THE KARL PILKINGTON METHOD
How has your week been? Productive? Have you found anymore castings? Landed any roles? Or just took time out to practise your craft? This week I have been coaching my lovely actors in the studios and the theme that has run through each class is “WHO AM I?”
BIG QUESTION HEY?
Many of us could spend our entire life asking that question and still never really be sure. I know for sure that I am a different person to the one I was 10 years ago, 5 years ago even.
WHY DO YOU ASK?
Good question! It’s important to know. Shakespeare once said “All the world’s a stage and we are merely players” and I couldn’t agree more; art is a reflection of life. Now I’m not just talking about knowing the character you play – that is obviously extremely important, and if you’re going to have any chance of doing a role justice that is the first thing you should aim to work out – what I’m referring to is you as an actor. WHO ARE YOU?
I see so many actors so unsure of who they are that they try to be someone else, or in some cases actors who know who they are but try to be somebody else anyway.
WHY?
To IMPRESS – anyone they feel is of importance to them and could land them more work they try to impress. Now of course this isn’t all actors but I’ve seen this happen far too many times.
BUT THAT IS FRAUD
Shock, horror! I know, they know and everyone else knows. You see Lee Strasberg, founder of The Method once said “fraud will always be found out, no matter how spectacular that fraud may be” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Strasberg Do you really want that? I sure as hell wouldn’t.
I was once invited up to Darlington by a producer to meet the cast and director of a play that was being rehearsed. I went up, introduced myself, had a great day watching the rehearsals then went back to Sheffield and thought nothing more of it. A couple of weeks later I received a phone call from the producer. “Hi Louise, we’d love you to play Hermia”. I screamed down the phone – literally (with delight not horror). The actress playing that role was no longer part of the cast. Fast forward two months – we were travelling to the city where we’d be performing (abroad!! Cue bigger scream) and I was speaking with the directors wife. She mentioned to myself and of the other actresses that she was much happier that myself and this other actress were now playing these roles. I asked why. Her response was you took time to speak to me and not just swan over to Jon (director). The other actresses were only interested in the director as they thought they would get more roles.
Before I tell you why you should take a leaf out of Karl Pilkington’s book I just wanted to let you know I have extended my intake of new students to the week ending 24th Jan. If you want a FREE taster class in one of my studios you’ll need to act quickly. Especially as I have a promo team out in Sheffield city centre on Saturday and only have a limited number of spaces available.
WHY KARL PILKINGTON ISN’T AN IDIOT
SO YOU NEED TO BE MORE LIKE KARL PILKINGTON
Yep, that’s right, take a leaf out of his book. If you’re not familiar with him here is a clip from An Idiot Abroad. bit.ly/KPilkington Karl is far from an idiot; he has got to where has by being himself. He doesn’t try to impress, he doesn’t try to hide who he is, he is who he is and that’s an endearing quality. That alone will get you further than trying to impress. There’s no bigger turn off than a fake person.
That casting director may just give you the role because they liked you and thought you’d be easy to get on with, that agent may sign you up because they found you easy to talk to and warmed to you. Actors with big profiles have huge fan bases because people like them pretty much the same way Karl Pilkington has grown a huge fan base and got more and more work. And to think he was a producer on XFM with Ricky Gervais and now he has had many TV shows, written a journal, a book, been interviewed on Alan Carr, been the subject of a podcast, even landed a role in Derek.
Being you is far more endearing and interesting than being that person you’re not.
If you want to learn how to apply Uta Hagen’s first step WHO AM I? to your character and improve your acting using the very technique as used by Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper (a method actor), book yourself a FREE taster class with me to learn an outstanding acting technique and fully prepare yourself for the industry https://standbymethod.com/contacts/
Louise x
