Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/51766
DRAMA "You're always playing off of different types of creativity when you're working with this many people," she said. "You have so many different kinds of actors, that seeing how other people approach a scene keeps things fresh and teaches you more about your own process." That interaction is a critical element in making the ensemble work for the audience. LISTEN UP! "'Ensemble acting' is another name for listening," wrote Judith Weston in her book Directing Actors: Creating Memorable Performances for Film and Television. It is true when performers are working with other actors, but it can be just as important before getting the part. Boardwalk Empire's casting director, Meredith Tucker, recalled an actor who auditioned for a part on the show. Tucker and her associates were reading lines from a scene set around a dinner table, and doing most of the talking, leaving the actor with no lines for stretches at a time. The audition wasn't particularly memorable at first, but when Tucker later viewed the video, she knew she had found the right person for the role. "A lot was going on and she very much was reacting to what was being said. And it struck me," Tucker said. "The truth of the matter is I didn't really realize what a good job she had been doing until I actually saw it on the tape." Tucker said being aware is critically important. "Even if other actors are not there in the context of the scene, they still have to listen," she said. The scene echoes a quote attributed to Michael J. Fox: "The oldest form of theater is the dinner table. It's got five or six people, new show every night, SAG.org 2000 Special Issue 2012 - SCREEN ACTOR 50 2004 COMEDY 2005 2003 2002 2001