This weekend I attended the Woodstock Film
Festival. My favorite part of this festival is the Actor Dialogue Panel.
Every year the panel is moderated by
Martha Frankel and this year’s panel of actors included Stephen Dorff and Golden
Globe winner, Andy Garcia.
Both actors were engaging, funny, and
charming. And, oh yeah, handsome too. Both are romance novel hero worthy… in
fact… wait a second … swoon … *THUD*
But seriously, as a writer I think it’s
interesting to hear actors talk about their craft. After all they are
interpreting the written word.
Garcia and Dorff both look for great
writing.
Garcia says, “If you have a great script,
you’ll attract great actors.”
Vera Farmiga, Garcia’s co-star of At
Middleton, said at the screening. “The writing is everything…… a beautifully crafted script makes it
easy.” (also said working with Andy 'is like doing the Argentine Tango')
Dorff said the script to The Motel Life
was so wonderful that “he fought for the role.”
These are independent films, folks. They
are not breaking the bank by acting in these films yet they will fight to be in it because the writing is powerful.
When fighting for roles both actors would
go to the audition ‘in character’. Garcia says, “Assume you are not going to get
it. But go all out. Even if you don’t get the part they’ll be ‘Wow’ and put you
into their ‘go to file’ for something else.”
Garcia likes directors who encourage you
to experiment. He calls it a “Free actors take.” He says, (and I’m
paraphrasing here… “Don’t worry about the end result …. Do not judge the work
while gathering information…. Can lead to happy accidents.”
This is great writing advice as well.
Write the scene in a different way. Have your character do something
outlandish. You can always go back or it could change everything.
Garcia said that the “big studio films
play to demographics… a film is edited to a focus group…. In independent films
no one cares what you’re doing, it’s not about focus groups… independent films free the creative
process.
Garcia’s advice for young actors?
“Preparation. Learn your craft.” Sage advice for actors and writers.
Dorff says, “Do it because you love it.
Not for the fame, or the perks.”
That’s why I write, because I love it.
Maybe there will come a day when one of my books is made into a film. Josh Holloway may have been my inspiration for Russ Rowland in Love By Design but if Stephen Dorff wants the role then who am I to say no...then again...let him fight for it. Oh yeah.
