“Pick It Up”
When a director asks you to “pick it up” they are not always asking you to go faster (though in some cases that is indeed what they want). ‘Pick it up’ is also about the director wanting you to fight harder for your objective. They wisely recognize that this expediency will give the actor the sound and appearance of going faster, which is a far more organic and un-self-conscious way to get the scene to move. Know of course that they have every right to more directly say “Go faster!”
Act on the Line
One of my favorite notes, among the oldest in theatre. This happens a lot with beginning actors. Upon hearing their cue, before they reply, they start pausing and scrunching up their face, going through all ...
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