NYWIFT Blog

Acting Up: Create the Space

image

“Acting is the ability to live truthfully under imaginary circumstances.” — Sanford Meisner

Recently, I wrapped Melissa Rodwell’s upcoming film, and my “preparation” was the most abstract that I’ve ever worked with. I realized my job as an actor is to create the space for the work to show up.

How did I do this?

I took all things off the table that were not needed to create that space. Spoke less, made fewer phone calls, etc. In this way, I was able to be fully present to take note when the inspiration hit. That, along with an acting coaching session and a dash of therapy to clear out the emotional channel, helped to create inner space for the ideas, thoughts and feelings to marinate in. Which, in turn, would ignite other images, thoughts and feelings to draw from.

It’s been said that our outer life is a reflection of our inner life. Take the time to clear out the noise of life. Personally, in my acting work, I’m looking to have an experience, to be living an experience in front of the camera and desire to embody that in every essence of my being.

To learn how you can begin to channel your muses and be able to have an experience in your work, check out The War Of Art by Steven Pressfield. 

Here’s to the work and living truthfully!

— MARISA VITALI

PUBLISHED BY

nywift

nywift New York Women in Film & Television supports women calling the shots in film, television and digital media.

View all posts by nywift

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

*

*

Related Posts

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Hayley Pace

Today, we’re thrilled to shine a spotlight on new NYWIFT member Hayley Pace, an award-winning production designer and actor whose unique blend of skills and passions continues to inspire us! Hayley Pace hails from Toronto, Ontario. They are known for their work on Schitt’s Creek (CBC), In The Dark (CW), and The Expanse (Amazon Prime). In addition to their on-screen work, Hayley has self-produced original projects through their experimental marching band theatre company, The Teeny Tiny Music Show, and has designed for numerous film, TV, and theatre productions across Canada. A graduate of the Stella Adler Studio of Acting and York University’s BFA in Devised Theatre & Design, Hayley brings a dynamic and multidisciplinary approach to their artistry. We caught up with Hayley to discuss their career, their creative journey, and what brought them to NYWIFT.

READ MORE

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Paula de la Fuente

Let’s give a warm welcome to our newest NYWIFT member, the multi-talented Paula de la Fuente! Hailing from Valladolid, Spain, Paula is a filmmaker, actress, writer, and director with a passion for storytelling. From gaining hands-on production experience on Spanish film sets and the Goya Awards ceremony to co-writing and producing her own horror short, Paula has already made significant strides in the industry. Now, she's pursuing her dreams in New York City, studying Acting for Film at the New York Film Academy as a Talent Award Scholarship recipient. Paula joins NYWIFT seeking connection, mentorship, and inspiration as she navigates the U.S. film scene. Let's dive into her journey and discover what drives this exciting new voice in filmmaking.

READ MORE

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Melissa Roxburgh

Welcome to NYWIFT, Melissa Roxburgh! Melissa Roxburgh is a Sagittarian (12/10/92), actress and Canadian. Her parents moved to Canada from the United States and founded a church in Vancouver. Roxburgh is the second oldest of four children; she has two sisters and one younger brother. While pursuing acting roles in Vancouver, Roxburgh studied communications at Simon Fraser University. She is an alumna of the William Esper Studio. Roxburgh landed her first major role in Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules and has worked steadily in television and film. She is currently portraying Rebecca "Bex" Henderson, an FBI Special Agent, in The Hunting Party, a procedural crime drama on NBC. Melissa spoke to us about her creative journey, family roots, favorite actors, and her directing dreams.

READ MORE

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Melanie Fox

Let's give a warm welcome to new NYWIFT member, Melanie Fox! Melanie Fox is a linguist who turned her passion for accents, dialects, presentations, and language learning into a thriving coaching business. Melanie empowers actors and public figures to speak clear, confident English through accent reduction, interview and presentation training. She also trains actors to master authentic English and Spanish dialects. She is a paid public speaker who helps her audiences "Hack into Language" and hosts a new podcast, "Hack That Accent." Melanie holds a Masters of Science degree in Linguistics from Georgetown University. She credits a lot of her inspiration to two semesters studying abroad at la Universidad de Salamanca in Spain. In our interview, she discusses how her work as a dialect coach spans multiple industries, her coaching success stories, and how she encourages clients to maintain their cultural authenticity while adjusting their presentation to match their business goals. 

READ MORE
JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER
css.php