Final Scream Queen Observations

This week was the season finale of Scream Queens. Meaning final blog post on my acting observations of the show. (Will try to do recap of top observations over the season in later post.) What did I take away from the last episode?

Remember who the character is. And I do not mean calling yourself "Detective Smith" when your character is "Agent Jones". Although that is probably important. The next to last director's challenge involved the actresses:

• Getting call from creepy guy
• Getting grabbed by creepy guy
• Being chased by creepy guy
• Knocking creepy guy out
• Telling creepy guy he called the wrong girl

The direction was "we want to see a survivor". One actress played the character as a victim. She was eliminated. The judges put it this way. Horror is to film what rock-n-roll is to music. The victim portrayal was classical music.

The technical aspect is important. While you do not want to do a slow-mo thing, you do not want to go as fast as you would if you were actually being chased by a creepy guy. The guy with the camera sets the pace. If the camera didn't catch it, it doesn't count.

Have confidence in yourself. One actress was just not sure how she did. When the other two actresses felt good about their performances, she was nervous. Turns out she should not have been. She was not eliminated. Should the one eliminated have been concerned about her performance? No. Her performance, per say, wasn't bad, just not what they were looking for in this case.

Since this was a contest to be in Saw 3D, all the usual needs of the production came into play. Just replayed the final challenge for a fresh look and to see what the judges saw. I have to agree with their decision. While both actresses did well, one looked like she belonged in the role. I saw the character not the actress in her case.

Until the part is cast, you never know. When they announced the winner, the actress who won didn't respond at first. Then is was a genuinely surprised "Me?" Followed by words to the effect that she did not expect to win. The other actress, in the video diaries they keep, mentioned she was surprised she didn't win. The winner's comment about the contest was that it was so hard. All the other actresses were constantly saying she would be the next to go home. They were wrong.

Scream Queen Observations.

This Scream Queen acting observations blog is about focus and confidence.

Last SQ blog mentioned an actress doing "actor mind games" and how the judges called her on her overacting. She was trying to figure out what had caused her to lose it (she had been getting top actress at the beginning of the competition) and realized it was because she was busy playing mind games. Didn't exactly phrase it that way, but...

In the ex-safe from elimination challenge the task was to play someone performing a seance and becoming possessed by the ghost of the town tramp. One actress decided to take it a different direction from playing sexy. She approached it as if it was not a deserved reputation, but was due to the lies of a spurned lover. Hers was the best. Make choices that are not the obvious choice, but not too far into left field. Playing the tramp sexy is an obvious choice and the majority will make said choice. The aforementioned actress made a choice which was not so obvious but still believable. If she had decided to make the town tramp a nun, I would think she got the wrong sides or something.

In the skills class, the task was to learn how to play drunk. Of course, actually being drunk on set is not a viable option. One of the things the actresses do is practice the new skill. One actress was so afraid of overdoing it that she played it too safe and lost her drunkenness. She was really upset with herself and was allowed to do it again. This upset another actress because she felt you should get one shot. (This actress had gone between the other actress' two times and they had been given the same scenario to play.) So the actress felt like "yeah let her go again after I show how to do it". The coach pointed out that it was her lack of confidence that was causing her to be upset. And he was more likely to remember her outburst than her performance - which was good.

In the director's challenge, the task was to play an insane person. One actress decided to just trust her instincts. In other words, she decided to just react to what was given her. This does not mean she had scanned the script a couple of times and was winging it. She still did all those things one should do when preparing to perform. But she let it all go (at least from her conscience, sure it was at work at the sub-conscience level) and allowed herself to be in the moment. The only adjustment she was given was to amp the emotions up. She got leading lady.

By the way, the preparing well and allowing myself to be in the moment is the approach I try to use whether it is at an audition or on set.

One actress made a choice - play the insane person quirky - and committed to it. However, quirky was not a good choice. Disturbing? Perhaps, but if I was a judge, I would not buy her insanity plea. Another actress had some good choices, but was so concerned with performing well that she was unable to commit. The unable to commit got the axe. Weak choice was at the bottom. The judges were impressed by her commitment to her choice. It showed confidence.

Scream Queen Acting Observations

Time for another blog on acting tips I observed watching Scream Queens 2. This week we cover making strong, good acting choices; being organic; and mind games. Also a note on scene partners.

Strong, good acting choices: For this I will compare the performances of two actresses in the director's challenge. This week the actresses had to perform where they were attacked by a ghost. Actress one was told previously to stop playing it safe. She stepped it up. The only reason she was not named the week's leading actress was due to her work earlier in the week. Actress two had been told her acting choices were weak. This week was an example of weak acting and it resulted in the axe. (That means she was eliminated.) Being attacked by a ghost means being thrown around. The director had to bite his lip to keep from laughing at her being thrown around choreography. No pun intended but nothing will kill a horror film faster than the audience laughing. I suppose if the contest was for a remake of Beetlejuice...

