Checklist Acting.

You want to play well.

Your mind is running a checklist as you act and you’re trying to fulfil the list.

No.

It can go like this with your mind saying, ‘Now breathe. Use your diaphragm. Be in the moment. Listen. Mean it. Listen. Be truthful. Listen. Be compelling. Drop in. Listen. Breathe.’

And on and on, maddeningly, until the scene ends. And, well, you collapse.

Who wouldn’t? It’s too much.

You learn lots at drama school. When you graduate your mind is chock-a-block full. It’ll take you much practice and time for that information to settle.

Even if you’re experienced you may hear your mind checking the list.

The old adage of, ‘Do your preparation and then forget it.’ holds. When you begin the scene you breath in and start. Nothing more.

You cannot be playing a scene – acting (meaning to act) and answer the list. Answering the list is not acting. It’s something else. Another problem.

Meaning you’re now trying to do two things. Answer the check-list and act. Impossible. You’ve added a problem.

Conscious participation means the development of the control of your mind, so it can’t just run off as it sees fit, but, rather, you control it. More and more as you work properly. That’s the consciousness.

If the minds run off – try not to respond to it. Just keep pursuing what you want in the scene.

It’s hard enough to do one thing well.