Joe Chicago wrote:
>> Interesting.  However, I do take exception to your statement that actors
>> only look at their own lines--bad actors may do that, but not anyone
>> with any respect for themselves, the profession, or the writers.
>>
>> Humph.
>>
>> Blair
> 
> I have heard both Doyle and Claudia Christian say they used that
> technique. Christian says that's why it's silly to expect her to
> repeat her "God sent me" soliloquy; after the shooting she forgot it.

That's a somewhat different discussion.  I don't think it's at all 
unreasonable to expect an actor to forget lines/scenes/etc after 
production has wrapped; the chances of needing that information again 
while in line at 7-11 is pretty low.  That really doesn't have much to 
do with not reading the entire script.

> Doyle does say if he's in the scene, he will study the other person's
> lines, so if that person doesn't remember their lines he can say
> things like "If you want me to, I will X, Y and Z," and the other
> person doesn't have to tell him, saving time and money. 

Also a different discussion--of course you need to look at the other 
person's lines in your scene; not the same thing as not reading the 
entire script.  Besides, you need to know what your cue lines are. I 
can't think of any actor who could do any work without knowing what's 
going on in a scene they're in.

What you seemed to be referring to in your original post is an argument 
that I've heard many times in many places--that actors are so 
self-centered that they're only interested in what they're actually 
involved in.  As I stated, this may be true of a certain class of 
actors, but not the ones who last or who provide insightful 
performances.  Woe be to the actor who notes that they only appear 
starting on page 34, look at only that material, and fail to realize 
that pages 1-32 are all about them as well (page 33 is the subplot 
involving the comic relief).

You do need to know the context of the piece.  This is why shows have 
table reads where everyone involved in the production experiences the 
entire script.  Once everyone has the context then, sure, you will focus 
on your part alone.  You will, however, have some knowledge of how you 
fit into the larger picture.



> Technique-wise, the character is not supposed to be omniscient, so it
> makes a certain sense that they don't read everybody else's lines.

The character may not be, but the actor is in this sense.  Most actors 
(like most jurors) should be able to ignore information that isn't 
pertinent (or contradictory).

Again, humph.
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