HOLLYWOOD ACTOR PREP by Dana Kaminski

Here’s Eddie Izzard’s Death Star Canteen, Performed By A Full Cast Of Lego Actors…

Happy Thanksgiving 2009!

If you’d like to follow Eddie Izzard on Twitter, here’s a link, his Twitter name is @eddieizzard.

If you’d like to follow me, my Twitter name is @__dana__. That’s a link too, and I invite you.

With gratitude to all of you, who make up the wonderful community of actors, who follow this blog,

;~Dana

Please pay this forward by sharing it. You can post it on your Facebook or tweet it out by using the icons, or simply email the web address to someone who may enjoy it…

I Recorded Richard Lewis, With His Permission       …Of Course

This was at a special benefit organized by daughters of well-known comedians, to benefit a home for women in recovery, called “The Lenny Bruce Home”. Most of the audience were people who came to see the strong line-up of performers; which were Bobby Slayton, Dom Irrera, Paul Mooney, and of course, Richard Lewis. There were groups of friends of the comics in the audience as well.

I am posting this video today, for a few reasons. One, it’s Friday, and I like to put something funny up on Fridays, when I can. The second reason is that I am planning to write some posts about comedy acting, since the networks have a lot of comedy shows in development, ready to produce.  Comedy is not easy, as you must know. It’s a whole added-on layer, when you act. To say the very, very least.  Most acting teachers don’t know how to be funny, and act.  Almost none of them can be funny at all. If they are, they may not know how to translate that into teaching students; or they may be teaching a load of horse stink, if they do.

There’s some very wonderfully developed, dramatic acting techniques out there; and I urge every actor to choose one, and learn it well. There’s a reason that Stanislavsky and others after, developed such serious techniques. That’s great, because for any young actor,  it’s easy to find ways to be a better dramatic actor.  It does take commitment, but it is do-able.

Not so, for comedy.

There’s reasons for that too, that it hasn’t been developed.  One of those reasons is what I told you about acting teachers already.  The others could fill up at least a whole other article… I mention it only because I urge all students to be careful, when they hear a teacher claim to be able to teach comedy.  Or when a dramatic acting teacher does so, when a student brings into class,  a funny scene. It’s very easy to be taught some very wrong stuff, about comedy acting. That’s all I want to say: beware. It’s much better to have an acting teacher who knows their dramatic craft and how to teach it, very well; and doesn’t know comedy at all. Than one who claims to know both and is really not a master of either, as a teacher; or worse, teaches you some bad skills. You really do need to first, be a good actor, period.  That is, to later be great, at comedy acting.

Not for stand-up, however. To do stand-up, you need to be born funny.

And then you need lots and lots of experience onstage, for which you need serious chutzpah to be able to endure.  That is how stand-up acts are developed, and even stand-up ‘brands’; as well as good solid comic writing skills, comedy performing skills, and simple but-not-so-simple comic timing.

I can teach comedy; but I only do so with those who already have a great solid, acting technique in place, already.  I also regard my ability to teach comedy acting too valuable to simply give it away, online. Sorry. But, I do have lots of basics to share about comedy acting that isn’t master class level or refined skills, but can be very beneficial.

Another reason that I posted this is:  this video is Richard Lewis, onstage, in process.  It’s not a memorized act, line-by-line, topic-by-topic with usual segues (seg-ways: it’s  how a comedian bridges one topic to another). You can hear how he specifically chose material for this particular audience; he’s forgetting stuff, he’s adding to earlier stuff topics, later on… Especially, I want to point out how loose he is. Onstage, he’s at home. He’s been doing this for years, and it shows. He’s also amongst peers, and that may be contributing.

The obvious is, that Richard Lewis has an ease that you wouldn’t see in a younger, fresher comic.  The stage is familiar turf to him. As is writing his material, and performing it. He’s got a long history of results, positive ones. He’s used to getting laughs, used to being a professional comedian. Used to performing, used to being the funny guy, and being in the spotlight.

It’s an interesting juxtaposition, Richard Lewis’s ease onstage, alongside his comic ‘brand’. (You know how I dislike that word, when actors are taught to sell their artistry as if it’s a kind of soap, but in Richard Lewis’s case,  in the world of comedy, it’s a valid term.) His ‘brand’ is neurotic, worried, obsessive, keyed-up. And, for 30 years, his brand has been ‘funny’.

I’d love to hear your feedback after watching this.  Comments are open, just click down at the bottom of this post, where the smaller words, called ‘tags’, are.

In the next post I’ll tell you about Richard Lewis’s special, and brand-suited, acting preparation before he jumps onto the stage.

Enjoy,

;~Dana

[This video should probably not be recommended to kids. ]

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What Bea Arthur Knew About Comic Acting

In the following video interview, there is so much brilliant information about acting.  About comedy.

