Paul Alan Ruben

Paul Alan Ruben

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Energy: Acting Like You're Committed


I spent an hour coaching a talented actress the other day. She came for a make-up session after missing the previous week’s workshop. She hasn’t recorded an audio book, yet. I think she possesses all the tools to be a working narrator. Upon finishing our work, I advised her to focus on what I perceived as her greatest performance challenge: energy.  I suggested that, to be a successful storyteller, you must commit yourself, by way of performance energy, 100%.  Axiomatically, the less commitment, the less interesting your performance.

So, what is ‘energy?’ Why is it so necessary? And why do narrators have difficulty engaging this commitment?

I think I can take a stab at defining ‘energy.’ I can offer an opinion about why it’s so critical to excellent storytelling.  Why narrators have trouble with this concept is inexplicable. I don’t know, and wouldn’t hazard a guess.

‘Energy’ is a term I’ve been familiar with since I was an apprentice at the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia, many decades ago.  Though I’ve never attempted to arrive at a particular definition, ‘energy,’ from my perspecttive, is a characterization that can be used to measure professionalism, even to suggest the difference between amateur and professional.  I think it’s fair to argue that professionals have it; amateurs don’t.

‘Energy,’ as I understand it, is an effect, not a cause.  It’s a result. ‘Energy’ is a reflection of an actor’s emotional investment, not in the author’s words but rather, in the feelings they reveal.  Great energy is achieved when an actor determines that they will be as emotionally involved in the story as the author. And I’ve never met a detached or semi-interested author.

‘Energy’ is critical because it cues the listener – even if they can’t articulate what it is that’s affecting them – that the narrator is just dying to take them along on this exhilarating journey, and can’t wait to get them to feel what the characters feel. Listeners may not know why they can’t get excited about a performer’s rendition of a story, but often, I think, it’s because the actor isn’t giving them anything to get excited about.

It sounds like common sense, yet I find that many narrators – particularly beginners and less experienced talent – seem to possess a self-imposed limiter, as if there’s an inner voice whispering to them while they narrate: “Not too much now; you don’t want to embarrass yourself; say the words like you mean them, but only like you 78% mean them?" So many times I’ve said to actors, c’mon, you can go further; overact. Trust me, you won’t be too big. I won’t let you embarrasses yourself. Okay, okay, says the narrator. But the result is virtually the same as before I began cajoling them.

One reason talent have difficulty with ‘energy’ may be technique. If it is, then there are quick fixes that can be suggested. For example, I find that many actors use too much voice in the booth. They are literally too big, too loud, too presentational. Ironically, too much volume makes it impossible for an actor to commit emotionally. It deprives them of their ability to maintain the performance energy they need for a compelling narration.

Audio book narration is an intimate medium. You can’t fight the booth. Excessive volume fights the booth. It’s anti-intimacy. Given that you can’t scream, or even talk loudly, how do you address, let’s say, an emotionally heightened scene? Narrating in a stage whisper - literally using less voice - not only creates intimacy between storyteller and listener, it allows for maximum emotional impact. Because this is an intimate experience and because the listener intuitively understands the narrator can’t shout, they will buy into you screaming, so long as it’s done intimately, that is, at the top of your stage-whispery range. The result: great energy. Unlimited emotional commitment.

For me less voice, less volume, more stage-whispery delivery, especially if the story is dramatic, as opposed to humorous, the more opportunity to commit emotionally.  Yes, the exception proves the rule, but from my vantage in the control-room, not very often.


7 comments:

  1. Thank you again, Paul, for another thoughtful post. Energy is, indeed, often mistaken as "louder" or "faster," but I prefer your definition of "emotional commitment."

    Then there's the question of physical energy to sustain the emotional energy...

    Cheers,
    Edoardo Ballerini

    ReplyDelete
  2. Well said, Paul! I've been thinking quite a bit about energy in the performance lately. As always, you provide insightful analysis and fuel in my drive for the best possible performance. Thank you!
    --Xe Sand

    ReplyDelete
  3. Paul,

    A nice definition of energy here. Many times, performers become confused by the note from a director: "Less energy." What they mean is, "Less volume." I find it handy to think of two kinds of energy: Kinetic and Psychological. Kinetic energy is how we usually perceive it: Loud. Psychological energy is focused and usually hallmarked with a bit more intensity, and lower in volume. Audiobook, in particular, beg to Psychological energy.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks Paul. Always a good reminder and definitely worth repeating. Please put me on your email list if you've got one - my current email is info@panright.com

    All my best,

    Perry Norton
    PanRight Productions
    www.panright.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Well this is pretty old now, still, here's my point of view, and I'm the one who bus and listens to audiobooks.
    Most actors overdo it in the role play, most actors overlook the paying listeners ability to appreciate subtle inference,. Take Helen Mirren for example, she can convey more to her audience with just the subtlest movement of her facial muscles.compare with your everyday run of the mill actor, who do you want to watch?
    Same with listening

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hello friends
    Are you looking for a ringtone? Are you bored of your ringtone? Want to change it? We will let you know the ringtone recently. Free ringtones for everyone.

    This is the most popular ringtone of the year 2018 I want to mention you:

    - Celine Dion – Titanic ringtone - ringtonesmobile
    - Take Me To Your Heart ringtone - ringtonesmobile
    - Charlie Puth – One Call Away ringtone - ringtonesmobile
    - Fifth Harmony – Worth It ft. Kid Ink ringtone - ringtonesmobile
    - Mission Impossible ringtone - ringtonesmobile

    This is my home page if you want to reference and find other ringtones: https://ringtonesmobile.net/

    Wish you could find the best ringtone for your mobile phone and share this ringtone for everyone. Thank you for your attention.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hello friends. Today I will introduce you to the hottest ringtone 2018. Free ringtones. Quality ringtones. Unique ringtone. You can visit the home page here for more variety of music: Ringtone free download
    Here are the most recently downloaded songs, just download without wasting time:

    Best ringtone in the world
    Shape of you ringtone mp3
    Let me love you ringtone download pagalworld
    Roman reigns ringtone

    ReplyDelete