Oscar winning actor & writer Tom Hanks gives the Oxford Union an acting lesson
Summary
TLDRIn this insightful acting masterclass transcript, the speaker emphasizes the importance of shedding self-consciousness and embracing the truth in performance. Through the exercise of 'repetitions,' participants explore the depth of simple lines like 'Is there something I can do for you?' and 'It's all right, I'm okay,' across various scenarios. The session highlights how authenticity in acting, regardless of the role's size, can profoundly impact audiences and create an empathetic connection, illustrating the adage that there are no small parts, only small actors.
Takeaways
- đ The importance of overcoming self-consciousness in acting to deliver authentic performances.
- đ The exercise of 'repetitions' is used in acting classes to break down self-consciousness and explore different interpretations of a line.
- đŁïž The significance of delivering lines truthfully, regardless of the character's emotions or circumstances, as emphasized by Spencer Tracy's quote.
- đ Every actor, regardless of the size of their role, has the potential to impact the audience through genuine and empathetic portrayals.
- đ The concept of 'hitting the marks and telling the truth' as a fundamental acting principle that requires both technical and emotional accuracy.
- đ€ The exploration of how different circumstances can influence the delivery of the same line, showcasing the versatility required in acting.
- đȘ The example of a shopkeeper dealing with potential thieves to illustrate how an actor can portray a range of emotions, including suspicion and anger.
- đ” The portrayal of an elderly person who has fallen and the various ways they might respond to being offered help, reflecting the complexity of human emotions.
- đïž The scenario of a civic employee at City Hall to demonstrate how boredom and frustration can affect the delivery of a simple line to the public.
- đŹ The emphasis on the importance of procedure and behavior in acting to create believable characters that resonate with the audience.
- đ The message that even with minimal lines, an actor can create a memorable and impactful moment through honest and empathetic performance.
Q & A
What is the main theme of the acting class exercise described in the script?
-The main theme of the acting class exercise is to overcome self-consciousness and to convey different emotions and circumstances through the repetition of a simple line, demonstrating the importance of truth and authenticity in acting.
What does the speaker emphasize as crucial for an actor to do in their role?
-The speaker emphasizes that an actor must hit their marks and tell the truth, meaning they should accurately portray the emotions and actions required by their character regardless of the line or circumstance.
What is the purpose of the 'repetitions' exercise in acting?
-The purpose of the 'repetitions' exercise is to break down self-consciousness and to explore the various ways a line can be delivered, allowing actors to ring out every possible meaning, cadence, and variation.
How does the speaker describe the process of delivering the line 'Is there something I can do for you?' in different scenarios?
-The speaker describes the process as one where the line is delivered with different emotions and intentions, such as kindness, boredom, anger, and suspicion, depending on the scenario the actor is placed in.
What is the significance of the line 'It's all right, I'm okay' in the script?
-The line 'It's all right, I'm okay' is used to demonstrate how the same phrase can be interpreted and delivered differently based on the character's emotional state and the context of the situation.
How does the speaker use the acting exercise to explore the concept of empathy in storytelling?
-The speaker uses the acting exercise to show how characters can participate in an empathetic process, where their reactions to situations and interactions with others can evoke emotions and understanding in the audience.
What does the speaker suggest about the impact of an actor's performance on the audience's belief in the story?
-The speaker suggests that if an actor truly embodies their character and delivers their lines with authenticity, the audience is more likely to believe in the story and be moved by it.
What is the importance of the phrase 'There are no small parts, there are only small actors' in the context of the script?
-The phrase emphasizes that even characters with minor roles can have a significant impact on a film if they deliver their lines truthfully and authentically, thus there is no such thing as an insignificant role.
How does the speaker relate the acting exercise to real-life social interactions and behaviors?
-The speaker relates the acting exercise to real-life by pointing out that the procedures and behaviors exhibited by characters in the exercise mirror those in everyday life, highlighting the importance of authenticity in both acting and real-life interactions.
