Moving out of intensity into complexity

Actors, we're moving out of intensity into complexity.

So what I mean by that is intensity is where the thoughts are racing and the images may be very abundant, but actually the body is in fight, flight, freeze or fawn.

I saw this a lot when working with actors, where the eyes would be very intense and frozen and the ribcage wouldn't move because the actors were using some form of intensity to try and communicate the story through their eyes

Instead of actually softening, coming into a place of curiosity, discovery, wonder, unknown and unexpected.

And allowing the sensations and the emotions connect to the images that then would lead to the characters insight on how to express themselves.

How do I prepare the nervous system, the muscles, the bones, the creative impulses to be receptive enough to receive the story, the other character, the set, the context, and actually discover something unexpected and new?

The only way that's going to happen is if your nervous system is in a state of grounded, aligned, alive, alert stillness.

And that takes a bit of time because first of all, the only way that's going to happen is if the body feels it can trust the environment.

And that's what we have to really learn as actors because we can't afford to be in fight, flight, freeze or please on a film set.

~ Helena Walsh

Helena’s teachings are inspired by Organic Intelligence ® @getoi, Fitzmaurice Voicework ® @fitzmauricevoicework & NeuroSystemics @neurosystemics_care

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