going to leave your comfort zone a bit. And if that means you’re wearing sequins and polyester, then that’s what it means. You gotta sell your character to the audience. If you don’t believe it, they’re not going to. Does everyone understand?”
They all nodded.
“Okay. Now. Let’s get started. Quiet, everyone. This is our first read-through. As we do this, I want you to think through your character, find your characters’ motivation. Why does he say certain things? Why does she act a certain way? I want everybody to concentrate.”
Everybody opened their scripts. But all Lois could think about was how good the sheriff smelled.
C HAPTER 11
“I JUST LOVE THE WAY you say that line,” Lois said, scooting a bit closer to the sheriff.
“Which line?”
“You there. Stop and put your hands up
.”
The sheriff smiled. “I guess it’s because I’ve said that a time or two.” “It comes across so naturally.”
“What did you want to work on? I’m sure I’m the worst actor here. The list could be endless.”
“Oh, you’re not as bad as you think.” Lois slapped his arm. Goodness, there was a lot of solid arm there. She slapped it again, just to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. No, there was indeed an actual muscle bulging. She stood, walked to center stage, and beckoned the sheriff to follow. “Now,” she said, “the thing that I wasn’t quite buying was your affection for Lotus.”
Suck in your gut
.
The sheriff stuck a finger in his ear and wiggled it around nervously. “Yeah. I know this is acting, but I can’t say I’m going to be pulling it off very well. My wife passed on years ago, and I guess I’m out of practice at being a romantic. Plus, Marlee is like a daughter to me. She’s been friends with Ainsley since childhood. I kind of feel weird hitting on her.”
“Understood,” Lois said. “Just remember, it’s pretend. You’re playing a role, so you have to completely enter into the head of Bart, andMarlee is no longer Ainsley’s childhood friend. She is a beautiful middle-aged woman named Lotus with an extra twenty pounds to shed.” “Right.”
“It’ll help when she’s in costume.”
“Okay.”
“Have you ever heard of method acting?”
“No.”
“It’s the way certain actors prepare for certain roles. For instance, if an actor is playing a soldier, he might go to boot camp to see what it’s like.”
The sheriff took his finger out of his ear, checked it for wax, and then stuffed his hand in his jeans pocket.
“So,” Lois continued, “let’s do some method acting. I’m Lotus, you’re Bart. Let’s say we’re standing in the street. We’ve run into each other after the annual fair.”
“That’s not in the script, is it?”
“No, no. See, that’s method acting. You take your character out of the script, put him into a real life situation, and see how he does.”
“Huh.”
“So, let’s say we meet on the street. You’re not expecting to see Lotus. So, what do you say?”
“Hi Lois.”
“Lotus.”
“Hi Lotus.”
“Hi there, Bart. What are you doing out here so late?”
“Lois asked me to stay.”
“You must stay in character. Think of a reason why you’re out here so late.”
The sheriff sighed, looking a little defeated.
Lois whispered, “Like maybe you’re hunting down a bad guy.”
“I’m hunting down a bad guy.” “Oh, my. That sounds dangerous.” “Not really. Nothing dangerous happens around here.” “That’s because we have such a strong and stable sheriff.” Red circles glowed on the sheriff’s cheeks. “I do the best I can, ma’am.
She touched his arm. “Oh, don’t call me ma’am. Call me Lotus.”
“Okay. Lotus.”
“So,” she said, her finger tracing down his arm, “what are you doing now? I don’t see any bad guys around.”
The sheriff pulled at his mustache but seemed to try to stay in character. “I guess nothing.”
“Maybe you could join me for a cup of coffee.”
“Oh. Sure.
They all nodded.
“Okay. Now. Let’s get started. Quiet, everyone. This is our first read-through. As we do this, I want you to think through your character, find your characters’ motivation. Why does he say certain things? Why does she act a certain way? I want everybody to concentrate.”
Everybody opened their scripts. But all Lois could think about was how good the sheriff smelled.
C HAPTER 11
“I JUST LOVE THE WAY you say that line,” Lois said, scooting a bit closer to the sheriff.
“Which line?”
“You there. Stop and put your hands up
.”
The sheriff smiled. “I guess it’s because I’ve said that a time or two.” “It comes across so naturally.”
“What did you want to work on? I’m sure I’m the worst actor here. The list could be endless.”
“Oh, you’re not as bad as you think.” Lois slapped his arm. Goodness, there was a lot of solid arm there. She slapped it again, just to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. No, there was indeed an actual muscle bulging. She stood, walked to center stage, and beckoned the sheriff to follow. “Now,” she said, “the thing that I wasn’t quite buying was your affection for Lotus.”
Suck in your gut
.
The sheriff stuck a finger in his ear and wiggled it around nervously. “Yeah. I know this is acting, but I can’t say I’m going to be pulling it off very well. My wife passed on years ago, and I guess I’m out of practice at being a romantic. Plus, Marlee is like a daughter to me. She’s been friends with Ainsley since childhood. I kind of feel weird hitting on her.”
“Understood,” Lois said. “Just remember, it’s pretend. You’re playing a role, so you have to completely enter into the head of Bart, andMarlee is no longer Ainsley’s childhood friend. She is a beautiful middle-aged woman named Lotus with an extra twenty pounds to shed.” “Right.”
“It’ll help when she’s in costume.”
“Okay.”
“Have you ever heard of method acting?”
“No.”
“It’s the way certain actors prepare for certain roles. For instance, if an actor is playing a soldier, he might go to boot camp to see what it’s like.”
The sheriff took his finger out of his ear, checked it for wax, and then stuffed his hand in his jeans pocket.
“So,” Lois continued, “let’s do some method acting. I’m Lotus, you’re Bart. Let’s say we’re standing in the street. We’ve run into each other after the annual fair.”
“That’s not in the script, is it?”
“No, no. See, that’s method acting. You take your character out of the script, put him into a real life situation, and see how he does.”
“Huh.”
“So, let’s say we meet on the street. You’re not expecting to see Lotus. So, what do you say?”
“Hi Lois.”
“Lotus.”
“Hi Lotus.”
“Hi there, Bart. What are you doing out here so late?”
“Lois asked me to stay.”
“You must stay in character. Think of a reason why you’re out here so late.”
The sheriff sighed, looking a little defeated.
Lois whispered, “Like maybe you’re hunting down a bad guy.”
“I’m hunting down a bad guy.” “Oh, my. That sounds dangerous.” “Not really. Nothing dangerous happens around here.” “That’s because we have such a strong and stable sheriff.” Red circles glowed on the sheriff’s cheeks. “I do the best I can, ma’am.
She touched his arm. “Oh, don’t call me ma’am. Call me Lotus.”
“Okay. Lotus.”
“So,” she said, her finger tracing down his arm, “what are you doing now? I don’t see any bad guys around.”
The sheriff pulled at his mustache but seemed to try to stay in character. “I guess nothing.”
“Maybe you could join me for a cup of coffee.”
“Oh. Sure.
Similar Books