What is the role of the audience in the 'social contract' mentioned by the speaker?
-The audience's role in the 'social contract' is to engage with the story and characters, responding to the authenticity of the performance, which in turn affects their belief in and emotional connection to the narrative.
How does the speaker use the script to highlight the importance of preparation and behavior in acting?
-The speaker uses the script to emphasize that preparation, understanding of the character's behavior, and adherence to the truth of the moment are essential for an actor to deliver a compelling and believable performance.
Outlines
đ Overcoming Self-Consciousness in Acting
The speaker emphasizes the importance of overcoming self-consciousness for actors, referencing the need to disregard personal appearance and sound to deliver truthful performances. They introduce an acting exercise called 'repetitions,' which involves delivering a simple line, 'Is there something I can do for you?' in various emotional contexts to break down self-awareness. The exercise aims to demonstrate how actors must adapt their delivery based on the situation, whether it's showing kindness, boredom, or anger, to connect authentically with the audience.
đ The Power of Context in Performance
This paragraph explores how the same line 'Is there something I can do for you?' can convey vastly different meanings based on the context and emotional state of the character. The speaker illustrates this with scenarios involving a civic employee dealing with the public, a shopkeeper in a tough neighborhood, and an individual experiencing a range of emotions from kindness to anger. The lesson is that actors must embody the true nature of their characters to create a believable and impactful performance.
đ€čââïž The Art of Repetitions and Character Response
The speaker continues the acting class theme by focusing on the exercise of repetitions with the line 'It's all right, I'm okay.' Participants are encouraged to express this line in various ways, reflecting the feelings of embarrassment, intimidation, and discomfort. The purpose is to show how characters can respond differently to the same situation, and how actors must tap into these feelings to deliver a performance that resonates with the audience.
đŹ The Impact of Truthful Acting on Storytelling
In the final paragraph, the speaker concludes the acting lesson by highlighting the significance of truthful acting in storytelling. They discuss how even small parts can have a significant impact if the actor delivers their lines with sincerity and accuracy. The speaker uses the example of a movie they made with Emma Watson, 'The Circle,' to illustrate the point that even brief empathetic moments can leave a lasting impression on the audience.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄSelf-consciousness
đĄRepetitions
đĄTruthful Performance
đĄCadence
đĄEmpathy
đĄBehavior
đĄProcedure
đĄSocial Circumstance
đĄCharacter
đĄStorytellers
đĄEmpathetic Moment
Highlights
The importance of overcoming self-consciousness in acting to deliver genuine performances.
The concept of 'repetitions' as an acting exercise to break down self-consciousness and explore various interpretations of a line.
The significance of delivering lines truthfully, regardless of the circumstances or emotions involved.
The exercise of repeating the line 'Is there something I can do for you?' in different emotional contexts to explore character depth.
The impact of the performer's mood on the delivery of a line, such as happiness, boredom, or anger.
How the same line can be interpreted differently based on the character's occupation and daily experiences.
The exploration of empathy in acting through the interaction between the helper and the person in need.
The importance of being genuine in acting to create a believable and impactful performance.
The transformative power of a simple line when delivered with authenticity and emotional depth.
The role of the audience in the social contract of storytelling, requiring genuine performances for belief and engagement.
The exercise of delivering the line 'It's all right, I'm okay' in various emotional states, including embarrassment and intimidation.
The exploration of how characters can learn from their interactions and reflect on their behavior.
The idea that even small parts in a film can have a significant impact if performed with truth and empathy.
The value of studying old films to appreciate the performances of actors in small but impactful roles.
The message that there are no small parts, only small actors, emphasizing the potential of every role in storytelling.
The acknowledgment of Emma Watson's presence and her contribution to the art of storytelling.
The conclusion that even simple lines can move audiences when delivered with genuine emotion and intention.
