The advice here is meant not just for actors on set but anyone that is finding themselves working on set in Knoxville, Tennessee. You must understand that the production is viewed as more important than anything else. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t interfere in any way with shooting, their schedule or plans. They just have to make their movie or show in the short time that they are on set, so the goal should be to stay out of the way as much as possible. The first good advice here, is if you are not on set or in front of camera in Knoxville, Tennessee you need to be sure to stay out of the actors’ eyelines, if you decide to hang back and watch.
Many actors really don’t care if there are other actors or other people on set visiting, but they don’t want to see you or them while they are working. Having some stranger peering at them, right in their line-of-sight can be really distracting, you will have a better understanding of this once you start working more on set in Knoxville, Tennessee. It is also recommended that you avoid hogging the video monitors too. Most of the time the best rule of thumb is to just stay away from ‘Video Village’ where the monitors are set up for the director and producers to watch the filming. On a few rare occasions, you may be invited over to watch but be unobtrusive. Be invisible and it will certainly be appreciated.
Know that you will probably only get one rehearsal in Knoxville, Tennessee. Don’t think that just because you had 15 weeks of rehearsal in college for a production that that is the norm. If you are working on a one-hour drama or a single-camera, you will most likely get one tiny little rehearsal, and you will be working with people you have never met before. You will say a brief hello to the director (who you probably saw at the callback), and who is extremely busy, and then you will run through the lines with the other actors at the location. They will discuss blocking, talk briefly about the scene, and then do a “marking rehearsal,” where the crew comes in and they figure out where everyone will be standing so they can set up the lights. That’s right, dozens of eyes on you. Be confident and act like you have been doing this forever.
Know your lines backwards and forwards. Inside and out in Knoxville, Tennessee. Nobody else will, but you must, as you are the guest and you won this job over many many, many actors. You can be replaced easily. They might change your lines, they might cut them. Be ready for anything, and don’t take it personally. There will be so many distractions on set as it (elaborate camera moves, trying to hit your mark, finding your light) and if you aren’t secure with the lines, you will waste valuable time. You will probably get one or two takes of your shot. If you mess up a line (please don’t), the script supervisor will shout out your line for you. They are now your new best friend in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Don’t change anything! When you show up on set in Knoxville, Tennessee, do exactly what you did in the audition and the callback but be very open to direction. Do not over think it and please don’t meet with a coach after you have booked the job, suddenly deciding to make big changes to your character. It’s a “one and done” role and you are there to serve the story, that is your job as an actor. If your line is “More water for you, sir?” do not come up with some detailed backstory about how you just found out your best friend died of cancer and suddenly decide you should be crying in your scene.
Understand, it’s not about you on set in Knoxville, Tennessee. Four years of drama school? Nobody cares. Won the audience award at your hometown “film festival” for your performance as Stanley Kowalski in an updated “Streetcar” musical? Doesn’t matter. You are one of many small characters here to fill the world of this TV show. It’s about the series regulars, their storylines and you are there as a peripheral character, that is unless you happened to have landed the series regular role. As Harold Guskin said, “Don’t make a meal out of a snack.” Know your place in the hierarchy, be a total professional, don’t complain and don’t overthink your lines. Nobody cares about your character’s backstory, or why Momma didn’t pay attention to you growing up. Don’t expect a standing ovation when you finish. Most of the crew are ready to go home and go to sleep. No feedback is good feedback here.