Being organic: I will compare another two actresses in the director's challenge. The only mark they had to hit was ending at a particular spot. One actress overacted. She was making all sorts of facial expressions and hand gestures. The result was the actress putting on a performance. The other actress decided she was going to reach the mark organically and did not preplan the attack. She simply let the moment takeover. She was told her performance was completely believable. The result was the character being attacked by a ghost.

Mind games: Overact actress has a history of attacking organic actress (being organic example)verbally regarding her acting ability. After the director's challenge when the actresses were back at their house, overact said organic's performance was the worst. Overact would probably say that if organic's performance was Oscar level. Organic is taking overact's comments personally.

Remember my mentioning made the director laugh actress getting the axe? All previous weeks the decision had been unanimous. This week the decision was split. Guess who got that one descending vote for elimination. That's right, Miss Overact. I suspect next week's episode will involve some proverbial crow eating.

I already mentioned the ghost in the director's challenge. This meant the actresses had to use their imagination. The safe from elimination challenge which no longer guarantees a callback involved green screen work. Just the actress, the green screen and marks (in this case a floating ball) to help with eye line. While few of us are likely to have an opportunity to co-star with a ghost it is a safe bet any actor in the business long enough will end up in front of a green screen.

Scream Queen Observations

This week's Scream Queen observations:

The further you get in the process, the better you need to be. The safe from elimination round is still taking place, but the winner is no longer safe from elimination. Your audition delivery might get you a callback, however, your audition delivery at the third round of callbacks probably will not be good enough. I don't mean totally change up your character choices. I mean have it polished.

Do not be safe...when making character choices. Making the safe choice only results in being safe from being cast. Make a strong choice and go for it. And don't worry about what choice the powers that be are hoping to see. As long as it is a strong choice that is appropriate for the character in that scene it will be what they are hoping to see. Even if it is a choice they had not thought of. Naturally, you should keep yourself flexible enough that if given more character info in the audition room or you are given an adjustment, you will be able to incorporate it.

There are two memorable performances: Strong and in the proverbial left field. At the no longer a safe from elimination challenge, the task was to be a zombie escaping from a coffin and going to a rock. What zombie movie style (Zombieland, 28 Days) the actress's zombie best fits was up to the actress. Left Field was so concerned about making a stand out choice she forgot the character. Her choice was a Wayne's World inspired rock musician. No zombie in her performance. Strong kept in mind the goal or intention of zombies. Find brains to eat. She visualized victims. The other actresses concentrated on how does a zombie walk.

Remember the character's intent. The person judging the contest in the contest mention in the previous paragraph was able to see the hunger in Strong's performance, but not the others. Her actions were basically the same as the others. There was no one actually playing a victim and she did not eat a pretend victims brains. She did not do "I am hungry" physicalities. Her intent on finding brains to eat and visualizing victims resulted in those watching seeing hungry.

There are multiple levels to you. Don't play the character at one level. If your character is a nerd, your character is not just a nerd. There's sexy nerd, introverted nerd...

Knowing how to do the technical things like hitting your mark is just as important as making a strong choice. One actress doing the now poorly named elimination safe challenge looked at the mark eight times. Any more she probably would have gotten whiplash. She was told it would be terrible if she turned out to be the best actress, but didn't get it because she did not know how to deal with the technical aspects.

Scream Queen Observations

This weeks Scream Queens was about sexuality.

The biggest tip was not to try to be sexy. I suppose if you are playing an incompetent prostitute... Sexual is not about arousal. It is about confidence. The actress who won the elimination challenge focus on the horror aspect. She said she tuned everything else out and visualized her victim. Other actresses concentrated on how to come across sexy.

One actress seems to be hot one day and cold the next when dealing with the technical aspects. She was called out on it and was basically told she was out of time. Wasn't eliminated, but suspect, baring elimination immunity or another actress majorly screwing up, she will be going home the next cold spell.

Scream Queen Acting Observations

Wasn't able to watch last week's Scream Queens due to DVRing issues until last night. Anyway, the acting observations I made deal with attitude and taking on the character.

The exercise for the week was crying on cue. First round, no tears. They were all trying to cry. Anyone ever try to cry? NO! Trying to cry because the script says your character cries does not count. The character wouldn't be trying to squeeze out a tear. The circumstances are what produces the tear. The character is crying because her puppy died or her long lost brother returned home. Second round, the actresses were given an emotional story to personalize. Personalize because, well, we have all driven past accident scenes. Probably glanced over out of curiosity, thought how terrible and went about our day. I highly doubt that would be the response if we realized that smashed up car belonged to a loved one.

