The Pre-Production: Jeremiah Comey – Acting Coach

I wanted to create an online resource for Actors. I will be interviewing Directors  Agents, Managers, Actors Casting Directors and Producers I have worked with and love. The goal is to help you be informed and get some great tips and tricks to help you navigate this industry. 

 

Jeremiah was one of my first coaches in LA. He is a good friend and phenomenal coach and I try to jump in to his classes when ever I can.

 

What in your opinion is the most important thing to remember when doing a scene?

Forget acting stay present, listen and react.  Let your instincts carry you through the scene not your thought process.

An actor is  always feeling an emotion. ‘happy, sad, anger, fear or love’ – can you elaborate on what you mean?

An actor is always feeling an emotion.  We can see what a person is feeling, not thinking.  If you are aware of the emotion your partner is having it opens possibilities that you hadn’t thought about.  First you are in the moment because it is a point of focus…  second you are focused on your partner and responding to them not thinking about what you going to do… third  it makes the editors job easer because you are relating…  fourth it allows your instincts to respond, not your logic —what you thought you were going to do,  but a natural honest response.

You have students cold read and go moment to moment and film them in a close up – can you explain the benefits of this technique and what it teaches?

How the eyes tell a story when the actor is perfectly still.  It allows the actor’s emotional power to be the predominate force in the scene.

Best tip for learning lines?

Memorize a scene quickly 10 minutes or less — consistent practice at least once a week.….   do not write…  force your brain to work hard… it is short term memory that you are developing that is about repetition and get harder as you get older…  So you must stay on top of it.

I loved working with you because of your amazing energy, how important is that when you are working?

If you are not in a heightened adrenaline state when you act… you won’t be emotional… This is not logical— walking out on stage in font of a audience is insane— that fear is what allowed you to be brilliant.  It is your friend not your enemy.  If this isn’t the most exciting thing you do —— get another profession.

What is the most challenging obstacle in your opinion to overcome when it comes to acting as a profession?

Understanding the differences between the business and the Art..  How to separate them and understand what you have to do to make a living and develop you artistic ability.

How important is good chemistry and can you fake it?

Relating will help you more that anything else… Don’t judge the other actor.  Be a giving actor.  The audience will understand that.

You really helped me recognize an emotion in a scene partner and ‘speak’ to that – can you explain this?

It is the essence of all acting relating but we have lost this art because of cell phones and text messages and social influences..  Locking on the the other actors emotions  get us back to our primeval self and allows us to relate on a very basic level.

One piece of advice for tackling a comedy scene?

Get coached.   Comedy is planed you need to find out where the comedy is in the scene.  What are the the comedy lines, and how do you deliver them— keep the spontaneious and not deliver the humor.   Rehearse.

One piece of advice for tackling a drama scene?

You go to a class the allows you be be spontaneous and creative..    So you  can work creatively off the other actor.

 

 

If you have any questions about the industry you want answered make sure you email [email protected] and I will do my best to answer them or find the best person to interview on your behalf.

xx

 

 

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Kimberley Crossman

Kimberley Crossman is a kiwi actress, author, and presenter. Oh and you are currently on her website reading a blog she has written.