Presence: The Modern Actor's Edge
You know what's striking? Very few empirical studies have examined what constitutes "good" acting performance.[1] In fact, there isn't even a definitive, agreed-upon definition.[2]
While this is neither good nor bad, it is worth acknowledging. Acting is one of only a handful of professions we don't have an objective measure of "good" for, so if you've ever felt a little disoriented walking the actor's path, don't worry, this isn't a you problem.
That said, there does seem to be some consensus on the importance of imagination, truth, and presence in acting performance, at least in the Western world.[3] [4] And it's regarding this latter quality – presence – that the Dojo harbours a hypothesis: presence will become the modern actor's edge.
Squirrel!
You may have encountered the claim that the human attention span has now shrunk to that of a goldfish. Although this myth has been "thoroughly debunked",[5] you may be one of the 50% of adults who nonetheless believe it true.
What is true is that the average attention span has decreased (studies show our staying power with a single screen has gone from 2.5 minutes in 2004 to 47 seconds two decades later) and that we're up against more distractions now than ever before in human history.[6]
So, while we're still well ahead of goldfish and the talking dog from Up, the ever-accelerating pace of modern life, normalisation of multiple devices, and increasingly sophisticated technologies are weakening our ability to be present in the present moment.[7] [8] And a weaker "presence muscle" in life life will likely translate to having less of a presence muscle to flex on stage or screen, which is problematic, given presence is one of the few characteristics the Western acting industry seems to agree equals "good".
In 2016,[9] Cal Newport wrote:
The ability to perform deep work is becoming increasingly rare at exactly the same time it is becoming increasingly valuable in our economy. As a consequence, the few who cultivate this skill, and then make it the core of their working life, will thrive.
While Newport isn't explicitly referencing presence here, his definition of deep work ("the act of focusing without distraction on a cognitively demanding task"[10]) shares some DNA with the quality we actors are so encouraged to embody. As such, we hypothesise presence will become equally rare and valuable, and that the few actors who cultivate it, making it the core of their acting lives, will thrive.
From squirrel to edge
If you're a friend of the Dojo, you're likely keen to be one of the few actors to gain the edge a strong presence muscle may come to provide. We salute you.
Our recommendations, then, are two-fold: keep attending acting class and start cultivating more presence in life life.
The first recommendation is pretty straightforward – a good acting class keeps us accountable to good acting technique.
The second recommendation is based on the logic that the more present we are in life life, the easier it'll be to embody presence on the stage or screen. Fortunately, unlike the very few studies on acting performance, there are many many many studies on enhancing attention and present moment awareness. Here are some takeaways from the literature:
- Take time away from devices.[11] [12] Challenge yourself to refrain from checking your phone during rehearsals / in between takes, then see if you can extend this practice into non-actor domains, such as while with friends or hitting the gym.
- Prioritise rest.[13] [14] If you live a prototypical 21st-century life, your brain and nervous system are likely fried. Rest isn't an extravagance or something you "earn"; rest is essential to optimal human functioning.
- Adopt a mindfulness practice.[15] [16] This doesn't have to be meditation, but if meditation floats your boat, float away. If meditation doesn't sail your ship, consider walking, running, cycling, swimming, yoga, or tai chi as active alternatives. For a creative spin, test-drive art, dance, or music.
Remember, we get the results of the few by doing what few do 💪🏼
Thoughts / feedback / challenges? We'd genuinely love to hear.
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Citations:
[1] [2] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13598130220132271
[3] https://www.britannica.com/art/acting/The-actors-qualifications-and-training
[4] https://doi.org/10.1017/s0266464x14000475
[6] [11][13] https://www.fastcompany.com/90994638/attention-span-shrinking-social-media-tiktok-long-videos
[8] [12] https://time.com/6302294/why-you-cant-focus-anymore-and-what-to-do-about-it/
[9] [16] https://amzn.to/3AmeIwA
[10] https://calnewport.com/deep-work-rules-for-focused-success-in-a-distracted-world/
[14] [15] https://santamaria.wa.edu.au/decreasing-attention-spans-jennifer-oaten/