Way to go Artists!  Keep going!

I have been watching all the creative activities going on in Hong Kong in the last few months.  It is so exciting to see how actors, writers, directors, and producers are all working together to create films on the streets of your city.   Hong Kong has more film festivals for small films and it appears that many of you are taking the incentive to create your own projects. 

You are busy out there.  48 Hour Film Festivals.  Hey Spencer don’t stop I see you doing this a lot.  And between films, TV series for the web and classic theater you all are out there and “kickin’ ----”. 

So many actors here in Los Angeles have been writing and directing and producing films.  I encourage actors to write.  In fact they have been writing back stories for their characters for years so why not see what you have to offer. 

Every time I have come to teach workshops in Hong Kong I am thrilled with the energy and initiative that surrounds this artistic community.   I love being a part of it. 

As I have been preparing for the next group of workshops in December I have kept this all in mind.  So I am planning even more of the audition training both from the perspective of the actor and also for the director.  You will get a bird’s eye view of the audition both from the view of the actor and also from the director and producers’ chairs.  Many times seeing the process from another view point can really open your eyes to your own limitations. 

Directors, you can learn how in a few short cues or instructions you can find out the depth and breadth of the actors’ abilities.  Actors, you can learn how to make the most of the time you have in the room with the director and also how to prepare in a way that will allow you to give your best performance.   Writers, you will also see how you can strengthen your writing by watching the audition process.

I love to hear about all the exciting artistic events happening in Hong Kong.  As I read about them I get even more excited about returning to teach in December.

See you for some “Kick Ass” Work and Fun !

Jeanne Hartman

www.JeanneHartmanActorsDetective.com

Jeanne Hartman Workshops returning to Hong Kong

I am so excited that Jason Tobin and I have scheduled workshops in Hong Kong, starting the first week of December.   The details will be on AnD Events in a short time.   I have heard from many of you wanting to know when I was teaching again in Hong Kong.  Well now is your chance to come have an exciting educational two-day workshop.   I will be teaching two Professional

2-Day Workshops in the first two weeks of December.  Two must be my lucky number!!!

We also will be scheduling a 1-Day Open Workshop and an Introduction to Acting evening as well.  It will be a fast paced two weeks for me but I do love teaching all of you so with your energy and commitment we will once again have some fireworks bursting through the ceiling!

I so love to watch all of you grow.  And as those of you who have taken the workshops before know,  it is a supportive inspiring group of actors, directors and writers where you can feel safe to try new techniques and go into emotional depths in your work that you have not yet experienced.     

I am already planning some new exercises and scenes so for you returning students beware, I am ready to challenge you to become stronger, more exciting actors.   Directors I also have some exercises planned so that you can also practice some directing techniques as well. 

If you have questions or dilemmas you have encountered that you would like me to address in the workshops, drop me the questions here or on my website,  www.JeanneHartmanActorsDetective.com

Answering  D.Y.’s  Question

 D.Y. asks, "I feel actors are some of the smartest people I know. So from your experience, why you do you think "unsmart" people aren't actors? I think because acting deals with a lot of intrapersonal and interpersonal intelligence, but I’m not sure. I'm interested in your take.”

Dear D.Y., 

Here is your question you sent me after you read my last blog, “Actors are Great Researchers or they should be.”

I could be humorous but I am going to take this seriously, D.Y.   I think most people in the world really don’t want to go too deep into their emotional secrets or that of their families and the people around them.  You know it is like the 3 wise monkeys. “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.”  

But actors are curious.  They want to know why.  That’s a question in my book,  The Right Questions for Actors  on page 34.  Question#8 makes so much sense.  It is called, “WHY WHY WHY”.  

Once I get an actor to ask the question, WHY, and that actor continues to ask WHY,  it is amazing how quickly an actor finds all kinds of information about their character and the reasons why their character does what he does or says what he says. 

Well, when a person already is a “WHY” kind of person that just makes the research easier.   I was that kind of child.  I tried to figure out why for all kinds of reasons.   Sometimes it was just because I wanted to get out of practicing my piano exercises every day.  So I asked WHY.   Of course my first answer was that it was boring or I just wasn’t in the mood or I would rather go outside and play with our dog.  All good reasons of course.  Once I knew and of course when you are a child you are sure you are right and justified, my next question was HOW.  How could I make this happen.  So I made a goal.  My goal was that I needed to learn how to sight reading my piano pieces so well that my piano teacher,  Mrs. Den Ouden, could not tell if I had practiced or not.  That became my goal.  And finally after a long time I was able to do it.  Poor Mrs. Den Ouden.  I must have been quite a frustrating challenge. 

Okay quite a story to give an example.  Let me use this about D.Y.’s question.  I am going to ask that question right now.  WHY?  Why do we go through this investigation?  When it matters so much to us.  It mattered a lot to me as a little girl to not have to practice.  It was important to me. 

What I find interesting when I am working with “nonactors”  we all have areas in our life where we are willing to do this kind of investigation.  When it matters enough to us, we will investigate. 

