Notes For Actors

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Notes For Actors
NO-FRILLS

NO-FRILLS

The simplicity of environment and action

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Miranda Harcourt
Mar 22, 2025
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We are travelling in Northern Scotland right now, climbing steep, rocky hills and going on long walks. It is the little things are very important. Sticking plaster, sunblock, the right socks. If I have come up the mountain with no hat, I have to use the extra T-shirt in my bag and wind it around my head. Just improvise. Use the things around you.

Climbing the Bodach an Stòr on Skye, Scotland

I am reminded that the things you have around you right now are the things you can use in your work to achieve relaxed authenticity as an actor. Don't pretend unless you have to, I guess is what I am saying. Use as much fact as you possibly can and as little fiction as you need — to make it true for you.

Let's look at the TikTok artist and comedian Theo Shakes. I love his posts. He just uses what is around him right now, at this very moment, to make his videos. It is no-frills filmmaking — and that makes it more engaging and funnier. I guess you could say that Theo is applying Dogme filmmaking to Ti…

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