Passive Actors
Passive Actors
By Bill Howey
You will usually hear something like this from a passive and fearful actor “I don t
want to get into an acting class where I m pushed to go where I don t want to go.”
I wonder if this actor would also say “I don t want to get into a production where
I m pushed” or “I don t want any auditions where I am pushed.”
Passive, timid actors look for non-challenging workshops and hope for non-pushy
directors and casting people. These actors avoid being pushed and/or resist
pushing themselves. Being pushed, as used in the above quote, means to be
challenged, to think and dig deeper in order to reinvent an affecting character.
Proactive actors are those who push themselves, who want to be pushed to discover
deeper character choices. Actors who are willing to be pressured become active,
creative and develop strong characters.
There is another reason why these weak actors avoid being challenged, and that is
they fear revealing or touching on something personal about them. Truth is revealed
by a challenge. Often, their motivation could be stated: “If I m pushed everyone will
discover that I am ____________ (You fill in the blank.)
Good actors want directors, teachers or coaches to challenge their choices. Good
directors want actors who can be challenged and challenge themselves. These
actors, directors and casting directors know that powerful character choices, or
ingredients, that resonate with an audience, sometimes lie deep within the actor.
Skillful actors, in fact, want a director or an acting teacher to get in their way,
making them confront their choices, demanding that their choice is the most potent
choice. One reason why a good actor likes being “pushed” is because they want to
present the most affecting and personal character. This is accomplished by being
pushed to an uncomfortable place where truly strong choices live.
Face it, most every actor wants to work in a major production, either on stage or in
front of multiple cameras. To get there you will demand or be demanded to present
the strongest, most affecting character ingredients that you can. Great directors
don t settle for a safe, weak performance - unless that is the character and even
then, it is very potent.
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challenged, and then you will grow and work. Practice avoiding any challenge and you will remain just about where you were when you started.
Good acting workshops exist to challenge actors to discover and develop the
strongest, personal character choices they can. This may well require being pushed
to a place of challenge where your real acting talent resides.
Bill Howey is a highly respected LA acting coach and author, whose latest book The
Actor s Menu details how to create unforgettable characters using all of an actor s
personal ingredients. Check out the book at http://www.actorsmenu.com.
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