Twitter questions about acting :)

Earlier this evening, I went on a Twitter networking "twitterhour" - to be specific, #TorbayHour (check it out, if you are on Twitter on a Monday evening) , and to look into creating some content that people might find useful, I decided to ask the question, "What have you always wondered about the process of making theatre or film?"

Here are the questions - I have expanded on my answers in this article, with a higher word count than Twitter can give me.


From  @PilgrimBM45
How do you remember your lines?? I'd love to do it but there's no way I'd remember anything! And it's all live! Fair play to you guys

Answer: Rehearsals cement lines but everyone has different ways to learn, which work for them - common methods for line-learning are recording a rehearsal and playing it back later, listening to it, repeated script reading, - lots of repetition - are common methods. I learn best by combining learning my lines with the blocking (what I am doing on stage at the time), and the biggest barrier I have ever seen for people, is when they panic over lines. They end up worrying about the panic, and that reoccupies them, rather than the lines. 


From @sarahwhite381
I remember doing live theatre when I was at school. It was terrifying but magical. I still get goosebumps when I visit the theatre now

Answer: The fear goes after a few times, but the adrenaline always stays with you :)  and the pride in creating an amazing show :)


From @lennipsv
Casting. I'm always amazed seeing an actor in real life and when they are on stage/film. I think how did you know that person wld look etc

Answer:  It is hard to put into words, but it really boils down to seeing the potential. You see that special "something", an expression, mannerism, general "look", then working with them and the rest of the team draws those skills out, and shapes it into the character. .Often the actor will have some amazing extra skills or traits which develop the character beyond what you originally imagined (in a positive manner) - obviously that has to be done within the team, so that the performance stays on track to fit in with everyone else. I also often find that people put themselves down, and in reality they have incredible amounts of latent talent that just needs encouraging.

From @lennipsv
I've been to the doors of my local theatre several times but turned round and gone home. Lots of pretty girls, being very luvvie

Answer:  In some shows and some teams, yes you will see that. We contend that to depict a believable world, you need down-to-earth people of all ages/ sizes/looks - same as the real world. Whether we are showing a historical setting, or a contemporary setting, or even something which is scifi or fantasy, you have to create a believable world.
In a believable world, people of all ages, and shapes and sizes are going to exist - unless that is, you are doing something set in a cloning vat, or have some other very specific reason. 
And in that variety is the true beauty of everyone. and the beauty or fascination of that story. We are strong advocates of the fact that anyone therefore, can be an awesome actor. You are never too young or old, or thin or large (or anything else). Films and theatre shows would look very dull if everyone all looked the same.