I want to talk to you about “automaticity,” and going on automatic during auditions. Sometimes we feel protected if we think we know what we’re doing and we can do it consistently in the same way. We feel protected from making a mistake or being caught off guard. And therefore we use this as a device rather than simply being there, willing to respond to whatever may be occurring.
This isn’t limited to auditions by the way. We have certain places that are “go-to” places. So, when I get nervous, I go on automatic and produce the scene in the way I’ve learned it. Right? Or, if I’m not certain, I have my go-to place and other devices that have worked in the past that will save me. They just automatically kick in and I feel protected.
In any rehearsal, it’s better to say out loud what you’re feeling to the other person as part of the scene:
“I’m stuck. I don’t know what to say to you. I’m totally thrown. I’m blank.”
Anything that may be occurring. What that does is start to break the automaticity. Do you understand? Otherwise, you stay in it.
Do you know what a circuit is? It’s a circular journey beginning and ending at the same place. It goes like that and back around again. And then — around again. That’s a circuit. It’s on automatic. So an actor can develop circuits, which are automaticities that don’t serve him or the scene. And in different scenarios, those circuits come into play without him knowing it. You can hit something uncomfortable in the work and rather than dealing with that discomfort (which actually could be part of the scene), you inadvertently let the circuit take over. Do you see how this works?
As actors, you have an opportunity to take this up in scene study class or private coaching and address it. Just jump in and go after it rather than feeling awkward or shy about it and never dealing with it. These things hurt you in your scene work, your auditions and on set.
Often, when you learn a scene, you learn it in a specific way and it goes on automatic. How many times have you ever done a scene in an office for an audition and at the end of the audition you don’t know what you really did? Raise your hand if that’s ever happened. You sort of went through it and it’s over and you have no idea what just happened there.
Okay. Something automatic took over. Have you ever driven car and arrived at your destination and gone, “How did I get here?”
Yes. Raise your hand. Yes. Okay. Good. That’s an automaticity.
Okay. So, we want to start to break those automaticities. I want you to explore new territory that will bring out new things from you — terror, laughter, confusion, raw emotion or just about anything else that may come up. It’s a sign that circuits are being broken when real emotion comes up and takes it place. We’re stripping whatever is on automatic and replacing it with your talent and ability to be fearless and unpredictable in your choices.
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