Transcripts
there are no small parts there are only
small
[Music]
[Applause]
actors here first thank you all right
wow well thank
you thank
you all right okay all right um the
way in when you have to get over in
order to do what I do for a living and a
handful of other people in this room
also do for a living is you have to get
past any sense of
self-consciousness you cannot care what
you look like or what you sound like you
cannot care if if you are
sounding AR but you cannot be artificial
you can only get up hit the marks and
tell the truth no matter what the line
is no matter what the circumstance is no
matter what the emotion is that you must
not fake but recreate at that individual
moment Spencer Tracy said you have to
hit the marks and tell the truth that is
a very hard thing to do naturally so we
are all going to take part in an acting
class tonight every single one of them
all right this first this first and
probably most precious exercise is
called
repetitions if you take an acting class
which in all honesty I never did but if
you take an AC in class one of the ways
you break down
self-consciousness which is your own
concept of what you look like and how
you sound you do this this this little
extra card excise called
repetitions I'm going to give you a line
it's very simple line and what you have
to do and we're going to do it out loud
so you everybody can get past any of
that no one's going to be called on the
carpet but everybody does have to
participate otherwise I'll you
um you have to say these words is there
something I can do for you but you can't
just say the words you have to ring out
every possible meaning every possible
Cadence every possible variation of that
line of dialogue is there something I
can do for you in a repetitions class
you would have to stand in front of
everybody else in the class and keep
saying it again and again and again in a
different form and you only lose your
chance to do that when you repeat
yourself all right so the line is is
there something I can do for you and we
are all going to now say that as many
different ways as we can all right
you're just you you're nobody else
you're just who you are okay the line
once again is is there something I can
do for you all ready ready let's begin
in three two one is there something I
can
do
all right fine so you know the words and
you've already experienced them okay now
I'm going to give you the circumstance
you are you all right you are having a
magnificent day you're going to go off
and you're going to have a cup of coffee
with someone that you have a great crush
on and you believe that person has a
great crush on you you're at the
beginning of a marvelous relationship
with someone who you think is going to
perhaps give you if not a lifetime of
happiness a few weeks or a few months
all right you're done with your work for
the day you don't have any you get to
sleep in late tomorrow it's going to be
a lovely lovely evening and you are
going to go and have a delightful
exchange with someone you're looking
forward to but up in front of you an
elderly person carrying a package has
tripped and fallen down onto their knees
all right what do you say at that
moment is there something I can do for
you okay ready so all right now now okay
all right you have we have the
circumstance it's ass tied it's cold and
someone who looks like your grand one of
your grandparents or an elderly neighbor
has fallen down and landed on one knee
and you say in 3 2
one let's try it again ready 3 two
1 all right let's try one more it must
be different from what you just did okay
ready 1 3 2
1 do for you okay very good and cut
excellent well all right now the same
exact words is there something I can do
for you except now you are a Civic
employee you work in an information
booth at City Hall all you do all day
long is say those words to everybody
that comes in through the door is there
some thing I can do for you these people
are
idiots they're morons they're clucks
sometimes they don't speak your same
language but it doesn't matter because
your job the way you earn your living is
to sit in that booth and all day long
say is there something I can do for you
you've said it eight million times in
the course of the last three years right
not only that your spouse at home you've
been arguing with them like crazy your
kids are all brats you'd like to go go
off you haven't been to see a movie in
months because you can't afford it you
are not a happy person on this middle
midweek exchange your your your your
your uh uh your hours that you're
putting in you are bored you are tired
and you're angry and but guess what you
have to say to everybody that comes into
the hallway you have to
say you're way too passive far too far
too interested again you're going to be
you're going to be look at the clock
realize that it's still 17 minutes to
lunch and you're going to look up and
say okay ready let's try three two
one all right that's not bad can you can
you can you be a little more Angry bored
and uh what's the and uh vituperative if
I'm using that word properly one two
three all right let's change it a little
bit someone has stood in front of you
for a few minutes and hasn't asked a
