Archive for November 2015

At the weekend, I was talking to one of my former Ultimate Acting students who is now a pro actor. He said he was working on a job and a crew member asked if he was a method man. He said he was. The reply that came back shocked him. “How long do you method?”…

I don’t particularly like the word “awesome”. Overused and a tad American. Not that I have anything against the Americans. In fact, the opposite is true. I love them. They believe they can do anything Which is why I used the word. You are awesome because I truly believe you are capable of achieving anything…

Mark Rylance (probably the best stage actor ever) had this to say about how Shakespeare is done today in the UK: “It’s too reverent. It is like taking a rap song in 400 years from now that we think is really wonderful and deciding it should be said slowly, so all the lovers of rap…

Now and again, I will get an email from a mush cookie saying that I’m not being fair. It’s usually when I say that acting is not for everyone and definitely not for those that need their tummies tickled on a regular basis. They then say, “But Bri, it’s your job as a teacher to…

One of my favourite film baddies of all time is General Zod. He appears in Superman II and tries to take over the world much to Superman’s chagrin. During the film, Zod makes everyone he can find kneel before him in submission. He gives them a – do as I say or you’re toast look…

What are dreams? Here are some definitions from the dictionary: 1. A series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person’s mind during sleep. 2. A cherished aspiration, ambition, or ideal. 3. An unrealistic or self-deluding fantasy. I don’t particularly like any of these; at least not in relation to achieving something I want.…

Over the last decade, we have seen a mass influx of things that are free of. For example: Gluten Free Dairy Free Wheat Free Sugar Free So, I would like to add an acting one….Emotion Free. Yes, there is acting that goes on that is completely devoid of emotion. You look in their eyes and…

Not so long ago the Turner Prize-winning artist, Grayson Perry, built a house. It’s no run-of-the-mill house; it’s an artistic expression. You can see it here. Grayson got a lot of stick for building this house. Some have criticized it (especially the locals); others love it. Such is the world of art. Grayson was interviewed…

Many moons ago, I was teaching a young lady who (due to her conditioning) found it very difficult to be intimate in her acting. Every time she had to kiss a male actor she would freeze up. I asked her why? She said it was to do with her culture and family upbringing, which would…