The sheer amount of wisdom, that she shares in this video, about acting and comedy, is astonishing…

If you are unfamiliar with Bea Arthur, she is most famous for a television series that was hugely popular, in the ’70’s called “Maude”. It was a unique type of show for it’s time, historical. Bea Arthur played the lead role.

She was also a star on ” The Golden Girls”.

Her background was in the New York theatre; serious dramas, comedy shows, and musicals. (She was the original “Yentl, The Matchmaker”, on Broadway in “Fiddler On The Roof”.         

 For Ms Arthur’s bio, click  here.

I am featuring her, here, on Hollywood Actor Prep, because this great comic actress passed away this past week. It’s been said that she had “impeccable comic timing“.

Actress Bea Arthur Will Be Remembered As A True Artist

A few quotes from the acting wisdom  in this interview,  recorded in 2001:

I was bringing my New York Theatre Training to television. I was trying to turn sitcom into an artform…

I really feel that I am an exposed nerve. I don’t know how else to say it, but I am. I am moved by everything. By music, by the show I am in now, and certain songs, it just affects me so…

I have such a strong feeling about comedy.  I’ve seen so many excellent actors, who the minute they are told they’re in a comedy turn into G-d knows what, creatures from another planet. I mean the voice changes, they don’t look the same…

Belief, truth. Truth…Truth.

Hal Cooper who directed “Maude” said that some people have a funny bone and some people don’t.

I learned this from Sid [Caesar] : I’m fearless. I’ll take my time.

At the end, the interviewer asked Ms Arthur how she would like to be remembered. She replied, “As an Artist“.  

Sure thing, Ms Arthur…

Actors Ricky Gervais and Elmo Discuss Comedy, Acting, And Working For Free

Enjoy!

;-Dana

Rare Television Acting Clips:

One with Paul Newman, and one with James Dean        

      …at bottom of post…( Hey, don’t skip now!  )

 

Acting Residuals Began In Radio Days

Residuals are entirely a “show business” invention, and an American invention. They were conceived in the era of radio broadcasting, when technological advances created a broadcasting dilemma…which arose when recording became possible. 

Prior, on radio,  all American broadcasting was performed live.  And…just like the regular programming we now have on television, there were regularly scheduled programs, on radio.

Except there was no “recording” yet.

Acting :: Radio

All the programs were performed, by actors, live.  

Every show, every time.  Due to the expanse of America, and different time zones; the shows were performed twice a day…Once, for the Eastern part of America,\; and a second for the Pacific Standard Time Zone.

Actors would need to be at a studio, at the time of broadcast, and physically perform the shows over the air. They would get paid for their performance.  Paid for each performance; the same as they would for every live performance in a theater.

Joan Crawford

Technology Evolved, and Acting Was Able To Be Recorded

In the mid-1930’s, they figured out a primitive way to record the shows.  The actors wouldn’t have to act each performance out more than once, per each episode. 

Fanny Brice, Comedy Actress

Or so it was conceived.  But the recording technology wasn’t reliable enough, not at first.  

Actors Still Performed Live, For The First Show, At Least

And it was broadcast that way, with the actors gathered around a microphone, performing in the studio.

But because the recording was such a new technology, and not yet reliable, the actors would have to remain in the studio, waiting around, to be sure that the recording was good enough for the next time-zone broadcast. 

If not, they would act out the entire show,  live, once again.

Superman, Acted Live, On Radio

Thus, the term “residual”.  Actors were paid for their performances for the second show, just like when they performed it live.  Except the residuals were the payment for the recorded broadcast of their performance.   This began in 1941.

 Acting Was Live Only, In Early Television Performances

When television broadcasting came about, in the 1950’s, all performances were live also; the only thing that broadcast on TV that wasn’t live were actual movies: “re-runs”…which were originally made for, and had played first, in movie theatres.

In 1951, the first TV residuals, were paid. They were compensation for the movie re-runs.  To musicians…who had played music in the films, while in production.  (Like “royalties”)  This was set up by the musician’s union, called the American Federation of Musicians.

Actor Ronald Reagan

Kinoscope: First TV Recordings

Until a recording technology called kinoscope came into use.  In 1952, an actor named Walter Pidgeon, was the president of SAG.  He called for the first SAG strike, and it was then that actors received residuals for recorded performances.

Here’s James Dean, acting on television, in  an early kinoscope recording:

Again, kinoscope wasn’t the greatest, but it did allow television to be broadcast and shows to be rerun.

Frank Sinatra Show with Elvis Presley

The following is a kinoscope  called “The Army Game”.  It was broadcast on television, and starred a young actor: Paul Newman.  

Director Sidney Pollack (who passed away in 2008) was an actor before he became a director.  He c0-stars in this theatrical “television  special”.  

