Famous brain scientist Paul McLean came up with a model of the brain that still has some currency today. In this model, there are three areas. The first is called the "R-complex", so named because it is the part of the brain that resembles the brains of reptiles. It controls "the four F's" (fighting, fleeing, feeding, and f*cking). The so-called "lizard brain" is attuned to primitive matters, matters of survival. The second portion of the brain is the portion we have in common with othe... Read Full Story
NPR did an interview with Woody Harrelson in anticipation of the release of "The Messenger", a movie about soldiers assigned to inform designated Next of Kin that their loved ones have been killed in Iraq or Afghanistan.In the first part of the interview, they discuss the film and his preparation for it. In the second interview, they discuss his earlier career.Part IPart IIHere were a couple of highlights that stuck out for me:And yeah, he asked me to shave my head. So, yeah, I did that. And... Read Full Story
"But we don't stare at people in real life when we talk to them." I'll occasionally hear this from a student I am coaching. In the approach that I teach, we conceive of acting as the pursuit of a real need in an imaginary situation. Since in almost every scene, the source of the sought-after gratification of the need is the other person, the scene partner, actors almost always benefit from directing more attention to that person than they already are, attuning themselves to this other pers... Read Full Story
William Haugse is a film editor, director and actor. He has worked with luminaries such as John Cassavetes and Orson Wells, and he was nominated for an Oscar for his work on the documentary Hoop Dreams. He has been coming to my class recently to shoot some footage for a short documentary film on the class, and offered me characterization of what he saw there:Watching Andrew Utter conduct an acting class was a revelation. I was putting together a short film of teaching technique, Andrew was... Read Full Story
1. you like doing scenes from plays that surprise you2. you want a scene partner that shows up every week, ready to work3. you like being surprised by what comes out of you4. you like working on a scene until it's really, really good5. you enjoy daydreaming and wondered how it could help you make a living6. you like some irreverence with your seriousness7. you play to win8. you see props as opportunities to enrich the physical life of the scene, not something to mime and do without9. ... Read Full Story
Superior Donuts is the new play running on Broadway by Tracy Letts, author of August:Osage County. Watch a preview of it here.Mother of Invention Acting School
Read Full Story
