BRILLIANCE IN PERFORMANCE
Or... Now that I have your attention
Originally published in Shoptalk on 6/5/98
NOTE: This article was written in response to an
uproar caused at the time by the article entitled "I Hear What You’re Saying,
I Just Don’t Know What You Mean". For the first few months that this column
appeared, there was very little feedback; it was radio silence. The "I Hear What
You're Saying..." piece was the one that couldn't be ignored, apparently. Many
(mostly old school) broadcasters felt the information I'd been presenting
represented everything that was wrong with news delivery at the time. In their
minds, I had no business talking about "performance"... "this is NEWS, not
show-business!" seemed to be their main beef. But the snarling, ripping and
tearing went on for weeks and covered everything from the subject matter, to my
writing, to my intelligence. Pretty talk. This was my eventual response.
Well, it seems that my last two articles have struck a
chord. I will consider that a good thing - this topic bears discussion and
points were certainly made by one and all. Now it's my turn for some
clarification.
First of all, thanks to those who got my point and wrote
in to say so. My point was, is and will always be; broadcasters are in the
business of communication. In order to do that well, you have to be
real. Contrary to all imaginative interpretations otherwise, this is all I'm
saying. The "electronic group hug and rampant emoting" obviously aren't
effective communication, because they're not real. They're as nauseating as the
"talking head" syndrome is boring - and truly "bad acting".
Harry Reasoner'ss advice for broadcaster ("Just read the
news and try not to stumble too much") parallels Spencer Tracy's for actors
("Know your lines and don't fall over the furniture") - and is great. Two
things: one, by the time these greats uttered their timeless advice, they were
old pros operating flawlessly by instinct. Two, while I think we must never lose
sight of their point ("Communication - Just Do It!"), there are also times when
younger talent needs other tools to see them through pressure situations. As one
reader aptly put it:
"I think the point is that it's easy to lose sight of those REAL emotions and
reactions under the barrage of white hot lights and cameras, and the audience,
among which are your bosses. We work under very unnatural conditions. Just to
make it back to being 'normal' and natural sometimes requires a little extra
thought and preparation. Unless, of course, you're a born natural."
Communicating requires focus on your message. If you are distracted, your
message won't be heard. The purpose of techniques and exercises,
acting or otherwise, is for people to learn ways to get past the distractions
and back to what is real about their message. If a bad voice is distracting from
the message, improve your voice. If phony delivery is the problem, learn how to
make it real - any way you can. If you are one of the naturals, or have been
around so long this is all one big oversimplification, you don't need this
information anyway. Move on. If you are still trying to find ways to improve or
just "get it" in the first place, maybe there is something here for you.
I'm glad to know that there is great concern for how
broadcasters are coming across on television. There should be; and perhaps these
discussions will go some distance toward improving matters. I think everyone
agrees newscasters need to be real, human and believable. In the best possible
world, there are multiple ways to accomplish this, people being as different as
they are.
Thanks to those who feel my thoughts should be Required
Reading - but I would be the last to say my word is IT. All any of us can
truthfully do is speak from our own experience. Perhaps those of you who
perceptively pointed out that there are other readings equally - if not more -
important, would like to contribute to a reading list that could be offered to
young reporters. Information that, from your own experience and perspective, has
proven to be crucial to success in this business. I'm constantly asked for this
kind of information.
Finally, to clear up a couple of misconceptions... I have
not "directed community theatre", I made my living in front of a camera. I do
understand Shakespeare quite well now (although thank you for your
understandable concern about my intelligence level); I didn't when I was 17 and
having a solo adventure exploring England and Wales. Neither myself nor my work
are "one of the reasons for the huge amount of PHONINESS on a lot of television
newscasts" (thanks for thinking me so important, however) - but I will at least
claim credit for not being boring.
On that note - PEACE, FOLKS. There's room on the planet
for all of us (and a sense of humor besides). I'm glad we all care so much about
what we do - no one will ever accuse us of lacking passion.
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