video for rehersal: Well when I do lights I like to shot viedo of a run through and use it to ruff in my cues. I always tweek live on stage and make changes but the video gives me a great head start and less fixing whem the actors are there. This is for techies only I don't like the idea for actors. I use it to remind me of where folks are on stage ect.

 

Originally posted by castMe Originally posted by POB14 CastMe, I'll start a new thread here with my thoughts once I get the book.  It is supposed to ship today. And I promise I won't make you pay for it -- I've yet to read a book on acting/directing that I didn't get something out of! I won't hold you to your promise and was serious about buying the book if you don't love it.  I am, however, pretty confident you will get more then something out of this particular book.

I haven't forgotten about this -- I want to finish the book and give it the review it deserves.  Just been busy lately.  But, as a first impression, I don't think I'll be asking CastMe to reimburse me . . . .

Originally posted by Mike Polo Videotape as a rehearsal tool - discuss.

I'm a bit late on this, but thought I'd put in my 2?. I think videotape is a tool like any other, and can be used for good or evil. As an actor, I use it for two primary reasons: 1) To record choreography, and 2) to evaluate my own performance.

I can be off book in about a week, but I have mental blocks when it comes to remembering choreography. Being able to have a review on dance that I can practice at home helps everyone.

The self-evaluation is not my preferred method, but it is necessary if the director is unable to provide feedback, or is too meek to criticize. After I have developed my character, I know what I want the audience to see. I need a third-person perspective to let me know if my actions are speaking that character.

Video is helpful for visualizing gross body movement, not subtle detail and inflection. I'll use it to check for some comedic timing, to fix stage balance, etc. Often, I catch myself hunching, which I do unconciously when I'm paired up with shorter actors (I'm 6'0").

I've had occasion where I didn't get out my video camera but the director did. She used it to fill in her notes, not to show to the cast. At one point however, she took me aside and showed me some video of myself. "It looks ok, but there's something missing that I can't pin down. It needs something more. Look at it, then fix it." The next time I did that scene, it was what she was looking for. What I needed to fix was hard to give as a note, but easier to see what was wrong.

Re:  the discussion on what to do at the end of an emotional scene so that it doesn't look awkward:  I always have my actors prepare an internal monologue that they can run in their heads until the lights go down.  It gives them something constructive to do, and reflects in their faces and body language.  I know from talking with the audience members that have watched actors doing this that they don't always "get" exactly what it is that the actor is thinking, but that they know he was thinking.  They seem to enjoy putting their own spin on what is going through the actor's mind!

And then your teeth would fly out and . . . oops, sorry, wrong thread.