Thursday’s Post

Hi Everybody

I’m glad to be back at the keyboard.  Been going through some old writing and getting inspired.  Will post some new work soon.  In the meantime here is a portion of a print interview that I did many years ago where I got to talk about acting and two people I am grateful for, who helped me along the way.

Enjoy!

Zack

R&R—Okay. So you have a role or a character in your head. Do you ever improvise on the spot when you’re in character—if you do, where does the newness spring from?

Zack – I am not sure if I can explain it but the words should be in your head and the character should be in your body.  One of the people who really helped me develop as an actor is Gary Austin.  When he was coaching, he would always be saying “breathe…breathe” so you can connect with the character inside of you.  Once the lights come up and you walk out on stage it should all be about breathing and being.  The words should flow out.  Good nights for me are when the final blackout is cued, the lights come up and I think to myself “what happened?”.  I was immersed and that’s where the newness comes from.

R&R—Okay, if you make a “mistake” acting you know it. How do you feel about that and the next time you perform the role how much of your “mistake” remains? Is the improv ever better than the original? If so how?

Zack- I make mistakes all the time.  You just have to keep going.  The audience doesn’t know you have made a mistake and I intend to keep it that way.  There is no stopping live theatre for a “do over”.  If I go up on my lines I just move and breathe and trust that a line will come to me.  I love the analogy of Chinese caricatures.  In the Chinese alphabet each letter is drawn, but there is a small flaw in each one.  No two caricatures are ever exactly the same.  No two performances are ever the same.  Cues are missed.  Lines are dropped.  Props are misplaced.  Sets are stuck and don’t move into place.  Audience members are sometimes disruptive.  Welcome to live theatre.  In the moment the improv works great but the goal is always to paint the complete caricature.  Say all the lines just as the writer had intended.

R&R—Who were your mentors?

Zack- I have been lucky to have had some amazing teachers come into my life.  I think that a mentor is different.  One name stands out for me.  Marty Taras.  I went to LA Valley College and he was the head of the Speech department.  I was taking a class called “Oral Interpretation of Literature” and Marty came to my final and recruited me for the Forensic Team.  I was a member of the debate team, did three individual events, won a number of awards and went to the National Championships twice.  Marty saw the raw talent in me and he was the one person who said to me, “Yes you can.”  He always gave me good advice.  I didn’t always take it but he gave me room to make my own mistakes.  Our friendship lasted long after college.  I left LA and went to Israel for a year, when I got back to Los Angeles I was floundering, it was Marty who cast me in a play and got me back on track again.  The reason I turned pro and was able to make a living at this crazy wonderful creative craft of ours was that I got the support and wisdom of Marty.  I will always be grateful for his presence in my life.