Know Your Path

Hopefully, I got you solidly onto the "good" path already.

Each of us walks a path whether we realize it or not. Just because you see a person on the sidewalk, does not mean they are on the same path as you.

Look at your reflection in a window as you walk by. Even if you see you, you don't see your path. Know your path by seeing it in your mind. Then see yourself on this path. If what you are 'doing' does not fit onto your path: you are either distracted, or making a mistake. Acting is the first step to discovering your path.

Always walk a 'good' path.

In order to act the part of a "badman" most people try to look mean, act mean, talk mean...

Most of the really "bad" men of the world are very civilized, very mature, and very sophisticated.

"Badness" (is that a word?) comes from the heart.

"Goodness" comes from the heart.

To change your acting character we have to change your heart.

Some actors have committed suicide or ruined their lives by taking this too seriously.

Our goal as ZEN ACTORS is to change roles like changing our clothes -- no aftereffect's. When we are not acting we want to be us again, acting like us.

That's why we must FIRST KNOW WHO WE ARE so then we can ACT LIKE OTHER PEOPLE.

Another master director of the UCLA Master Directing and UCLA Master Acting classes of the mid 1980s taught us to portray body language to portray motivations and execution of actions and thoughts. This kind of "physical direction" by Ted Post has been used in many of my various photo shoots and music videos of myself and others. e.g. Do 10 pushups to simulate being afraid...

Buddha Zhen
Patriarch, shaolinZEN.org