How to Serve
Once upon a time
I was on set
With a very well known actor
We were rehearsing a scene
This scene happened to include the inciting incident
The moment which catapults our protagonist onto their journey
The story needs this scenes
Without this scene there is no story
Now
As we were rehearsing
This actor turned to the director and said
“I don’t think I’d actually be that upset in this moment
More just a bit disappointed
Maybe I can rest my hand on his shoulder gently?”
Silence…
The director turned to me with a look of sheer terror on his face
Why?
Because in making that suggestion
The actor revealed something
They revealed they didn’t understand the Point of the Scene (POS)
Let alone the Point of their Character (POC) within the story
Sheep and goats
Amateurs and Professionals
Amateurs do what works for them
Professionals do what works for the story
Amateurs fight for what they want
Professionals fight for what the story needs
So
Know the POS
Know your purpose
Know why your character is in this script
Know why we are all standing around on this set spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in the next few hours
Trying to film this one scene
There is a reason
A point to it
And if you know what the point of the scene is
You can steer your work toward that
And therefore
You will serve
Serve the scene
Serve the story
Serve your tribe
Allowing directors to take a big, deep, calm breath
And thank god that they hired an actor who is here to give generously
Here to give what actually helps this scene and story
That’s some damn fine generosity right there amigo
But how does one find the POS?
Simple
Generally speaking
Look at the last beat of the scene
The last few lines or last little description
It will be there
Somewhere
It might be obvious
It might be slightly hidden
But it will be there
Whispering to you
“Serve me”
“Be more generous”
To clarify…
How to serve?
Know your place
Know your Point of the Scene (POS)
Know your character’s function in the story
Then go get em Tiger
You generous actor, you!
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