You aced the audition and got the acting gig. You did the work and made some interesting character choices. But for whatever reason, you didn’t make the final cut. The life of an actor can be a challenging one, but it can be particularly disheart-ening when your part gets cut way down or, worse, your performance doesn’t appear in the final project at all.
When it comes to ensuring your hard work makes the screen, you may not be able to whisper in the editor’s ear, but there are ways you can increase the odds in your favor and not get cut after the director yells “cut.” Emmy-winning editor Jordan Goldman, ACE, author of How to Avoid the Cutting Room Floor, said the most important thing you can do is to deliver a solid performance — one that’s worthy of being included. Goldman has edited numerous episodes of Homeland and Sons of Anarchy, among other shows.
“Giving a good performance is the main function of the actor. We want to see you experience the story in a believable way ... People watch dramas because they want to see other humans experience emotional and challenging events. If we believe that’s really happening, we’re going to feel fulfilled by what we’re watching,” said Goldman, who on Aug. 31 presented a virtual seminar for members as part of the President’s Task Force on Education, Outreach & Engagement livestream series.
That may seem obvious, but Goldman and others in his profession see plenty of performances that just don’t work with the story that’s being told. It’s useful to understand what editors are looking for when they make the first cut so that you can get as much screentime as possible. They are trying to assemble the most impactful scene they can from the footage that was shot. It’s the director’s job to give them close, medium and long shots to assemble the scene, and it’s the actor’s job to bring the story to life with the human element. Some aspects are beyond your control. Oftentimes, a part is cut to reduce the show’s running time or to smooth out the tempo of the story, and not because of the performance. Even high-profile actors have had their parts cut, so it really can happen to anyone. If you’re not the star of the show, your part may be that much more expendable. A great performance enhances your odds of getting more screen time — filmmakers want to include impactful on-screen moments. But in shooting for “great,” don’t forget your acting basics.
Stand in the Right Place
Hit your marks. If you’re not where you’re supposed to be, the camera may not be properly focused on you, and a blurry performance isn’t likely to make the cut — even if it’s Oscar worthy. If you’re in the wrong spot, it can also create continuity problems. Editors review several takes of the same scene, and they want to weave together the best parts from each, possibly modifying the cadence of the scene, depending on what worked best in each take and the input from the director, writer and others. But putting those pieces together can be a near-impossible task if the actor doesn’t do things in the same way each take. If, in the first take, you’re holding a mug with your left hand or walking to a particular place in the room, you need to do the same thing in every subsequent take unless the director tells you otherwise. If you don’t, the editor may be forced to use a lesser performance just so the visual details are consistent to the viewer. No editor wants to have his or her work immortalized on one of IMDb’s continuity errors lists.
Know Your Lines
Come to the set prepared, knowing your lines and your character’s place in the story and world. Filmmaker and acting coach Suzanne LaChasse emphasizes the importance of rehearsal and having command of the material.
“The best thing an actor can do is to do their homework. Really spend time with their scripts. Learn the story, don’t just learn the lines,” said LaChasse.
Your command of the material — or lack of — will become evident in your performance, so you’ll want to get it right. If you still flub a line — which happens to everyone — don’t simply correct yourself and move on. Be sure to start over from the beginning of the emotional beat so that the editor will have a continuous shot of that portion of the scene. The editor can’t use half a sentence. In addition to knowing what you’re supposed to say, be open to direction. If you are delivering the right lines but won’t do it the way the director has asked you to, you’re increasing the likelihood your part will get cut.
On Camera, Less Is More
Don’t overact. One of the most common mistakes actors make is to be too theatrical and oversell the emotion they are trying to convey. Television and film actors don’t need to project their emotion to the cheap seats; on camera, a nuanced performance will play much better.
“Simple performances are often the best performances. Actors often like to do very emotional things; that’s part of the joy and the fun of acting. But if you watch a lot of high-end performances, you will notice that when characters cry or have large emotional moments, they’re usually not these big explosive moments; they’re quite contained,” Goldman said. “It’s so much more interesting to watch somebody try not to cry than it is to watch somebody cry.”
But just as close-ups amplify emotions, they can also make it apparent when you’re disengaged. As your acting teacher told you, really listen to the other performers. “Listening is truly one of the most important things an actor can do,” said editor Amy Duddleston, ACE, who recently worked in Mare of Easttown. “Especially for day players and smaller parts. I’m always looking for somebody who’s listening, someone who’s not just waiting for their next line of dialogue.”
Be the MVP
Creating a movie or television show is a team effort, but no one in the process is more visible in the final product than the actors. Every choice you make, whether it’s about your character’s motivations or how they choose to move, has the potential to end up onscreen. That gives actors enormous power to influence how the project turns out, but, as they say, that comes with great responsibility. If you deliver a solid performance, you’re a lot more likely to make the final cut. If you deliver a killer performance, you’re likely to be asked to reprise that role or sought out for a future project.
This item was originally featured in the SAG-AFTRA magazine 2021 fall/winter issue.