performance. This is what I'm aiming for. I'm not there yet, but I'm well on my way.
