13190: One Way To Lean In To The Moment Of Creation
Hey there, hero!
You’re at that delicious moment…a blinking cursor, or waiting for the 2nd to call the cast and crew to quiet on the set, or the first moment you’ve opened a new audio or video recording window…
…how do you feel? Fearful? Anxious? At sea?
Completely and utterly confident?
Or maybe, simply excited. Anticipating action. About to DO something.
How about that last one? It absolutely changes how you feel.
What do you usually feel when you are presented with that moment of opportunity? Let me know in the comments below.
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Raw transcript:
Raw transcript:
I have an invitation for you
sometimes we’re presented with a blank
screen a blank page if we’re a writer a
blank recording block if we’re doing
voice over a blank uh moment when we’re
about to do an on camera audition and
you have a choice at that point of how
to feel about that some people have
amazing fear over this and I have an
alternative I want to share with you in
this episode of the vo Heroes
podcast so there you are you’ve been
given a writing prompt or you’ve been
given an audition opportunity or you’ve
decided you’re going to create some of
your own content whatever it is that
you’re going to do you’re right there at
the beginning when there is a blinking
cursor on the the writing page or
there’s a box with no waveforms in in
your recording software or you’re about
to go on camera and you’re just kind of
looking down the lens of the barrel of
the of the lens and it’s like what do I
do now right you know you’ve got
something that you’re going to do and
that can grip you with fear maybe you’ve
experienced that I don’t know but at
that very moment you have a choice you
can continue on with that feeling of
fear fear of the unknown fear of what
you’re going to do fear that you’re
going to make a mistake fear that you’re
going to be really good but it won’t be
good
enough and you have a choice at that
point to make a switch to make a flip to
use your own body’s internal emotions in
your
favor and say to yourself I’m not afraid
of this I’m not fearful of this this is
exciting I get to do this this is cool I
have an up I have a I have the
opportunity here to do something really
great I can write something really cool
I can use my voice in a way that uh
would be useful to a production partner
or to
myself I can create a character on
camera I’m excited about this excitement
is different from Fear
excitement kind of you know says
anticipation uh cool awesome privileged
amazing whereas fear can be debilitating
and so I want you to make that
choice I want you to be able to make
that choice and
change your future at least for that
moment when you’re staring at a blank
page when you’re staring at a an empty
recording screen or you’re about to go
on camera make the choice to make it
about
excitement rather than fear and it’s a
simple statement I’m excited about this
you’d be amazed how it changes how you
feel try it maybe you have already let
me know in the comments below I’d love
to know what the deal is hit the like
button if you like what you’re hearing
if you’re excited about it subscribe if
you’re excited about it hit the
notification Bell we’ll we excitedly
send you a notification when the next
episode is I’d love that uh you can also
pass this on to another actor who you
think might be struck by fear more often
than not I’m David H Lawrence the 17th I
thank you so much for watching and for
listening and I will see you in the next
episode of the vo Heroes podcast
(from YouTube)
Sometimes, when faced with fear or doubt at the beginning, I just go ahead and start recording. And before long, I invariably find myself calmer, more engaged in the script, and feel so much better. Then, when I reach the end of my planned session, I tack on the first few lines or minute from the start to the end, while I’m still in the “zone”, and cut and paste them to replace those same lines at the beginning.
The end result is that I capture the emotion and flow that I felt throughout the piece to the beginning of the session, and believe that it evens out the recording as a whole.
I’m a relative newbie, and maybe I’m just imagining things, but I think it helps.
Fear and Excitement have the same physiological responses. You choose how it is different. Well said David. Thank you.
Thank you for this!
Now updating one of my classic mantras:
Old: “Feel the fear and do it anyway.”
New: “Feel the excitement and enjoy the ride!”
I love this! Since joining VO Heroes my entire outlook has shifted to be mostly positive. I love that I can play with new books to read. I love that I am finally, in my life, doing things I enjoy with people who are supportive and kind and so inspiring.
As always, your podcasts speak to me at the right times and I am grateful every day for you.
And Trevor, I’m going to steal your new phrase. Thank you!
I have been using the phrase “excited” instead of “nervous” lately. It’s hard to remember to do that sometimes. Thanks for the reminder David.