Today I was reminded of an acting class I was in about 20 years ago. During an improv set in an art gallery, a fellow actor pronounced Manet as "Man-eht." He said (and truly believed), "In America you pronounce French names differently." I not only pointed out the correct pronunciation, I made a joke at my peer's expense that maybe we should call the American playwright "Daveed Mam-ay" if we're in France or Canada.
I wonder, if my fellow acting student became a successful screenwriter and recorded that moment in his life, who would play me and how would I look to observers? Would I be the stereotypical asshole who bullies others to support their own ego needs? After all, it's his movie; I'd just be the "Eddie Haskel" supporting role.
But before you judge me too harshly for my actions of that day I ask you to consider the question: if they were to make a movie of any moment in time today, how would you be portrayed?
Really, take a moment to think about it. Think of stereotypes you've observed in films: naive love interests, superficial types who dwell on money, sex or prestige, dumb types, evildoers, gossips, supporting characters, resisters, and, as in my case, judgmental bullies.
If you were to be judged for the rest of time according to how you showed up in this moment, would you be okay with that portrayal?
Remember, even though we know that all people are multi-dimensional beings, with elements of good and bad, smart and dumb, in the movies we only have time for a few fully "fleshed out" characters. The rest get written in short, bold strokes and we only see what part they play in someone else's story in one moment or few.
So my challenge for myself, and anyone who'll "play along" with me, is to be aware, in every aspect, every moment of the next few days what role I'm playing and how it might be remembered.
Would I like the way I wound up portrayed in the movie of this moment and, if not, how can I turn it around into the character who makes an important difference in the "lead role's" life? After all, I've only got a few lines in the story of their life and I need to make them count.
Any thoughts? Comments? I promise not to be a jerk when I reply -- just in case you write a play about it.
Follow James M. Lynch on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JamesLynchCoach
Wow, great comment! My 'aha' moment was in a seminar when I realized that a lot of the personal growth material I was listening to was parallel to what I'd teach an actor to do on stage to be a dynamic character. It was about creating a powerful want and then going after it. I still use a lot of acting techniques in my coaching and, in a video on youtube I discuss that playing 'you' is only a matter of adding up enough scenes (they only happen one at a time, just like in a film) to make the story you want. Tolle would call it being present in every moment.
Good choices with the Hoffmans, by the way, both good at being REAL.
James
Actually, this is a great question. Not so much about what actor would play me, but what type of character would be played by any actor.
Actors, though accused of putting masks on, are in fact taking the masks off as they dredge up the appropriate dimensions and representation required in the moment.
How many of us do the opposite and in so doing misrepresent who we are, or at least one facet thereof. Whether from ego, fear, desire, intentional design, or a spike in the emotion of the moment, thereby becoming a negative mask of protection and projection... except maybe when we are intentionally being jerks, of course... we could choose to remove the pretense and reveal ourselves at the core (scary huh?). I know, as a society, we do need the understanding and use of filters and restraint, but more from concern about harm to others, than guarding against an affront to ourselves.
I think most people are not aware of the impact they can have, and many apparently don't care. Yet, how much better our lives would be if the negative masks of anger, insecurity, superiority, resentment, et al. were tossed aside and replaced with an expression of our own self, the truth of our reality... or at least a smiley face mask. :)
But if I must answer your question: since EG Robinson is no longer available, I defer to one of the Hoffmans: Philip Seymour or Dustin.
Lawson Meadows