The Real Life Actor: Recent Episodes
Jeff Seymour
Jeff Seymour, acting coach of 41 years and author of 'The Real Life Actor' talks acting and the business.
Jeff explains why live auditions aren't coming back and offers some great tips to get the most out of your self tapes.
Jeff discusses the best headspace to be in when you're working and why it's so important.
Jeff shares some lessons learned while doing 8 shows a week in Prayer for the French Republic at The Manhattan Theatre Club in New York City.
Jeff shares his insights from his current job performing on stage at The Manhattan Theatre club in New York City.
Jeff scores a big job in the New York theatre and discusses what he’s observing and learning.
Regarding the choices an actor can make for character and scene, Jeff explains the need to consider the overall story and a simple rule to follow.
Jeff explains the best way to stay in the scene and express the feelings you’re supposed to be feeling.
Jeff discusses the best way to rehearse, scenes with love interest and the phrase, “I could have done better."
Jeff continues his new weekly series with observations about actors throwing their face into neutral, being interesting, and beautiful people and humor.
In this new series Jeff will discuss topics and lessons learned from his previous week of Zoom sessions. Fresh insights every week in this new weekly series!
Jeff explains why it's more important to understand the why of your actions, than it is to focus on how it’ll manifest in your performance.
Plus, another great exercise.
Jeff discusses the counter productive notion of constantly questioning your own believability.
Jeff shares observations and advice on how to approach a monologues after a week of his new Zoom classes on monologues.
Jeff introduces the new Q&A series, discusses his online training format and talks about the crazy times, we’re in.
Jeff breaks down a scene from “The Talented Mr. Ripley” to show how you can use your instincts to better understand a scene.
Most actors suffer from getting distracted by how they’re doing while they’re acting. Jeff provides the remedy.
Stop concerning yourself with your headspace and just get on with making your points. Everything will fall into place.
Jeff discusses the importance of never focusing on the notes you plan to hit, but rather the path to those notes.
Jeff goes over the best way to care about the thing we’re supposed to care about in a scene by making it a personal issue, not an acting issue.
Jeff puts you in a scene and takes you through it, pointing out the things an actor should be concerned with and focused on.
Jeff explains why being generous to fellow artists with support and compliments will make you a more confident actor.
Actors need to loosen up on the reins a little and stop taking redirects and criticisms so personally. There is more power in being fluid. Learn to relax your grip on your one idea.
Actor’s seem to be forever struggling with staying in a scene. Jeff offers up some great advice as to how you can keep your mind exactly where it needs to be.
Jeff has covered this topic before but some lessons bear repeating. He hits it from a slightly different angle in order to drive his point home.
All the things you want to avoid from the moment you get your audition, all the way through to the ride home.
Jeff addresses the actor’s compulsion to make sure the audience gets every little thing and why it’s a huge mistake.
Acting is the definition of this word and it is the single most important ability the actor must have.
Jeff breaks down a scene from The Savages and gives a great demonstration on focusing on the info that will make it much easier for an actor to “own” the material.
Jeff speaks to the frustrations of 3 different actors and reminds them to always trust their instincts.
Jeff answers a listener’s question. What is the best way to handle direction, on the set, when it goes opposite to what you had prepared?
Wrapping up a year that seemed to go by for too quickly and why that probably is. Getting more done in 2019 by slowing things down.
Jeff answers a listener's question. Here is the best way to keep your performance from getting stale or becoming robotic.
It’s a common mistake. Actors focus too much on the medium and not enough on the message.
We've all heard it. It's that sage advice casting directors love to offer, "make interesting choices, be unique, dare to be different." But how? what does it all mean?
Backstories are very important but the actor needs to know the difference between what is playable and what is not. Here is a good explanation.
You've heard the phrase, but what exactly does it mean and what is your best course of action?
Don't waste your time trying to justify your commitment to an action in a scene. Just accept it. It's simply what you do and who you are.
Two weeks of teaching 2 classes a day in Toronto lead to these observations and to one of the most astonishing break throughs I've ever seen.
Known for her incredible, award winning performance as Katie Benedetto, in The Fall, Aisling talks about her, "lucky" career. It's the type of lucky that usually accompanies major talent and Aisling is a major talent. She's also delightfully humble.
Here is a very useful tool, to use when needed, in order to get a deeper, more visceral understanding of your scene.
The winning attitude, grace and on set manners that make a set run smoother and enhance creativity.
What are the benefits of continuing to train even if you're currently managing to work on a fairly regular basis? Are there any?
In his continuing effort to bring about change in the way acting is taught, Jeff offers up an acting experiment.
Once again, Jeff shows how he coaches an actor in an audition scene without ever discussing acting, just real life.
Jeff explains the difference between trying to get your scene "right," and honestly pursuing the truth.
