Become A Comrade And Collaborate

Become a comrade and collaborate

Actors! Do not direct each other.

Acting is collaborating, not controlling.

Do not interpret what your scene partner should do.

If what you need is control, you’re in the wrong game—there must be creative space, fluidity, room for process...

In acting you have a responsibility to everyone… the ensemble.

When we want it our way, we can lose sight of the whole--the possibilities and unknowns that influence how creativity unfolds.

If you want it your way you thwart the artistic integrity of the working relationships.

Maybe you feel that your scene partner isn’t giving you enough to play off…or the actor should be standing, not sitting… or crying when she’s laughing.

Do you tell your scene partner what to do so that you can produce the results you want?

This is acting-out and counter-creative.

As soon as you dominate the process you have upended the collaboration.

There is a delicate balance. It is fragile. If it is ruptured it is difficult to repair because you have hit a primal nerve when you establish dominance.

Actors must be vigilant and self-reflective.

Actors must be tuned in to the working relationship and not invade others who have their own process, their own tempo, their own way of accessing the life of the play.

As much as we are a singular art form, we are also the collective art form.

When we work with others in any capacity, we are part of a system.

Just as we live in systems in our lives such as family systems, community systems, social systems.

It is important to understand the integrity of the system… and what role you play in it.

In an effort to control the outcome of the play, you might criticize someone who doesn’t see it your way. Is this what you did in your family?

Or were you dominated in your family and in response you try to dominate others?

Are you trying to make up for something that has nothing to do with the play and the cast of actors?

Your need for perfection may be the need to control.

Perfectionism may seem noble but can become a disservice if you impose it on others. Know the difference.

Know when you are glorifying an aspect of your personality so that you can continue behaving the way you want.

One minute you were a comrade, the next you are a dictator. You have stepped out of the give and take, the mutuality required for trust and co-creation (which is what acting is).

It is striking how the many facets of life are facets of acting.

Aesthetic Realism is a philosophy on life. As I write a notice appears announcing a seminar on this topic...

“We all want to have “our way,” and want life to go “our way.” Aesthetic Realism explains… Are we impeded only by the world and other people, or does something in us get in our way?” [Aesthetic Realism Foundation]

Be a collaborator.

Collaborate with us!