Be Here Now

Principle #8: Be Here Now

Game Day

Time to fly

All the prep

All the work

Done 

Now

Time to give

Time to release

Time to play with peers 

On cue

Repeatedly 

Take after take

(or show after show)

All the work we do as artists

The training

The auditioning

The research

The preparation

Is funnelled down to one simple moment

The curtain rises

Or the camera has a little light which glows red 

And someone says the last words

“Go”

“Action”

“When you’re ready”

Or, if you’re as demanding as Brando during the filming of The Score

The director will say these phrases using Miss Piggy’s voice (true story)

The last theatre show I did at the Opera House

I was fortunate to work with an incredible director

This person fostered the careers of actors like Sir Ian McKellon, Sir Patrick Stewart, Alan Rickman, etc etc

Many of the UK giants

I asked him

“Richard, you have worked with some of the greatest actors of the last century, is there one trait they have in common?”

He took a moment

And in his exquisite accent, replied

“They all have the ability to be here now… which makes them bloody dangerous”

Be here now

To trust the work has been done

And simply be present

Easier said than done

We can do all the homework, prep and planning in the world

But it doesn’t mean much unless we open up to what’s actually going on around us

Exercise: Game Day

Requirements: Paper & pencil, some private time, maybe some music, tea/water etc etc 

Step 1. Set the timer for 15 minutes: Journal the most energising experiences you’ve had on set/stage & explore what you did which made them energising.

Step 2. Set the timer for 10 minutes: Notice the commonalities between those experiences. What are the shared underlying principles or actions you took? 

Step 3. Set the timer for 2 minutes: Clarify how you would like to feel putting your head on the pillow after coming home from a day of giving your work on set or stage.

Step 4. Set the timer for 3 minutes: Write down your dream Game Day process for you to experiment with. Try keep it between 3-7 clear, doable points. Then repeat the 3 minute process. And finally, repeat the 3 minute a third time.  See how it morphs and grows with each iteration. Build something which you feel energised about. Build it your way.

Curious to hear how you go with this one :)