What YODA has to teach us as actors
Recently, I did a blog offering advice for actors based on the philosophy of the rapper and businessman Fiddy Cent. This received many emails and messages and I’d like to thank you all, I’m so glad it was helpful for you. Well, in the same spirit, this blog is inspired by the quotes of that famous acting teacher, oh okay, he’s not an acting teacher, but he may as well be, the one and only YODA:
“No! Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try.”
Meaning: ‘I’ll try’ is preparing to fail. (Mamet) If you allow the idea of failure into your pursuits, you are already admitting defeat. Either take action or do not. There is no in-between.
“Named must your fear be before banish it you can.”
Meaning that you need to identify your fears, blockages, obstacles and problems, examine the problem/fear, put it into the spotlight to prevent it from quietly defeating you. For an actor, this could be fear of working on a particular kind of material say Shakespeare or Film, or hating doing monologues or cold reads. Shine a light on your issue and go after with the same passion that you want to be the best actor. Whatever your weaknesses are, find them out, and banish them.
“If no mistake have you made, yet losing you are … a different game you should play.”
Meaning: If you repeat the same strategy for your career over and over and it doesn’t work, you must change your strategy, for PA practitioners, this also means, CHANGE tactics!
“But when the day comes that even old Yoda does not learn something from his students-then truly, he shall be a teacher no more.”
Meaning: No matter how clever, experienced and gifted you are, you still have something to learn. Even your acting teacher should be humble.
“Already know you that which you need.”
Meaning: For the actor, you already have the capacity to live truthfully and the mind to do it under imaginary circumstances. Everything you need to become a better actor is already inside you, but you might need some help in finding it and bringing it out into the open.
Mark Westbrook
Senior Acting Coach
ACTING COACH SCOTLAND
Like What You Read? Want to Read More? Mark's eBook is available here
Looking for Acting Classes in Glasgow? Mark Westbrook is a Professional Acting Coach and runs Acting Coach Scotland, a private acting studio offering acting classes in Glasgow, masterclasses, workshops and audition coaching for actors at all levels. His acting studio is based in Glasgow, Scotland, although he teaches all across the United Kingdom. All Blog Posts © Mark Westbrook 2011
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