Contributor Spotlight from Now Act!
On a professional film or television set, an actor rarely has the luxury of time…
“Aaaaaaaand CUT! That was great. Let’s do it again—just a little faster.”
You might have thirty seconds. You might have ninety. And then it’s back to one.
In my contribution to Now Act! Insight, Advice, and Preparation Processes from Actors, Coaches, and Casting Directors, I address one of the most common, and most frustrating, realities of on-camera work: result-oriented direction that offers no explanation of how to get there.
In my contribution to Now Act!, I offer a practical, repeatable way to respond creatively and truthfully, even under pressure.
Acting Without the Throughline
Most actors are trained in environments that support a continuous emotional journey: theater rehearsals, scene study classes, audition prep.
As actors, we’re used to not being interrupted in the throughline of our work. But film and television demand something very different.
On set, scenes are shot out of order. Takes are repeated. Crew members move constantly. There may be explosions, animals, children, or a ticking clock, all while you’re expected to deliver a consistent, believable performance.
The instinct is to try harder,to mentally push yourself into being “faster,” “slower,” or “more uncomfortable.” On camera, that effort often reads as false.
Building an Actor’s Internal Rolodex
My solution began decades ago with a simple habit: observation.
I started tracking how my own body, pace, and energy naturally changed depending on time of day, location, and circumstance. Over time, this evolved into what I now call “Kevin’s Ten Questions” – a fast internal checklist actors can use to ground themselves instantly.
Among them:
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- Where am I – public, private, or public-private?
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- What time is it, exactly?
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- What do I need or want?
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- What happens if I fail?
For quick on-set adjustments, I suggest focusing especially on location and time of day, two elements that naturally and powerfully shift human behavior.
Organic Triggers, Not Forced Results
Instead of “playing faster,” I encourage actors to use simple, lived triggers that allow pace and tone to change organically. They allow truth to flow through the body instead of forcing a result.
A Real-World Toolkit for Working Actors
My essay is one of more than fifty contributions in Now Act!, an anthology edited by award-winning screenwriter and book editor Laurie Lamson. The book brings together actors, coaches, and casting directors in a rare “many voices under one roof” approach, offering diverse perspectives on both the craft and business of acting.
Designed for actors at every stage, Now Act! can be used by individuals, acting partners, private coaches, college programs, and community education classes. Topics range from line learning and audition prep to navigating rejection and building a sustainable career.
“There have never been so many honest, practical perspectives for actors gathered in one place,” Lamson says. “This book doesn’t tell you there’s only one right way. It shows you how different professionals actually work. Kevin’s contribution exemplifies that ethos: practical, adaptable, and grounded in real professional experience.”
As I remind actors at the end of my essay, these tools are meant to expand your craft, not replace it.