This was so fun Nathan. I fear what happened to stop the camera! Did James get so flustered by Marie’s proximity that he forgot it was a “prop knife” only? I love the switch my brain had to do mid-story, unzipping the actor’s thoughts from his character. Or were they the actor’s, embodying him so fully that there’s no incoherence between inner and outer?
Love these thoughts, Kimberly. Thank you. After a lot of writing and editing, it was hard to discern how jarring or effective the switch was, and whether it was fun at all. So pleased to hear it was fun for you.
Really enjoyed trying to work out what was the actors in character thoughts and what was his actual thoughts. Also, being me, I was expecting the corpse to come to life at some point and the scene to take a turn for the horrific 😁
Love this. Especially the way you let us inside the actor's mind *first* then let them run the scene again without the internal dialog. We *know very well* why he rushed past the line :-)
I really enjoyed this. It’s playful and layered; first we’re trying to figure out what is going on in the scene, then, the scene behind the scene. It reads like you had fun writing it.
Hah! Lovely unexpected change part way through. Enjoyed the peaks. And the retrofitting of the character's thoughts to CHARACTERS as opposed to persons/ actors.
Speaking of, I’ve never really dissected a scene in a movie with such precision. Deciding who to root for, the actor playing the character ,or the character being played by the actor. Jeez, the guy needs a full powder, not just a quick brush. A fun read , Nathan! I can only imagine what it is like being an actor, just who are you when the camera stops recording.
And yes, I’ve always wondered where that line gets drawn, especially for an intense film with a long, long shoot. Does an actor get blurred into the character after some period of time…?
Beware the fish people, for they walk among us! 😅 Thoroughly enjoyed this fun piece! Maybe there’s a full screenplay in there! Breaking the 4th wall is always a bonus!
Coincidentally, I have been working with a group of my students on a small piece over the last week, trying to teach them to place themselves in the minds of the part they're playing - not easy when they're only 10/11 years old - some are able, others have a way to go! I loved this Nathan, different from your usual stories, a laminated playful flow but with that cliff hanger at the end! Brilliant!
What a great concept this is Nathan. Acting and reality. His real thoughts about the other actors as they are all playing out the scene. A fictional story about the reality behind making fiction. Loved it.- Jim
This was so fun Nathan. I fear what happened to stop the camera! Did James get so flustered by Marie’s proximity that he forgot it was a “prop knife” only? I love the switch my brain had to do mid-story, unzipping the actor’s thoughts from his character. Or were they the actor’s, embodying him so fully that there’s no incoherence between inner and outer?
Love these thoughts, Kimberly. Thank you. After a lot of writing and editing, it was hard to discern how jarring or effective the switch was, and whether it was fun at all. So pleased to hear it was fun for you.
Very clever Nathan 👏
Really enjoyed trying to work out what was the actors in character thoughts and what was his actual thoughts. Also, being me, I was expecting the corpse to come to life at some point and the scene to take a turn for the horrific 😁
Haha, yeah. Well, I was originally going somewhere darker and not "in-film" here, and then the idea struck me and I ran towards how it ended up.
Thanks so much, Dan.
Love this. Especially the way you let us inside the actor's mind *first* then let them run the scene again without the internal dialog. We *know very well* why he rushed past the line :-)
So good, Nathan--more please!
Hehe, thanks so much, Ann. This was an unusual shift in writing for me, but fun was had and I'm so pleased it landed for you.
I really enjoyed this. It’s playful and layered; first we’re trying to figure out what is going on in the scene, then, the scene behind the scene. It reads like you had fun writing it.
I think I was inspired by your own latest, Stephanie.
I definitely had fun writing this. Somewhat out of my comfort and style, but fun was had.
Perfect timing at the end, Nathan! Every reader screaming silently: "AND HE WHAT???!"
Hehe. Thanks Troy.
Alas, the camera stopped recording, so we'll never know!!
Hah! Lovely unexpected change part way through. Enjoyed the peaks. And the retrofitting of the character's thoughts to CHARACTERS as opposed to persons/ actors.
Thanks mate! Glad you enjoyed.
Speaking of, I’ve never really dissected a scene in a movie with such precision. Deciding who to root for, the actor playing the character ,or the character being played by the actor. Jeez, the guy needs a full powder, not just a quick brush. A fun read , Nathan! I can only imagine what it is like being an actor, just who are you when the camera stops recording.
Thanks, Lor!
And yes, I’ve always wondered where that line gets drawn, especially for an intense film with a long, long shoot. Does an actor get blurred into the character after some period of time…?
Beware the fish people, for they walk among us! 😅 Thoroughly enjoyed this fun piece! Maybe there’s a full screenplay in there! Breaking the 4th wall is always a bonus!
Hehe, thanks Alexander. Maybe there is …
The contrast of the writing prior to knowing it was a movie set to the same story with the set directive was interesting. Nice!
Thanks, Brian. A little jarring, perhaps, but I wanted to experiment in style.
Swish, the universe turned inside out :) Thanks Nathan, that was great
Thanks Jonathan! Glad to hear you enjoyed.
Coincidentally, I have been working with a group of my students on a small piece over the last week, trying to teach them to place themselves in the minds of the part they're playing - not easy when they're only 10/11 years old - some are able, others have a way to go! I loved this Nathan, different from your usual stories, a laminated playful flow but with that cliff hanger at the end! Brilliant!
Thanks, Susie!
How great with your students, although wow I bet that's a challenge. It'll be so cool for them, though.
This one certainly felt an unusual shift in style etc for me.
More titillating delights, Nathan. This was playful and fun. I’m waiting to see what will happen when you unleash your power on a novel.
Thanks, Ben.
I really need to take some of my long service leave and just commit to sitting and writing a novel!!
So clever, Nathan. Very Pinter-esque. The reiteration was perfection, as was the title.
Thanks, Sharron. Definitely something different in style and ideas for me, but it was fun to write. Thanks so much for your comment.
What a great concept this is Nathan. Acting and reality. His real thoughts about the other actors as they are all playing out the scene. A fictional story about the reality behind making fiction. Loved it.- Jim
Love that summary, Jim. Thanks so much.