question you're just going to look up to
them and and
say
321 something I could do for you all
right look at the difference between
those two lines the two different
circumstances one you're incredibly
happy and you feel sorry for somebody
who's there this one you're incredibly
bored and unhappy and you have to say
this to this person is there something I
can do for you has very very very very
very different kind notations all right
here's the last one you ready for this
you're a
shopkeeper in a relatively tough part of
town and you have to deal with thieves
who steal cigarettes from you theft from
all of your shelves you come in and you
get hassled by some by the the
neighborhoods who don't like you
essentially you have to deal with people
that are going to possibly rob you
because as they walk in you don't like
the color of their skin you don't like
the clothes that they are wearing you
don't know that you you don't like that
you've seen them around before you just
know this person is going to be troubled
and you are not going to let anybody rip
you off again because you've worked too
hard in order to build this little shop
in order to pay for your kids clothes
and the house that you live in so the
last thing you're going to do is be
polite to this person because you know
that this person is probably going to
steal from you so what do you say to
them in 3 2
1
right right as in you know you sure you
want to come in here right now well
let's try it again 3 2
1 all right that's not bad but wouldn't
it kind of be like hey is there
something I could do for you right all
right let's try it again one more time
you hate this person that walked in
ready you're going to call the cops on
this person if it gives you any lip
whatsoever you're going to call a
policeman three two
one that's what I'm looking for all
right a third variation on a very simple
line is there something I can do for you
what have you learned about yourself
just in those just in those three
iterations one that you can be kind and
you can fake it two you can be bored and
you can fake it but three you can be
angry and suspicious and you can fake it
but it's a thousand times better and
will hit the audience in a way that is
undeniable if you truly are kind to that
old lady who fell down or bored by that
person who comes in because what what
you say and how you say it is part of
the procedure and the behavior of how we
all live our lives right now and you the
audience we've all been in we've all sat
down and watched a movie and said I
don't believe that and the reason you
don't believe that because those people
didn't really go there so if you see a
movie in which somebody says can I help
you because an old lady or is there
something I can do for you because
someone fell you the actor that is in
that place has to be the conduit of that
reality and that true procedure and
behavior because at the end of the day
you can have as many humps and different
makeup styles and hair and wigs and
costumes but if you're not actually
adhering to the procedure and behavior
of the moment you're faking it and
therefore you're not part of the great
social purchase that goes between the
audience and the storytellers because
that's what we all are all right now
we're going to flip it now all right
we're going to have another line we'll
start with the repetitions exercise the
line is it's all right I'm okay all
right let's it's all right I'm okay say
it once it's all right I'm okay now
let's have a few minutes of repetitions
work out that line in as many different
ways as you can it's all right I'm okay
ready go ahead it's all
[Applause]
right
all right very good very good all right
it's all right I'm okay same scenarios
except this time you're playing the
other character you're the elderly
person who fell down you're oh you're
who you are that you fell down you're
embarrassed you were trying to juggle
all these things you're trying to get
home in a period of time you hit a a
slippery part of the sidewalk you went
down you know what and he actually did
hurt your knee a little bit all right
but what you hear from behind you
is is there something I can do for you
right was that the line what was it how
can I help you was it how can I all
right so I will give the
line how can I help you and you tell me
it's all right I'm okay but this first
time you're embarrassed you don't want
anybody to help you you just want to get
out of an uncomfortable social
circumstance ready all right I'll give
you the line and and you'll say it's all
right I'm okay
and what was the line is there something
I can it's by the way this is a problem
when you get a little bit older you
start forgetting though is there
something I can do for you thank you all
right
ready hey is there something I can do
for
you let's try that again all right
you're fallen down feel the pain in your
knee right now actually be rubbing your
knee as I say this okay ready in 3 two 1
hey is there something I can do for you
that's a little loud guys I think you
know you could bring it down just a
little bit just almost be saying it to
yourself is there something I can do for
you okay all right good all right so
what have you learned about yourself
