Breaking into Acting For Dummies. Larry Garrison

THAT PRODUCTION DOLLAR

      Because a production’s budget only goes so far, the director and producer always look for ways to cut costs without sacrificing quality. One such way is to cut corners on the set. For example, instead of building an entire log cabin, they may just build a front façade and cleverly mask the sides with additional scenery or film from certain angles, so that no one will notice that three walls are missing. Not only do they save money this way, but they also save time in construction.

Another common cost-cutting method is shooting films out of sequence. If the beginning and end of a film take place in the same location, such as in Singapore or on the deck of a cruise ship, the director films all those scenes at the same time before moving to a new location and a new group of scenes. That way the entire film crew doesn’t have to visit the same location twice (and avoid additional traveling expenses) just to film two different scenes in chronological order.

Going into Production

      After the script has been developed, the project is considered green lit when it moves into production. Production involves building sets and designing costumes. Also during the production phase, actors are measured and fitted for costumes, introduced to their fellow actors, and put through rehearsals to learn their lines and practice their movements on the stage or in front of the camera.

      As an actor, one of the most important aspects of going to production is the beginning of rehearsals. In general, rehearsals go through three phases:

       A dry rehearsal: This first phase is designed to acquaint the actors with their roles and their lines. Dry rehearsals may take place at a table where all the actors read the script while making any suggestions or changes. Some rehearsals are even done through video conferencing apps.

       The walk-through: After the actors are familiar with their lines, they get acquainted with their positions on the stage or set. During this time, actors usually rehearse in their street clothes and may or may not be on the actual set where they will actually perform. The purpose of the walk-through is to discover any logistical problems, such as finding that some actors don’t have enough time to exit off the stage and change into a different costume before their appearance in the next scene. When this second phase of rehearsals begins, actors practice the required movements in a given scene by blocking their actions. This preliminary step allows actors to avoid any awkward positions, such as one actor walking in front of another actor or standing with her back to the camera (unless, of course, that’s the image that the director wants).

       The dress rehearsal: During this final phase, actors rehearse on the actual set while wearing the costumes that they’ll wear during the show. The actors and director have a chance to spot any additional problems with costumes and set design, such as doors that don’t open properly, dresses that prohibit certain movements among the set because of their bulk, or lights that cast shadows across an actor’s face. On a film set, actors who look and dress similar to the stars act as stand-ins for the stars, so the camera crew can adjust and focus their cameras before the real stars show up.Note: In stage plays, actors rehearse much longer and more often than they would do for a film, television show, or commercial. In film and TV, actors may be lucky to get even one rehearsal before the cameras start rolling, so it’s a good idea to have your lines and movements ready before you show up on the set that day.

Action: It’s Showtime!

      The time for rehearsals always runs out too quickly before showtime. That’s when the actors perform for real in front of a live audience or in front of the camera.

      

Showtime is the pinnacle of all that the cast and crew have worked for. So as an actor, you must try especially hard at this stage to behave professionally, which means showing up on time, being prepared, and doing your job to your best ability. If you do anything that threatens to disrupt a show, you can always be fired at any time.

      Sometimes, the best stage actors never make the transition to film and television, while film and television actors may not do as well on the stage as they do in front of the camera. The reason is because film, television, and theater all require different types of acting skills for performing in different environments. With film, you have time to prepare, but television goes much faster. I (Larry) personally was filming a TV series segment with Mark Harmon. Coming from a background with Lee Strasberg, I was using his technique of emotional memory. The producer came up to me and said, “What are you doing?” I responded, “I’m preparing an emotional memory.” He looked at me, laughed, and said, “Throw that away and just say the words.” Ten years of preparation for this moment, and I just said the words.

      

When performing on many TV shows, such as situation comedies (sitcoms), actors usually perform in front of a live audience while the cameras are rolling at the same time. That way the studio can record the audience’s laughter to play back when the show finally airs, which is called a laugh track.

      For films that use special effects, the actors may be required to express intense emotions in a close-up with the camera while staring at nothing at all. During post-production, the director adds in the special effects, such as a computer-generated dinosaur leaping out at the actor or a volcano suddenly erupting in the distance.

      

An actor may have to respond to another actor who may not appear on camera. Rather than require this other actor to stare at nothing, it’s common courtesy to read your lines off camera to make it easier for the actor on camera to respond to a real person rather than to an imaginary one. If you’re the one on-camera, the other actors may not be as courteous, and you may find yourself trying to react all by yourself while staring at a camera and a blank wall.

      THE COLLABORATIVE NATURE OF SHOW BUSINESS

      Show business is a collaborative business. Although an actor may stand alone in the spotlight, they never would’ve gotten there without the combined work of a writer, director, producer, makeup artist, and costume designer (among other people). When starting a project, everyone tries to surround themselves with the best possible people for the job because the better other people do their job, the better you look in doing your job. Having a small role in a blockbuster hit is infinitely preferable to having a starring role in a bomb that becomes the butt of jokes for years to come.

      Naturally, working with other people can never be completely harmonious. Sometimes people have minor disagreements that can be settled with a little bit of talk and compromise, and sometimes major stars clash egos with major directors or producers, creating a war-like atmosphere for everyone involved on the set. Sometimes perfectly good projects are abandoned because the people involved can’t get along, despite everyone having excellent qualifications for doing their jobs.

      When any project is being developed, finding the right people to work on it is only one problem. Getting everyone to work together toward a common goal can create a completely different set of problems. As an actor, do your best to make sure that you’re not part (or the source) of any problems, and you increase your chances of working with the same people again in the future. Given a choice between working with an actor who nobody can stand or someone more likeable and easy to work with (hopefully you), guess which actor most people will hire for the job? See Chapter 11 to discover how to adapt to different personalities.

Cleaning Up in Post-Production

      Post-production occurs after the initial filming of a movie, TV show, or commercial is completed but before the final