Getting In An Actor's Way

by Bill Howey

An acting workshop should be a place where an acting teacher or coach is getting in an actors way, challenging them to produce their choices and test their effectiveness and looking for acting problems. A workshop is a process where an actor’s intellect, choices and acting thoughts are called into question.

But weak actors don’t want anything in their way. Most want a smooth, quick path to develop and secure a place as a working actor. Some will quickly find that path; most will have to work hard and be challenged to discover their path. Your work is to have your acting “truths” constantly challenged.

I also believe that a good teacher, like a good director, gets in an actor’s way in order to bring out the best in that actor.

One purpose of being challenged is to help actors discover the effectiveness of their choices. Once an actor understands how their choices affect the audience their skills are dramatically improved.

Over the years actors have looked in at our classes and upon realizing someone was getting in their way, exited. It is these same people who wrongly gripe about the unfairness of callbacks and the arrogance of the casting directors. The fault, dear reader, lies in the actor avoiding an acting teacher getting in the way of their dreams.

Everywhere you turn something gets in your way. Why expect the process of becoming an actor or creating a great character is any different – because it’s not.

Day-to-day life is a good example of where something getting in the way. . And every time life gets in the way, you have to deal with life’s events. Each time you take an action to overcome the obstacle, you develop and grow.

If you are afraid that an acting teacher or a director will permanently damage your skills, check them out. Don’t retreat if they challenge your ideas. Listen to their intention and observe their results. Great directors challenge actors. And that challenge helps make great actors. If you don’t want that stimulation and that growth-promoting experience, turn down any part with those directors.

The same is true for acting teachers. Demand they challenge you. The result of that experience is a confidence that you might not know you possess.

Don’t let your fear of having your feelings hurt prevent you from being the strongest actor you can be.