there you could be humiliated the same
time you could be helpful okay now the
next scenario the board person at the
off you have come into City Hall you
know exactly what room you have to be
in uh and yet you're not quite sure if
you have all the correct papers and
you'd like to ask this person in the
booth whose job it is to help you get
through your day when you're right there
but this person has been looking down at
their watch and you are waiting for them
to acknowledge you and they don't they
don't they don't until they look up and
say is there something I can do for you
all right and you're going to
say all right now why would you say that
in this circumstance why would you say
that because you're intimidated because
you've been ashamed by this person
you've been embarrassed by this person
you don't have the social confidence in
order to say yeah I need some help no
you actually got you don't want to be in
more trouble from this lady okay
ready is there something I can do for
you again way too confident folks
imagine imagine you're saying it and
backing away at the same time
ready is there something I can do for
you
good all right all right you've been in
another incredibly uncomfortable
circumstance and if you actually felt
uncomfortable while you're doing that
you've told the truth okay now it's the
last one you are exactly who you are you
look exactly the way you do you're going
into you just going to pick up you know
a packet of crisps and a soda to a a
shop that you're not familiar with and
the person who owns this shop obviously
hates your guts for some reason you have
no idea why you're just the customer
wanting to do it and as soon as they as
soon as they hit you with the this
line is there something I can do for you
you realize that this person looks at me
like I'm the enemy I'm the enemy so the
fact is is that no I'll just pick this
stuff up and I'll pay and I'll get out
of here as soon as I can all right so
that's your that's your circumstance
right now your line again is it's okay
what is it it's all right I'm okay ready
okay
ready is there something I can do for
you
one more time okay uh maybe add just a
tiny bit of moment because it's almost
like he slapped your face you're not
quite sure why you're getting this why
you're getting this attitude from this
person
ready is there something I can do for
you then I'm just going to follow you
around so okay so there you just had
this little acting lesson that leads
into a couple of territories I think
that are
undeniable if you're open to uh the qual
the the ne necessities of telling the
story it's not only an examination of a
social circumstance but it is also a
situation where you the individual the
character gets to participate in an
empathetic
process
because the old the the person who said
can I help you to the old folk that's
just caring for somebody that's actually
kind the person at the information booth
might at the end of that night come back
say why was in such a cranky mood with
that guy last night maybe I should
examine what my own part is and the
shopkeeper said I jumped all over that
guy and he turned out to be a pretty
cool guy he wasn't one of the people
that kind of ripped me off likewise the
old the old person who hurt their knee
came to would go home and say um a young
person just was so kind to me today and
they didn't have to be and I really
appreciate that you actually made my day
the person uh in the uh uh in the city
hall that was bringing in the papers
they say well I ran smack dab into the
man today and guess what the patriarch
is still taking something out of me so
uh I'm I'm going to avoid that person
from now on not have to do it again and
the last one the guy walked into a shop
just said so long em I love you so
much no we're all very busy Emma Watson
ladies and gent I love
[Applause]
you we made a movie together called the
Circle it was one of the most
magnificent times we've
ever yeah take care
[Applause]
darling all right now everybody please
be cool don't try to search Emma out you
know just just acknowledge the fact that
she's here studying and and advancing
the the cor the nature of storytellers
just the same way we all are so what I
was what I wanted to do in that that
basic exercise is you know there's this
old saying that there are no small parts
there are only small actors and if you
go back in the great lexicon of film you
end up can if if you study old movies
you can find these tiny moments where
someone who is great actually has a very
small part in a very big movie you could
you look at Turner Classic films you
probably you know know all these
yourselves sometimes there is just
somebody in a film you just say who is
that and they end up being something
huge and big why because they told the
truth because they actually stretched
the concept of the empathetic moment
that anybody can have in a movie if they
say something so beautifully and so
truthfully so accurately and is so real
even if the lines are only is there
something I can do for you or
it's all right I'm okay you can move
mountains just with those two lines
thanks everybody so now we'll
[Applause]
talk
Voir Plus de Vidéos Connexes
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)