An Available Character

          The most talented orators, directors, actors that I have either worked with or just witnessed their talents all have one thing in common. It is their ability to make themselves “emotionally available.”  This can be communicated in a number of ways, whether it is their body language, speech, eyes, or their overall energy. For example, if their characters possess the power to communicate in the medium of film, then their power can reach millions.

          Making ourselves emotionally available is a challenging but great place to start if we want to evoke changes within us.  Finding balance is the key in filmmaking and in many aspects of our lives.  Making this transition and allowing ourselves to be emotionally available is not about abandoning everything from the past. Rather, it is about finding and using these essential tools we learned to use in our past.

          This experience can be used in developing a character in a story or in life.  The distinction comes from knowing when it is time to put this tool down.  In the case of an actor, he or she is done using his or her ability to be “emotionally available” when the director says “Cut!” or “That’s a wrap!”  In everyday life, this can occur when we complete a thought, come home from work, rest at night, or finally say goodbye to a loved one.

          If I break down a character in a film or in my life, I always find it helpful to uncover the fears of the character, not in efforts to hurt, but rather to help myself or others to get past their fears. We all like to see heroes on the screen and in life, but even the most heroic person is afraid of something.

…

Finding the Fear

leads to

 Freeing Yourself