Importance of Narrative Theory

Understanding the narrative structure in film (which is best achieved through writing, classes, reading and watching) is so valuable for me on set. With plays you're generally given the moments before, assuming you're in a linear A->B->C play. Film is trickier, and while it's still very helpful for stagework, I'm willing to argue it's more important for film roles. Thats because I've never been on a set where we have filmed in a linear order according to the script. It'd be nice, it'd be convenient for actors, but it's not the priority when it comes to budgets and scheduling.

So you need to know where you are in the script. And not just on a character level, but you need to fine-tune your performance to what that scene demands from the wider story. To a very specific degree. Which act are you in? What does your character need to have learned or not learned for the next scene to work? What kind of story are you in? As with all things, work from the general into the specific. To that end, knowing writing structure can be very helpful.

Let go, find love and community

Then you confidently need to let that shit go, and just be a human being and act. There are hundreds of free webpages, books at your local library, and second hand stores, or you can buy new. I prefer second hand stuff because sometimes you see an annotation scrawled in pencil in the margins for a brief moment you have a comrade-in-arms. Some people don't like that. I do. Go get a second hand copy of Robert McKee's Story. Right now.

Get two and read it with another actor. Compare your annotated margins. Realise that you might give this writing thing a go. Add your own annotations. Film shit, put plays on, lose self-consciousness about your writing and then watch it bleed into your acting. When you've finally gotten enough out of it, give your copy to a second hand book store.

Find your voice According to me and my often dumb opinions (admittedly this one is backed up by those a lot smarter and wiser than I am) the best acting is done by those who aren't pretending to be characters, but are just playing a version of themselves in a radically different circumstance. When you find your own voice on the page, you'll start finding your own voice a little faster when you're acting.

You'll see where your given circumstances cross over quicker. You'll find deeper meaning in your script analysis and relationships with other characters. You'll be able to make more informed choices. You're suddenly more willing to experiment and be wrong because you'll come to terms with all your first drafts being garbage and that's cool because draft number two isn't all that bad, actually.

BUT MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL You'll write, and then make some cool stuff with the people you love. That, alone, is worth it.