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How to Serve

Once upon a time

I was on set

With a very well known actor

We were rehearsing a scene

This scene happened to include the inciting incident

The moment which catapults our protagonist onto their journey

The story needs this scenes

Without this scene there is no story

Now

As we were rehearsing

This actor turned to the director and said

“I don’t think I’d actually be that upset in this moment

More just a bit disappointed

Maybe I can rest my hand on his shoulder gently?”

Silence…

The director turned to me with a look of sheer terror on his face

Why?

Because in making that suggestion

The actor revealed something

They revealed they didn’t understand the Point of the Scene (POS)

Let alone the Point of their Character (POC) within the story

Sheep and goats

Amateurs and Professionals

Amateurs do what works for them

Professionals do what works for the story

Amateurs fight for what they want

Professionals fight for what the story needs

So

Know the POS

Know your purpose

Know why your character is in this script

Know why we are all standing around on this set spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in the next few hours

Trying to film this one scene

There is a reason

A point to it

And if you know what the point of the scene is

You can steer your work toward that

And therefore

You will serve

Serve the scene

Serve the story

Serve your tribe

Allowing directors to take a big, deep, calm breath

And thank god that they hired an actor who is here to give generously

Here to give what actually helps this scene and story

That’s some damn fine generosity right there amigo

But how does one find the POS?

Simple

Generally speaking

Look at the last beat of the scene

The last few lines or last little description

It will be there

Somewhere

It might be obvious

It might be slightly hidden

But it will be there

Whispering to you

“Serve me”

“Be more generous”

To clarify…

How to serve?

Know your place

Know your Point of the Scene (POS)

Know your character’s function in the story

Then go get em Tiger

You generous actor, you!

x Sheasby

PS - If you have any questions, feel free to ask :)

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x Sheasby

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