Talkback

I perform a monologue from Interview with a Vampire

5 Keys to Good Acting

Watching, Acting In, and Directing Plays

Auditioning

An Actor Prepares

On Screen, I Kiss and More: A short-short-story

Shaking: A fictional short-short story

A Part in a Movie?!: A fictional short-short story

Going Up: a fictional short-short story

A Word With Marty: "PERFORMING"

Nun #7: A short-short story

On Acting

Blank: A short-short story

Real Acting: Tips for acting on- and especially off-stage

We tend to think of acting as something done on stage, in the movies, or on TV.
But we’re all acting, all the time: at work, in relationships.

Off-stage acting is viewed as unseemly, phony but, framed more accurately, it’s the appropriate adapting to your counterpart's needs, the opposite of the narcissism so often written about these days.

Of course, acting can be used for nefarious as well as benevolent purposes but that’s true of most tools--from intelligence to a pocket knife. That doesn’t obviate the value of learning how to be a better actor. To that end, as my PsychologyToday.com article today, I offer tips for how to act without being discovered as acting

How I Coach Actors

I use a number of techniques in coaching actors that may be useful in many forms of coaching, counseling, and management. I describe them in my PsychologyToday.com article today.
 

Why You and Your Kids Should Get Involved in Theatre

I've come to believe that being involved in a school, college, or community theatre production is among the more rewarding experiences one can have. 

I make the case in my PsychologyToday.com article today.   

By the way, that photo is of me playing the villain in a melodrama. 

Psychological Aspects of Acting

For many people, acting is a compelling career or hobby and filled with emotion--and not just on stage.

My PsychologyToday.com article today describes some of acting’s psychological up- and downsides in hopes it might help you decide if acting is something you’d like to pursue.

HERE is the link. 

The World's Shortest Acting Course

A friend of mine, psychotherapist, Dr. Michael Edelstein, wanted to make a video of his unique three minute therapy.

He knows that I'm an amateur actor so he asked if I'd play the role of a depressed person who came to him for therapy.

Before I turned the camera on, I just reminded myself, "You're not acting; you're being that person." I banished all thoughts about what to look or sound like. I reminded myself, "It's of no consequence that the camera is on. I'm just being a depressed person." Here's the video:

A Secret to Great Writing or Performing

As often, as possible, surprise the reader or listener with something different that's at least as good as the expected. Examples:

In writing dialogue, have the protagonists say the non-obvious. Of course, the dialogue must be credible and true to the character's personality.

In writing music, look for opportunities to use a non-obvious chord or next melody note, as long as it doesn't destroy the piece's ethos--don't be different just to be different.

In performing dialogue or music, look for non-standard ways to say a word or play the phrase. The classic example of this is when a furious actor whispers, or a performer allows an unexpectedly long breath between sentences.