How to Be a Really Famous Actor (And Other Acting Tips), Friday, Period 1

[nosefullofsnot.livejournal.com]

Lucas was leaning against his desk at the start of class today. Next to him was one of his stuntmen. The stuntman was dressed in black with white greasepaint on his face (but not on the chinstrap beard because that wouldn't be cool).

"Today we're going to talk about mimes," Lucas said. "Miming is a centuries old art of expressing emotion, action, and objects by not talking and poking at the air. Go ahead, Rusty."

Rusty the chinstrapped stunt mime started miming a box closing in on him. And just when the box was getting really believable, Lucas turned around and punched Rusty in the face, knocking him over the desk, knocking Lucas's chair over, too.

"JK. This is the start of our action session. And this week is all about knowing how to give and take a stage punch. Rusty, get back here." The stuntmime popped back up and jumped over the desk to land next to Lucas. "There are three main keys to throwing a stage punch. First, choosing the right angle. The goal is the make it look like you hit the person but not actually hit them. This is mostly on your director, choreographer, and camera guy, so just do what they tell you. Second is knowing how to throw a punch. Do this," Lucas said, throwing a punch. "One more time, pay attention." He punched the air again. "That's all I'm showing you. Third is to make sure the person taking the punch knows how to deal with it if you actually hit them. If you have a crap stuntman taking the punch, go ahead and get them fired. You're more important than them. Right, Rusty?" Rusty nodded. "See? He knows the deal."

"If you're taking the punch, remember three more things. First, don't bale out too soon or you're going to make everyone look like an idiot. Second, if you do get hit, suck it up, that's what you're paid for. And third, it's your job to make the other person look like an action hero, even if they're short, bald, or a chick. If you're taking a stage punch, make it look like it really hurt."

"Everyone set with that? Good. Two options for you today. You can either pretend to punch the guy dressed like a mime, or you can pretend punching each other, which will be done completely by your own choice so I can't get in trouble if somebody starts bleeding. Let's get started."

Comments

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[nosefullofsnot.livejournal.com]

Silently!

Re: Sign In

[dabblinginbitch.livejournal.com]

Ramona Flowers

Re: Sign In

[not_tylerdurden]

Calvin

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[tripledmyself.livejournal.com]

Nathan Young

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[puppywithatutu.livejournal.com]

Caroline Forbes

Listen to the Lecture

[nosefullofsnot.livejournal.com]

Listen to the talk about mimes and... OH MY GOD, HE JUST PUNCHED THE GUY OVER THE DESK.

Wait, is that even supposed to be a big thing in this class anymore? Guess not.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[tripledmyself.livejournal.com]

When Nathan saw one of Professor Lee's stuntman in the room, he got a little excited that there might be more people flying out of windows. When miming happened instead, he frowned.

Of course, that just led right into the stuntman suddenly getting his face punched and Nathan grinned with delight. He was going to have to learn to trust Professor Lee a little more. Come on, there was no way that guy would teach miming.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[vanillajello]

Kate felt a little... something, about how stuff had gone last time. Not bad, as such, but. Something. Enough to lean over a bit, once what passed for a lecture in this class seemed to be over.

"Hey, second favorite Irishman."

That was probably a better opening than wondering about how useful this particular class would be for him, especially in other classes.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[tripledmyself.livejournal.com]

"Second favorite?" Nathan repeated incredulously and then made a show of turning up his nose at her. "We have nothing to talk about with that kind of language. Second favorite, as if."

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[puppywithatutu.livejournal.com]

Oh thank God they weren't learning about mimes! The last thing Caroline needed was to be fake trapped in a box all day. Punching she could do...but fake punching? It could get interesting.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[chief-cheerio.livejournal.com]

Ah, time for Quinn's weekly acid trip of a class.

She was happy to see the mime get punched. Mimes were evil.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[vanillajello]

Oh, the things you got used to. This week, Kate just barely raised her eyebrows at the stuntmime getting punched.

Her mind was on other things.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[shes-got-legs.livejournal.com]

It was true, Ariel really shouldn't be all surprised and excited when that happened, but she just couldn't help it!

And it got her adrenaline going (as if it needed the help) wonderfully so she could bounce excitedly in response to what they were learning. This would be so much fun to teach either Flounder or maybe Arista to fake everyone else at the palace out and see how they reacted!

Practice Fake Violence

[nosefullofsnot.livejournal.com]

Either take turns punching the entirely moddable fake mime or pair off and fake punch each other.

Just remember, Rusty the Mime knows what he's doing and can't talk.

Re: Practice Fake Violence

[tripledmyself.livejournal.com]

Nathan was busy punching the air with his skinny ass arms. That didn't mean he couldn't throw a punch, though. He'd done it before and he'd do it again.

And he was more than willing to take a fake punch from a classmate too, if it came to that. After all, it wouldn't be the first time he'd been punched either.

Re: Practice Fake Violence

[chief-cheerio.livejournal.com]

"So would you fake-hit a girl?" Quinn asked, mostly because she wanted to hear what Nathan would say. She was more a scratcher and a hair-puller than a puncher, herself.

Re: Practice Fake Violence

[tripledmyself.livejournal.com]

"Yep," Nathan said without hesitation. "Just because someone's a fucking girl doesn't make them weak or made of porcelain. If me and a girl are throwing down, I'm not gonna hold back. I think that'd just be offensive to said girl."

Re: Practice Fake Violence

[robinthefrog.livejournal.com]

Robin wasn't sure there was any way in the world to make it look believable if he pretended to punch someone. Maybe if he was playing someone with super strength.

Talk to the TA

[nosefullofsnot.livejournal.com]

Who probably hates mimes.

Re: Talk to the TA

[dabblinginbitch.livejournal.com]

Ramona was not, as it turned out, overly fond of mimes. But then, who was? Other than French people. They don't count.

Talk to Lucas

[nosefullofsnot.livejournal.com]

Who doesn't care for mimes either.

Re: Talk to Lucas

[robinthefrog.livejournal.com]

"I'm sorry I missed class last week, I was sick."

Re: Talk to Lucas

[nosefullofsnot.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, like I care if somebody misses class. You could Charlie Sheen it and I'd probably congratulate you," Lucas said. "But thanks anyway, bro."

Re: Talk to Lucas

[robinthefrog.livejournal.com]

Robin wasn't sure what that meant. He thought Charlie Sheen was pretty good. But he was glad he wasn't in trouble. "No problem sir."

OOC

[nosefullofsnot.livejournal.com]

I'm starting to fall asleep now. Looooooooong night.