When we work with our minds, and bring awareness to our constraining patterns, our goal is to delve into the space of unique freedom in expression, breaking free from imitation, frustration, and negativity.
Engaging with trauma in a constructive manner requires a thoughtful approach. The objective is to attain performances that feel liberating while maintaining a compassionate awareness of the elements that resonate deeply. On a personal level, such mindfulness can be profoundly transformative, guiding individuals toward self-compassion and introspection. This process cultivates personal growth and resilience, enabling individuals to deliver exceptional performances.
Tarkovsky gives a lot of importance to his childhood, as he believes it’s the first and foremost source of inspiration for creativity. No wonder his first movie « Ivan’s Childhood » is such a masterpiece… also the power of innocence, naiveness, the figure of the child, is present in every movie he made.
Every actor’s inquiry is different: one might want to take bolder risks, another to embody their voice fully, another to explore the rawness of the emotions through the lens of the character or the freedom of impulses discovered through embodiment, or to perform an extended scene free of interruption to see where presence can guide them.
Ownership at times felt like embodied presence through the language, and other times it was me landing into an idea about the line. An idea would be an action that I chose to embody or it was a physical choice, like leaning forward or changing position. My physical choices were always filled with intention, such as leaning forward to speak quietly or to put emphasis or be cheeky.
We all know that there is one—a process, some technique that each one of us uses to find the underlying truth of the character, scene, etc. There is a trajectory that has to happen to connect the two dots of A) the real you and Z) the character on the page. Sometimes the distance isn't so far, and other times it feels like an impossible leap.
Whether on stage or set, envision being fully connected to your inner self, drawing from within regardless of external circumstances. Key to this autonomy is the immersive practice of embodiment—engaging body, mind, and emotions in a symphony of expression.
The power of a performance lies in the performer’s ability to make the audience believe in the character and the world they inhabit. A fundamental aspect of achieving this, is having a deep connection and ownership of the script.