One actress was in the bottom the first two weeks. This week she won both the elimination safe challenge and the performance challenge. Winning both for the week is a rarity. The difference? She incorporated what the judges told her and put herself into the character. The actress that went home was overacting. I don't mean broad gestures for a close-up overacting. I mean a watch my pieces of business to stand out overacting. The difference was the attitude of these two actresses. The first had an attitude of I am going to take what I've been told and I am going to improve myself. The result was the first delivering a performance that greatly exceeded what she was capable of delivering just the previous week. The second had an attitude of how can I stand out and deliver what they want. The result was the second putting off nervous energy.

Scream Queen Observations

This weeks Scream Queens acting observations: (Heavy on character choices.)

1. It is not necessary to play yourself. This week was playing the evil woman. I'm going to assume that all the contestants are actually very nice people. One actress was unable to commit to the character because she did not have the experience to draw on. So...you've never attacked someone with a knife or questioned their right to exist to their face? I would hope not! Like the coach said during the class: "It doesn't have to be true."

2. Subsequent notes from observation #1: Drawing on personal experience is great, but it nor any other method is a catch all for all character development. Also, what is said during the acting exercise is not necessarily the speaker's true feelings. The recipient should realize this and leave it in the room. (Even if it is true and negative...so what!)

3. If the scene ends with you killing your date, don't start out psycho. No one is going to go home with psycho. I don't care what they are sexually into. The audience needs to believe that your date would be there. Start out as someone who is likely to get a date home. (That does not necessarily mean be sexy.)

4. If you have a strong accent or dialect, work on getting rid of it. It will draw the audience out of the scene. Granted, if it is clearly established that the character is from that area, the accent/dialect might work. But it would be limiting.

5. Just because you have consistently brought good acting to the table does not mean you can relax. You should be striving for great, to bring more to the table. Those actors not up to your level are working on improving their skills. If you're not doing likewise, you will soon be asking them for advice on taking your career to the next level.

6. Be bold in making character choices. It is better to make a wrong choice than no choice. Of course, a good choice is even better. One actress played the scene referenced in #3 in a way that made the judges think of the psycho as a Hannah Montana type. Bad acting choice. If it had been a Miley Cyrus type...Just kidding. Another did not commit to any choice. Guess who went home: consistently making bad character choices or doesn't make a choice. HINT: Refer to second sentence in paragraph.

Acting Observations from Scream Queens

Set the DVR to record VH1's Scream Queens. Why? Because it is great for picking up or reconfirming acting tips, etc. OK, I admit, watching scream princesses compete to become queen is on the enjoyable side. But that would be a if I happen to catch it scenario. And there are many reasons, all irrelevant to this blog, that I might miss the actual airing. For those unfamiliar w/the format, there is two challenges, the safe from elimination contest, and the challenge to see who gets eliminated and who is queen of the week. Also, an acting class. The contestants get to watch each other - either in the room or on monitors in another room.

Acting observations, etc. from the pilot episode:

1. Remember what the scene is about. If you wake up from a Freddy Kruger-ish dream and discover your significant other is not in bed, don't make where's my S.O. the main focus. Oh, you're being attacked by Freddy. I wonder where your lover is is probably not the audience reaction to go for.

2. As an actor you know what is going to happen. The character does not. Using the Freddy example, until Freddy actually reaches out, the character thinks it was a dream and they are awake. It is important to convey the character's knowledge, not the actor's.

3. Actors do play mind games with each other. I saw this in the safe from elimination challenge results. One actress decided to point out to the winner why her winning the challenge was a minor success (she was safe from elimination for the week after all) and not something to build up her acting confidence.

4. When you are on set, be on set. False starting several times is probably not a good thing. Hint: The correct start time is when the director says "action". Yes, that actually happened. It was the safe from elimination contestant. The judges pointed out that normally it would result in calls to get you replaced. Also, be able to register when the director explains the shot, gives adjustments, etc.

5. Leave the character some place to go. If the scene is you walking into a room looking for your S.O. and discovering that your S.O. is part of a Satanic cult, do not walk in like you are expecting to find something bad. One actress decided to enter like her boyfriend had run into the room wearing nothing but whip cream. She went into the room happy. Other actresses entered like they heard a noise and where looking for a prowler. Whip cream actress was named queen of the week. (I'm pretty sure this involves things other than bragging rights, but can't remember what.)