When you land a small role, you might think it’s inconsequential and want something more substantial. Perhaps the shoot spans three months, or it's for a TV series where your presence is required only for a day. This might make you feel like you're not truly part of the team. You may not even have the chance to work directly with the director, which can be quite disappointing.
You might receive limited information about the character you are to play, or have just a few lines without clear directions on what is expected. This can be deeply unsatisfying, especially if you feel your impact on the audience will be negligible.
Having trained extensively for larger, more substantial roles, you may find these smaller parts somewhat disorienting.
When you watch my training below you will discover that the challenge with small roles is that they are often viewed merely as 'roles' rather than as representations of complete human beings living through specific circumstances. No matter how minor these circumstances, every role encapsulates a full human being whose life intersects with the storyline at a pivotal moment.
How you perceive these roles fundamentally affects how challenging or rewarding it is to connect with and embody these characters. It all comes down to how deeply you can engage with your own humanity.
If you lack a deep connection with your instrument –your soul, emotions, energy, and body—you may find yourself relying on your mask. You might operate from a place of ego, trying to compensate for the lack of authenticity. This approach, focused on looking good and impressing others, seldom makes a meaningful impression on casting directors or audiences.
Conversely, small roles provide a unique opportunity for creativity. With scant background details, you are free to infuse the role with personal meaning and authenticity. This approach allows you to deliver a performance that is not only true to life but also enriching and compelling.
In conclusion, every role, no matter how small, is a chance to bring your entire self to the performance. This mindset is crucial to prevent underestimating the role’s significance. Each character is a real person undergoing real experiences, captured briefly by the camera.
Watch my training below to hear all my thoughts on this topic
After you watch the training, I'd love for you to join in the conversation happening in our private Facebook Group THE INSTINCTIVE ACTORS' SOCIETY. You can get answers for your specific situation directly from me and connect with THOUSANDS of like-minded actors across the globe, so we can move things forward faster together.
If you're not already a member, be sure to request to join ASAP here.
See you there!
Jo Kelly
Creator, The Reset Journey From Resistance to Freedom
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