The difference with actors.  They love to do it all the time.  That is why I stand by my assertion  that actors for the most part are smart researchers.  We just love to find out “WHY”. 

The better the actor, the greater the curiosity.  Now you and I may not know this about the actor.  It is a private thing.  It is done behind the scenes.  And frankly it really is nobody’s business.  It is the actor’s private preparation, his business.   

I just love when an actor asked me a question when we are working that I haven’t thought of yet.  Of course, that doesn’t happen very often.  I know that may sound a bit arrogant but it is true.  And yes I am going to ask that question again for you.  WHY?  Because I have been coaching actors and asking these questions for many years and so I am better at it than many people who come to me.  Makes sense.  That’s why they come to me.  But still I truly love when an actor does surprise me or get ahead of me.  I love it.  Because it means that have learned what I truly believe can be a technique that every great actor has developed.  They  have learned  their best way to develop a believable interesting character.  And that is my goal with every actor.  To make them independent.  To help them learn how to prepare on their own in a way that works best for him or her. 

So D. Y. ( my curiosity wants me to ask,  what does D.Y. stand for?)  I just can’t help myself.  I must as WHY.

So. D. Y…  Actors or anyone who keeps asking WHY, keep learning and that is the key to a smart person.  They keep learning and enjoying that process every day. 

Thanks D.Y. for the question.   Anyone else have a question they would like me to answer or a subject on which you would like my opinion, let me hear it.  Happy to do it.  I just don’t think I can tell you “the meaning of life”.   But I’m open to all your other questions. 

Talk soon. 

Actors are Great Researchers or they should be!

What does “Boston Marriage” Mean?

I love going to plays and films where I learn something I didn’t know.  That happened this weekend.  I went to see a play by David Mamet called Boston Marriage at Group Repertory Theatre in North Hollywood, California. 

Did you know what the term Boston marriage meant in the 19^th century?  Don’t know?  Hey that’s okay I didn’t know it either.  It was a term used for households where two women lived together, independent of any male support. It is debatable whether these relationships were sexual or not. The likelihood was that some were and some weren’t.  But the term ‘Boston marriage” is not sexual.  In the 19^th century women did not have very many ways to live independently. If you recall the women could not vote, many times could not own property and basically were dependent on men and their own families.

Now in the 21^st century this seems foreign to most of us.  People are more upfront about their private lives.  Women are more independent.  However in the 19^th century it was very different especially for women. 

It is so wonderful to take a seat in a darkened theater and step into another time in history.  I love learning while I am enjoying a creative, enjoyable performance. 

Yes, I do love film but I marvel when a theater company on a small budget can create a world for you, the audience, with one set.  Also the weight of the responsibility lies with the actors ultimately.  Of course the play, the director, the set designer and the crew all contribute so much to the work but for the actors once the lights go down and the audience is quiet it is the actors who are in charge for that evening.  In a film the actor is never really in charge about what is in the final product.  That is the director and editor’s choice.  And of course the producers. 

Maybe that is why my heart and the heart of many actors lie in the theater.  But back to the performance  I saw and why I bring this to you today. 

Watching the three actresses in this production, each creating their role, I marveled at their ability to share with us how these women lived in this time period.  And of course as it should be it was entertaining too.  They took us on a journey. 

If you are in Los Angeles and want to see this performance here is a link to their schedule.  There are two other plays playing in repertoire at this theater as well as the one I saw which was Boston Marriage.

I think watching this wonderful performance, it reminded me that  actors and actresses are constantly learning about the world.   Every time they prepare for a role it’s like the actors are taking a college course in some subject.  For example in these three plays at GRT, the actors had to learn about these situations their characters are in to be able to portray them for their audiences.   It can be about women in the 19^th century like in Boston Marriage or learning about playing an old World War I soldier now living in a retirement home in the play, Heroes, or dealing with Alzheimer’s and aging parents in the play, Painting Churches. 

I suppose this is why that I feel actors are some of the smartest people I know.  They love to learn and they must keep learning every time they create a new role. 

Yes I know I have a special place for actors in my heart but I do see how much they must learn and I enjoy their curiosity and their ability to do their research.  Also I don’t think most people are aware of what preparation an actor does unbeknownst to their audiences.

Now that I have praised you actors, I will now admonish you as well.  It is your job, not anyone else’s job to do this research.  The script of the play or film never has enough information for you to truly play your role.  Yes, I mean the word NEVER here.  It is not possible for the writer to put all that information in the format of a play or film script.  It is your job to find all the details your character must know that is not in the script. 

So don’t be casual about this part of your preparation.  And I hope you can enjoy this process, this searching for all the information your character must have at his fingertips.  I know I do.    If I could I would give Doctorate’s degrees to actors who do this well.  They keep learning as they prepare for each role and I thank them for doing that.  You smart actors and actresses allow me as the audience to truly be taken into the world of your character and the play or film.  Thank you for doing your work!  I can’t wait to see your next performance!