WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:01.360 Michael Shanafelt. 2 00:00:01.360 --> 00:00:04.530 I graduated UVA in 2010 and I am a professional actor, 3 00:00:04.530 --> 00:00:06.510 member of both the Screen Actors Guild 4 00:00:06.510 --> 00:00:08.170 and the Actors Equity Association 5 00:00:08.170 --> 00:00:10.890 which the union for state actors. 6 00:00:10.890 --> 00:00:15.890 line:15% 2019 was really a breakout year for me. 7 00:00:15.960 --> 00:00:18.233 line:15% And I started the year getting to do a play, 8 00:00:18.233 --> 00:00:22.120 line:15% the New York premiere of a play called "The Bodyguard." 9 00:00:22.120 --> 00:00:23.320 And that was a blast. 10 00:00:23.320 --> 00:00:24.999 Other highlights this year, 11 00:00:24.999 --> 00:00:26.720 Disney's in the middle of doing all their 12 00:00:26.720 --> 00:00:29.930 live action remakes of their classic films 13 00:00:29.930 --> 00:00:32.780 and a film I got to be a part of was "Lady and the Tramp." 14 00:00:32.780 --> 00:00:37.780 line:15% I just wrapped my first series regular role 15 00:00:38.550 --> 00:00:42.620 line:15% on a new Netflix original show called "Sweet Magnolias" 16 00:00:42.620 --> 00:00:46.380 line:15% which is based on a book series created by Cheryl Woods. 17 00:00:46.380 --> 00:00:51.014 It was a New York Times best-selling drama/romance series. 18 00:00:51.014 --> 00:00:53.950 I think an actor's job is you see the black writing 19 00:00:53.950 --> 00:00:56.680 all over the page and then the rest of it is white. 20 00:00:56.680 --> 00:00:58.450 And I think that's what an actor's job is 21 00:00:58.450 --> 00:01:01.990 to fill in all the white blank space on that page. 22 00:01:01.990 --> 00:01:03.490 It's your actors saying one thing, 23 00:01:03.490 --> 00:01:04.870 but what's the subtext? 24 00:01:04.870 --> 00:01:06.270 And I want to have a very clear understanding 25 00:01:06.270 --> 00:01:08.150 of that before day one of rehearsal. 26 00:01:08.150 --> 00:01:12.040 line:15% Obviously memorizing your lines, you know, that's 101. 27 00:01:12.040 --> 00:01:13.010 line:15% That's basic. 28 00:01:13.010 --> 00:01:15.890 line:15% But its subtext is what does my character want? 29 00:01:15.890 --> 00:01:18.130 line:15% What is my character curious about? 30 00:01:18.130 --> 00:01:19.640 Once I've done all that homework, 31 00:01:19.640 --> 00:01:21.940 hopefully by day one of rehearsal when we're up 32 00:01:21.940 --> 00:01:23.450 on our feet playing around, 33 00:01:23.450 --> 00:01:27.498 then I can focus on the moment to moment 34 00:01:27.498 --> 00:01:29.780 truth of this scene. 35 00:01:29.780 --> 00:01:32.900 My scene partner is hopefully just as curious 36 00:01:32.900 --> 00:01:35.710 about my character and she wants something from me 37 00:01:35.710 --> 00:01:37.930 and she wants to be perceived in a certain way, 38 00:01:37.930 --> 00:01:40.711 and I have to in the moment respond honestly 39 00:01:40.711 --> 00:01:42.228 to that situation. 40 00:01:42.228 --> 00:01:45.180 That all has to hopefully live in you 41 00:01:45.180 --> 00:01:46.490 if you've really done your homework. 42 00:01:46.490 --> 00:01:47.690 And then it's just moment to moment. 43 00:01:47.690 --> 00:01:49.530 It's listening to your scene partner 44 00:01:49.530 --> 00:01:51.550 and then responding in that moment. 45 00:01:51.550 --> 00:01:53.609 line:15% And then you have to trust your director 46 00:01:53.609 --> 00:01:55.620 line:15% to shape the scene. 47 00:01:55.620 --> 00:01:57.821 line:15% You can't play director. 48 00:01:57.821 --> 00:02:02.260 line:15% I'm not in a place in my development in my pedagogy 49 00:02:02.260 --> 00:02:05.520 to also play director as I'm acting. 50 00:02:05.520 --> 00:02:07.360 I just have to worry about being in the scene 51 00:02:07.360 --> 00:02:10.100 like I'm talking to you, listening to you, 52 00:02:10.100 --> 00:02:11.520 and reacting to you. 53 00:02:11.520 --> 00:02:14.620 That's as well as I know how to describe the process 54 00:02:14.620 --> 00:02:16.453 at this moment in my development.