More on this, at a later date…

Best,

Dana

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I have an experience, to relate, about Tom Hanks.  From the movie, “Big”.

I acted, in a scene, with Tom Hanks.

Um, hm.

And, Tom and I shared a dressing room.

Um, hm.

At the same time.

Um hm.  

(Exceptionally unusual, BTW, in “the business”.)

And, no, we did not.

Um, em.

(If that’s what you are wondering…watch those assumptions, Bud.)

“Our” little acting scene was shot on location, in  NYC… An “interior” in an office setting; they used an authentic large-scale office space in a full-staffed, multi-room with multi cubicles, advertising agency… in a midtown Manhattan skyscraper. 

In the middle of a New York, work-week.  

For the “Big” film set– a not-so-big-area was sectioned off.

 …With temporary cardboard walls, tall grey ones held together by gaffer’s tape.

Even though it looked like a reception area, it wasn’t the authentic one. That one was in operation,  on the other side of the building, and the halls really went as far as you could see.

As a matter of fact, the “real”  business day was going on all around us; actively,  using most of their regular work space.

Which put a whopping limit on the normal acreage that a film crew normally uses, and needs to shoot.

What for?… Props, and sound, and camera equipment, and electrical stuff, and of course,  ‘hair + makeup’ trailers/rooms, wardrobe storage, and…

…Dressing rooms.

‘Hair + makeup’ was planted, literally, in the hall.  It was a makeshift set-up, just outside the reception-area-set…

There was a chair, for the actor to sit in, and an area where the makeup person had all their large toolboxes that open into mini-stairs of all the colors, brushes, sponges. And there was a mirror with the lights around it.  As I remember, it was smack in the middle of a hallway, and there were employees of the real agency, coming-and-going, around us.

 

Overall, the production had one big multi-purpose room.  

That is, aside from the actual shooting set.

In real life, I think it was a small conference room. 

I remember the long table, with chairs around it. 

All the other actors hung out there; actors from other scenes in “Big” were there, as well… as each scene wrapped, another one would begin. So, it was a ‘talent’ holding area.  

I had a two or three day hold, there, altogether. Lots of waiting, but much better pay…

There were racks of clothing was in there, it was also ‘the “Big” wardrobe room’.

And, it was also the only dressing room, on set…

Tom and I were the only ones, in our particular acting scene, that even had “wardrobe”.  

The other people in the scene, except for the younger actor,  (friend-of-”Josh Baskin”) were “extras”, professionally called “background”.  

Usually, even those with “special bits” arrive and work in their own clothes. 

Often those clothes are approved in advance, by the costumer.  Sometimes background-players are advised what type of outfit to bring, and are asked to bring a optional changes,  the morning of the shoot.

It’s unusual for an actor ‘with a speaking part’, to wear his/her own clothes, when acting professionally. 

Jared Rushton, who played that friend, in “Big”, did.  I remember that a wardrobe person told me that they felt that  Jared looked great in his own choices; and that they couldn’t have dressed him better, than he did on his own.. in his real life…  : }   

        (And, his acting was as natural as his clothes, wasn’t it?)

So, Jared didn’t need a dressing room.  

That left only two people in that entire Manhattan high rise, on that day, in need of two changing rooms…in a crowded office building in the busiest section of a city that doesn’t have a definition for private space…

1. Tom Hanks, an actor who had recently become a household name across America
2. Dana Kaminski, an aspiring actor who very few had heard of, but luckily had worked with the director’s brother, Garry Marshall, prior… 

(Secretly, our unknown actress was, a tinch sullen, but no one could tell….perhaps, that is a story for another time.)

Here’s ‘Our’ Acting Scene, In The Movie, “Big”

I don’t think anyone that worked on that movie could have predicted that it would become as popular as it did, and has remained.  

                                     **********************************************************

…This post a teaser, an intro,  for two topical posts; that I have on deck, for the blog.

The upcoming posts don’t have much to do with me, except, I’m the writer….

They do, have everything to do, with Tom Hanks.

Um hm.

Best,

;Dana

Down below: Is a SHARE/SAVE button.  It makes it so simple and quick.

Kindly post this onto your own Facebook page, or  MySpace, etc.  

That way, people that could really benefit from this blog, can find out about it.  

You can also email it to people, and both take only two quick clicks… 

So, please share. And, thank you for doing so.  And, please donate, if you find this blog valuable…

…But, I thought…

Well, you know…Thanksgiving…

…large boats…

Here’s some (weekly) funny stuff…From “Pirates Of The Caribbean”…

Best,

;-Dana

Twitter–Follow me there, and I’ll follow you, too!

Share on MySpace!

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Oh my.

