The Game Plan
Last week I received some news which made me pretty giddy
The dates have officially been locked in for a feature film I’m doing
It’s a nice little “green light”
Time to dip my toe in the water
The director is a genius and added two weeks of rehearsals into the schedule
So right now
I am approximately 12 weeks away from being on the floor
12 weeks
Now…
What to do with that time?
How do I prep in a way which will allow me to sustainably give my best in 12 weeks time?
What do I need to do…
To get where I need to get…
So I can give what I need to give?
I want to be carefully considerate here
Too little, and I won’t be ready
Too much, and I will begin from a place of exhaustion
When I was 25 I was cast in the lead role at the Sydney Opera House nine months in advance
I wrote down a plan
I would spend 2 hours every day in the garage working on the role
For nine months…
You can guess what happened
Not fun
Not helpful
And definitely not sustainable
So
Let's have a think
To begin
We start at the end
How do I want to feel when I put my head on the pillow the night before rehearsals start?
Clear
Open
Connected
Generous
Let’s work backwards from there
Let’s look at the areas I need to take care of in these 12 weeks
One: Life Logistics
Rent out apartment.
Take care of my health in the lead up.
Make sure I have a great water bottle.
Are my iPod & head phones good to go?
Share dates with necessary people to decrease chances of conflicts (I have cancelled attending a wedding in LA).
Clarify location details when filming (clarify important nearby details such as groceries, gym & laundry).
Make sure my finances are sufficiently organised to get me up to, and during filming.
Clarify what will be important for me to take with me (as I will be gone from home for 7 weeks).
Etc, Etc
Two: Build a Human (which will honour the script)
Chaos & Order
Find the balance between building a human being, whilst still honouring the script
A human being?
Well, what makes up a human being?
Brain (Logic)
Heart (Need)
Subconscious (Dreams)
Flesh (Physical body)
Bones (Structure)
Blood (Family history / memories)
Etc, Etc
Keep it simple…
Make a list to help my brain help me:
Print & Read Script (two day subconscious read).
Commence dream work.
Book necessary EA (get great help in order to do great prep).
Clarify the point of the story & the role of my character within the story with the director (is my character the protagonist? Or is my character's function to serve the protagonists journey, and what function is that?)
Clarify Technicals for each scene (Need, Logic, point of scene, environment, relationships, moment before, dreamwork etc)
Clarify Physicals with director (hair, beard, clothes, shoes, finger nails, mannerisms etc)
Research - is there anything the director believes is truly important for me to listen to, watch, read, etc in order for me to be this character?)
Go play openly :)
I want to keep it energising
I want to make sure I do less than I think I can handle
So at any point…
If I’m feeling overwhelmed
Stop
Breathe
Go be in nature, look at the horizon, exercise, drink water, hug someone I love, eat watermelon, call a dear friend, dance, play, go for a nice long drive :)
I’m the head of the department for my character
So take care of me in order to give more generous work
Hope this helps
X