- Take two steps back from your starting point, walk up, then begin…
- Ennunciate your words clearly, try not to slur or mumble.
- Don’t squint even in bright sunshine or when looking into the wind.
- When searching for a point to emphasise, insert the word “fuck” into your rehearsal. This will add natural emphasis – but don’t forget to take the word “fuck” out again!
- Try to end each “piece to camera” [PTC] on a point of emphasis so you can avoid the “goose face”.
- Just remembering the words in the script is only half the job – the other half is getting them in the right order, putting the correct emphasis on the key points and ending with a sense of purpose.
- Speak at twice the speed you’d normally talk at because otherwise you’ll look as though you’re drugged, drunk or falling asleep.
- Try not to wave your hands around – try putting them in your pockets, holding the little finger of the left hand with the right hand, or let them hang loosely at your sides.
- If the director asks you to do one more take “for us”, what he/she means is that you messed up the last one.
- If the director asks you to go “ten percent bigger” what he/she means is that you should talk louder, add comical emphasis while imagining you are a reporter on Simon Townsend’s Wonder World.
- Remember, tape is cheap, so you can do as many takes as you want – but only up to the point where the crew are getting restless.
- When shooting a PTC in a public place, people will naturally be curious about what you’re doing.
- If somone asks you “what are you doing?” – try to be polite, don’t say “what does it fucking look like?” or “who the fuck are you?”
- Always remember – your “inner critic” is a fool.
