Oscar winning actor & writer Tom Hanks gives the Oxford Union an acting lesson

Summary

In 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

• 🎭 The importance of overcoming self-consciousness in acting to deliver authentic performances.
• 🔄 The exercise of 'repetitions' is used in acting classes to break down self-consciousness and explore different interpretations of a line.
• 🗣️ The significance of delivering lines truthfully, regardless of the character's emotions or circumstances, as emphasized by Spencer Tracy's quote.
• 🌟 Every actor, regardless of the size of their role, has the potential to impact the audience through genuine and empathetic portrayals.
• 📍 The concept of 'hitting the marks and telling the truth' as a fundamental acting principle that requires both technical and emotional accuracy.
• 🤔 The exploration of how different circumstances can influence the delivery of the same line, showcasing the versatility required in acting.
• 🏪 The example of a shopkeeper dealing with potential thieves to illustrate how an actor can portray a range of emotions, including suspicion and anger.
• 👵 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.
• 🏛️ 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.
• 🎬 The emphasis on the importance of procedure and behavior in acting to create believable characters that resonate with the audience.
• 🌈 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

00:00

🎭 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.

05:01

🌐 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.

10:02

🤹‍♂️ 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.

15:04

🎬 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.

Keywords

💡Self-consciousness

Self-consciousness refers to the state of being overly aware of one's own appearance, actions, or presence. In the video, it is mentioned as a hurdle actors must overcome to perform naturally. The script illustrates this by emphasizing the need for actors to not care about how they look or sound, focusing instead on delivering their lines truthfully.

💡Repetitions

Repetitions, in the context of acting, is an exercise where a line is said in various ways to break down self-consciousness and explore different emotional deliveries. The video uses this exercise to demonstrate how the same line 'is there something I can do for you' can be interpreted differently based on the character's emotions and circumstances.

💡Truthful Performance

A truthful performance in acting means portraying emotions and reactions that are genuine and believable to the audience. The video emphasizes this by stating that regardless of the line or circumstance, actors must 'tell the truth' in their delivery, as exemplified by the exercise of repeating a line with various emotional nuances.

💡Cadence

Cadence refers to the rhythm and tempo of speech. The script mentions ringing out every possible cadence of a line to explore different ways of delivering dialogue. This exploration is crucial for actors to understand how varying the cadence can change the impact of a line.

💡Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. The video script discusses how acting can involve an empathetic process, where characters respond to situations with genuine care, boredom, or anger, allowing the audience to connect emotionally with the characters' experiences.

💡Behavior

Behavior in the script refers to the actions and responses that characters exhibit based on their roles and circumstances. It is highlighted as a critical aspect of acting, where adhering to the character's behavior is essential for creating a believable performance.

💡Procedure

Procedure denotes the established way of doing something, and in acting, it relates to the specific actions or methods a character follows in a scene. The video emphasizes the importance of following the character's procedure to create a realistic and engaging performance.

💡Social Circumstance

Social circumstance refers to the context or situation within which social interactions occur. The script uses different scenarios to illustrate how the same line can have different meanings based on the social circumstances of the characters involved.

💡Character

A character in this video represents a role or person in a story that an actor portrays. The script discusses how actors must understand and embody their characters to deliver lines with authenticity, reflecting the characters' emotions and reactions accurately.

💡Storytellers

Storytellers are individuals who convey stories, which in the context of the video, includes actors, directors, and writers. The video script touches upon the role of storytellers in creating an empathetic connection with the audience through the truthful and believable portrayal of characters and their experiences.

💡Empathetic Moment

An empathetic moment is a point in a performance where the audience can deeply relate to and feel the emotions of the characters. The video script discusses how even small parts or lines, when delivered with truth and accuracy, can create powerful empathetic moments that resonate with the audience.

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