#smart actor

My friend recently posted a link to an article on Facebook that prompted me to write this little post. It was a letter from a playwright to an actor telling them how to approach a script. I found it very interesting and important and so I bring you this rambling, which is not really an expansion of the article, but more a thought sparked by the article. This is it:

It is so important to be an intelligent actor. 

Not just to make strong choices, fight for your wants, or use tactics. These are all important, yes, but they fall by the wayside if you are not a smart person. I'm not saying you have to have a PhD or a Master's or be top of your class by any means. But to be smart about simple things such as proper grammar, the difference between a semicolon and a period or a comma. How to read well. How to read with expression. If you think about it, most of you were probably among the more expressive readers when you were in grade school: this is almost the foundation of acting. The ability to read a sentence and know where the emphasis is is important. It is one of the most basic components in theatre. You don't have to be the fastest reader (I sure as heck am not) or the most avid reader, but you need to know how to deconstruct a sentence. Syntax gives meaning. If you don't understand these basic rules...you won't truly understand the author's intention.

Beyond this, some of the best actors around are just intelligent people. They know a little about a lot of things, and a lot about a couple of things. They understand psychology, history, people in general. They do research. They study people. They understand how things work, how substances affect the body, how words affect the mind. And if they don't, they research it. They aren't afraid to ask questions. The more you understand about just the world and people, the more likely you are to make interesting, informed choices. You will have a wider range of tactics, because you know how words can hurt people. You know how important body language can be. You know how your body works. You just...know things. 

You don't have to be a genius, but if you really have a passion for acting, I think one of the greatest ways to improve yourself within the craft is simply to learn--learn as much as you possibly can. Take courses in psychology, anthropology, sociology, history. Take advantage of gen eds if you are in college--do not look at them as a class that will be of no use to you later in life, but as a way to build your base of knowledge when trying to create a character. I am not saying you have to make A's, but having a thirst for knowledge, and allowing yourself to actually learn instead of skate by is so important. 

It will make you a smart actor, and therefore a good actor. 

Do not become the stereotype of a dumb actor. Remember that there are some incredibly talented, successful actors who are also incredibly smart people. Strive to be like them. 

For now,