Don’t turn up.

Inspired by direction from Theo Bhat
Original Vid: Share your Wisdom
Original Music: Animus 1 by Arctica

Why does Rice play Texas?

I find it tricky to answer the question “Why did you want to become an actor?”

Fame? Probably

Money? Probably

Approval? Do bears shit on the pope.

How I actually became an actor is a little easier to answer.

Luck. Yup

Circumstance. Yup.

Ambition. Go on, why not.

But why I’m still here is the easiest.

Why does Rice play Texas?

To myself:

Push your limits until you start thinking there might be a risk of death.

Not “Oh, shit, I am about to die”.

Just when death starts floating across you mind.

Watch it there

Pull back, watch it leave

Then push on and greet it again.

I am in control.

I am sure of it.

I am not what you expected.

Who do you see staring back at you?

You have no fucking idea.

There are things out there that are far beyond our comprehension.

Just imagine what early Sapiens would have thought if they saw electricity, or nuclear, or someone using their phone to watch a video that teaches them to program a computer. Whilst they fly a rocket ship with their mind.

I feel great comfort at what we have to come.

Lose your headphones 3 minutes before arrival. 

Then have a chit-chat with a person. 

Just to remind yourself you can.

Today I went to an audition for the first play I’ve been excited about in a year and a half. 

It was almost a success.

Except I arrived a week early.

Idiot.

Mild Relief.

As I came out of the theatre’s toilet, I happened across a corridor. Lined with pictures of past productions, past greats, and, because it’s Hampstead, past risks. It took me 15 mins to leave.

I felt more refreshed and energized than I have ever felt coming out of a toilet corridor.

I’d forgotten. What it means to take risks. To get it wrong. To say fuck you. This is me. This is us. People standing there, in front of you, saying, I will not be cowed. I will fly.

Success.

Good thing I arrived early.

Outloud – what’s your phone number?

If you know your lines so well you can reel them off like you just did your number, you will have done 95% of the acting work that is required of you.

Tell me that number again.

The other 5% of the work is what gets talked about in Oscar campaigns, and we can get to that after – but it’s mainly chalk.

Learn your friggin lines.

I used to think I learned my lines well. But I had been doing it wrong for almost 10 years. Now I try to know them as well as I know my own date of birth. 19th of shut the hell up.

Learn your lines, then learn them again. Then, start learning them. Then you are 50% of the way to arriving at a place where you can begin to learn them. Then you should actually learn them.

What’s that phone number again – this time please in a Scottish accent whilst imagining throwing your phone at the face of the person who’s closest in the room to you. Then slap your butt.

Learn your lines like you’ve known them your whole life.

Only once you’ve done that, can you start mucking about.

But don’t learn them for self tapes.