Alfred Molina is an actor who does his homework. For his role in the new play Red, about painter Mark Rothko, Molina immersed himself in the artist’s world. He read everything he could about the Rothko, studied his paintings, and learned to paint.
In a New York Times article about the play, Molina said that “Having seen the canvases, already there are lines in the play jumping into my head, I’m now informed with something different.” But he continues with a warning. “The last thing the audience wants to see is your homework. Hopefully on some level, you’re just soaking it up so it becomes part of you.”
Audiences don’t want to see your homework but your homework makes your acting better and it is something you must do. While studying the script, syntax, and intentions are important tasks, research is also a crucial tool for the actor. But many actors don’t do any research. They hope or trust that they can come up with everything they need. While I believe in the power of the imagination, research will feed, support, and enhance your creative activities. It will inform your decisions and give you options.
Remember, actor research is not the same as scholarly research. You don’t have to assemble it into a meaningful, organized paper but you do have to fill your mind with images, ideas, and concepts that relate to the character and to the action so that you can live fully in the world of the script. With Google, research has never been easier. You can find articles, images, video, and explanations without leaving your room or incurring late fees from a library.
Your childhood memories of homework might make you think of research as punishment. But for the actor, creative research should be a delight because it provides you with more options and options will make your performances better.
© Eric Barr. All rights reserved
