Viola Davis, a Master of Arc

Dear actors,

Let’s study a master of arc…the esteemed and full-out-every-single-time, Viola Davis.

How does she get from here…

to here…

to here…

in one film…

shot out of sequence…

How does she do it so beautifully? Pitch perfect.

It actually takes planning and tons of prep.

First, watch Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Then…

Study the differences in the scenes.

Study her emotional change.

Study her physical change.

Study her vocal change.

Ms. Davis is using ALL of the elements to create nuanced performance in her character arc.

This is never a small feat. It takes a bunch of thought and prep.

Don’t wing it, friends. Develop your skills. Develop your approach in your prep. Develop, develop, develop…so that when you head to the audition room, or onto set, you have a plan related to your character’s journey.

Know your character’s journey and how they change.