Jeff talks about the importance of not complaining about how hard the industry is to break into. It's supposed to be hard. And if you do make it, stop talking about it. It's bad form.
Jeff offers up a challenge. If you really want to improve your skills and you're enjoying these podcasts, shouldn't you want to see the approach in practice, live?
Once again, Jeff uses a recent audition coaching to give a great example of how to better understand and fully comprehend a scene. He reads through the scene, taking you step by step through the thought process.
All the acting classes that make you blindly follow the leader through a myriad of nonsense acting exercises that cram you further down the rabbit hole of bullshit. BUYER BEWARE!
Constantly honing and refining your acting skills is the best way to get where you want to go. It'll also keep you centered and confident. Remember; we are students for life.
Jeff explains why substitution, like many old school methods, ends up disempowering the actor.
Jeff addresses the tricky business of delivering the written script as though it was what you were going to say anyway. It's a simple change in perspective and easier than you think.
Jeff continues to chip away at traditional training nonsense and presents a solid case for the freedom and power you achieve in using The Real Life Actor approach. Word, indeed.
The actor's quest to conjure the appropriate feelings when needed is far easier than you think. Ultimately, it's lightening fast and super easy. Just like in real life.
Jeff dispels the myth of that final moment when we, "get into character." It's just another bullshit belief that suckers actors into getting far too deep into their heads.
Once again, Jeff uses a recent training session with one of his students to offer a great example of the best way to approach and own your scene.
Here is a great example taken from a recent Skype lesson with a student. The things actors worry about and shouldn't and the things actors don't think about and should.
Those classes that challenge the actor's commitment by seeing who will make out the hardest and tell their deepest darkest secrets. It's a bullshit lure to keep you in the class. How is this getting you to improve as an actor?
Jeff offers up some great insight as to what we're really after when we share tragic stories. He also answers questions from Carla in Paris and Kieren in the UK.
That dreaded feeling of inhibition when you're acting. Jeff goes over what an actor is actually experiencing and what to do about it.
Jeff describes the difference between being a professional and a poser. He also rants about old school acting nonsense that isn't going the way of the dinosaur fast enough.
This podcast was inspired by a series of questions from, Jason, a twitter follower and the helpful comments from other followers on The Real Life Actor twitter page.
Jeff takes you through a coaching session he did in order to show why the Real Life Actor approach is so effective at getting an authentic performance.
Many nightmare actors think they're dreamy to work with. Their irritating behavior can be subtle but never subtle to the director. Here are some do's and don'ts.
Too often, actors get stuck in classes where their forward progress stops and yet, for some strange reason, they don't stop taking the class. In an industry as competitive as show business, you need to be constantly sharpening your skills and as quickly as possible.
Some are born with this ability, others need to develop it. For actors, this awareness is everything.
This refers to anything you've been told you need to do, before you get up to act. Anything other than knowing your lines and what you're talking about, that is.
Jeff discusses how to approach any performance where it's just you and the audience and the best way to stay in that sweet groove of story telling. He also talks about classes where actors also critique.
Here is a cornucopia of advice and added clarity inspired by listeners questions and comments.
After all is said and done, what is the best way to authentically own your character's dilemma and emotion? As always, Jeff refers to the book of life.
Why do we continue to use acting methods and exercises created 70 years ago? Perhaps it time to move on.
Having too many thoughts in your head can hamper a spontaneous performance. Here are some strong reasons why.
Jeff makes a solid argument why actors must avoid rehearsing with their scene partners, on their own. It's a very bad habit that should be avoided at all costs.
I had the pleasure of sitting with David, and discussing how he got started in the business, his amazing career and his work on the new Doug Liman TV project, Impulse. Very inspiring!
Here's everything you need to know about Casting Director workshops. The good, the bad and the ugly.
The best way to find authenticity in characters outside of your wheelhouse. Powerful stuff.
Jeff continues to make his case for why acting techniques will give you more grief than anything else.
Jeff interviews Jenna Fischer about her wonderful new book for actors, The Actor's Life, a survival guide. This is the new must have book for any actor getting into the business!
Jeff answers four great questions from listeners including, what work can an actor do on a daily basis to improve, approaching characters very different from who we are, turning off overwhelming emotion, and acting classes that might be subtly useless.
Jeff addresses this often asked question by listing the best ways to approach and the best way to assess solid work.
Once again, Jeff takes off the gloves and goes after the nonsense taught in acting classes.
Once again, Jeff makes a strong case for why actors need to stop approaching their scenes thinking like actors.
Jeff interviews the inspiring, international best selling author, Steven Pressfield. He is the author of War of Art, The Legend of Bagger Vance, Gates of Fire, Tides of War, among many others.
Jeff addresses a listeners concerns over an audition and lays out details for the new Real Life Actor online training program. If you've wanted to train with Jeff, here's your opportunity!
The things to think about when thinking about getting into the business. Food for thought. Yum.