Stuck in an editing stage, I actually have two separate posts :

1. An interview with a casting director, and I gave him “final approval” so when that gets back, I will post it
2. An article that I wrote on women’s roles in some smaller films, out now (but that has gone through a couple of revisions because I just can’t seem to stop myself from turning it into a rant…)
3. And, oh yeah…(Okay, three)I actually bumped into Richard Dreyfuss, while walking my dog, and I blabbered on about SAG-and-my-site-and-what-ideas-he-may-have-for -”younger actors”, and since he couldn’t commit be web address to memory  (no one can, can you?? Everyone please, sign up for the email, for heavens sake, they send my posts to your mailbox, and then you don’t have to try to remember!) ….so I emailed him a link to the blog, and hopefully we’ll hear from him soon…

So those posts aren’t ready, and I hope they are, soon..b-u-t, I do like to post frequently, and consistently…so as I was having an “online chat” with a friend, while having my  morning tea, today. I asked if he would like to do an impromptu interview by chat.

His name is John Mendoza, and he is a “stand-up”.  (Yes, and ha-ha, he is a stand-up guy, in fact, and I can attest to that; we have  been friends for over twenty years.  EmHm…However, you may not get that he is as stand-up as “all that”, by the words used his terse statements, especially here…but I can attest he is using comedic license…)

Click on his name, and you can see his bio, on IMDB.com, in a separate window.

You may recognize him from television, he even had his own television series, at one point.

If you haven’t seen his stand-up act,  you’re missing something.  He can, and actually only really does: make these tiny one sentence statements, and they are hilariously funny.  His “comic delivery” is so very special, and unique, only to him.

A vernacular note: I happen to know a lot of comedians, from my New York City days.  And they don’t call themselves comedians, usually; they call themselves”comics“.  Yeah, like the comic book, only they mean someone who does standup comedy.  

I am sure that Mendoza’s comedy won’t translate all that well to a page.  It really is true when I say, in general, about him: “You hadda be there”. If you are, you are probably laughing on the floor; while simultaneously, amazed, that he was able to turn an itty-bitty amount of words into something so unexpectedly hilarious.   

He’s sometimes scathingly mean with his viewpoint, or sarcastic; and it’s still hilarious.

Never once, does he crack a smile.  Nor does he even add any expression.  He’s deadpan, exponentially. And it’s that mix, the way he maintains his attitude and expression, with his comic statement, that makes tear-up-funny moments.

Throughout, he maintains his “Mendoza-ness”; giving off the impression that he’s barely interested, even; and this is while he is onstage.  That happens in “real life” too, by the way. He is the same.  

It’s too bad that his special and specific comedic-style didn’t transmit well to TV, when the network tried to make a show for him. Really too bad, because onstage, he is excellent.

He is touring, now; so he may be soon in your town.

 Chat History

11:33am

John

Miss Dana

11:33am

Dana

heynhey

whats the best thing about being in comedy

and this time answer the ‘f-ing’ question

11:33am

John

all good?

the drugs

11:34am

Dana

what s the worst

11:34am

John

the drugs

11:35am

Dana

what was the hardest thing to accomplish in the beginning

11:35am

John

cfear

fear

11:35am

Dana

and now?

11:35am

John

nothing

11:35am

Dana

can i post this on my blog?

11:35am

John

sure

11:36am

Dana

thanks lovey

gotta go only because i was waitng for someone to call back andthey havenow..

11:36am

John

got to jump on a plane

11:37am

Dana

write me from where evah

…no response…

 

 

Disclaimer: Just don’t believe what he says.  It’s bull, and not true.

Misperceptions about actors

People often say, that “actors are liars”.  Ohhh, noo.  Commonly, it’s the opposite.  You show me someone who digs for the truth, you show me someone who “digs” the truth…I’ll show you they can have a future in the acting business.

Or they are already in it.  Here in Hollywood.  That’s right, Tinsel-bull-town; but,  on our side, the actors side.

Telling the truth..

Most good actors not only love the truth, they love telling it!  Relating is something actors do, on stage, and in life… on a very truthful level.

Wasn’t the best play, movie, or even television show that you ever saw…wasn’t that  great, because you related to it?  If it made you cry, it’s because it was real for you, in some way.  It connected to a deep truth, for you.

Can’t be real for the audience, if it isn’t real for the actor, who is playing it.

Comedy is real.

Comedy has to be precisely truthful! Comedy is just telling the truth, with timing.  With a “re-framing”. With a perspective.  Maybe, with an subjective slant, certainly with confidence.

Here’s exhibit A:

Wanda Sykes: who told “her” truth, last night, on Jay Leno….with passion, conviction, and…

…even if you don’t agree with her politics…

From a craft perspective, she was confident, and funny.  

In simple conversation, truthful … and funny.

Wanda Sykes on NBC Tonight Show Jay Leno

If you want to see what I mean, and have a laugh, click on the link, just above this line  (it’s yellow).

Best,

; Dana