Review – Headlinerz

David Mamet’s ‘True and False’: the 12 biggest takeaways for actors

Eva Machek — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 11:48:56 +0000

David Mamet shares his visions on acting in this short book that covers everything from school, to auditions, to rehearsals, to performance. In this blogpost I will share my 12 biggest takeaways from reading this book.

Not in a reading mood? I’ve posted a video going over the 12 points on my YouTube channel!

→ If you want to read more of what Mamet has to say, get a copy for yourself:

I’m curious to hear your thoughts as well. Mamet shares some strong opinions on topics I’m not sure I agree with. What about you? Let me know down below! Now let’s get into the twelve takeaways I want to share with you:

1. Outward directedness

For every takeaway I’ll share what David Mamet wrote in his book and then tell you my thoughts on it. Here’s what was written:

‘In “real life”, the mother begging for her child’s life, the criminal begging for a pardon, the atoning lover pleading for one last chance- these people give no attention whatever to their own state, and all attention to the state of that person from whom they require their object. This outward-directedness brings the actor in ”real life” to a state of magnificent responsiveness and makes his progress thrilling to watch.’

I feel like this piece of advice is taught in acting all the time, but this was the first time it actually stuck with me, or at least the first time I actually understood what was meant by it.

In a scene, you don’t want to be focussing on what you look like and thinking about how you’ll respond next. You should have your attention with the other person. How are they responding? What do you want from them?

You, as your character, have a certain goal, for example: get an apology out of the other person. Take this goal seriously and don’t leave the stage without fighting for it.

2. Devoted to a craft

‘It is not childish to live with uncertainty, to devote oneself to a craft rather than a career, to an idea rather than an institution. It’s courageous and requires a courage of the order that the institutionally co-opted are ill equipped to perceive.’

I just thought this was a really nice outlook on creative careers. We are often told that our careers are not financially stable, not future proof etc. I liked that he touched on this subject and wrote that it’s in fact not childish, but actually brave to walk this uncertain path.

3. Unlearn habits

‘We are of course trained in our culture to hold our tongue and control our emotions and behave in a reasonable manner. So, to act one has to unlearn these habits, to train oneself to speak out, to respond quickly, to act forcefully, irrespective of what one feels and in so doing to create the habit, not of ”understanding”, not of “attributing” the moment, but of giving up control and, in so doing, giving oneself up to the play.’

Fast forward a few sentences, he writes:

‘In life, there is no emotional preparation for loss, grief, surprise, betrayal, discovery; and there is none on stage either. Forget the funny voices, pick up your cue, and speak out even though frightened’

Once again he’s saying: react. Don’t give yourself time to prepare for what you’re going to say. If you’re scared, take it with you. That’s what makes it real.

4. You are your character

‘The ideas, organisations, actions, and people you support and dedicate yourself to, mold and finally are your character. Any other definition is the jabbering of the uncommitted. Certainly the weak would like you to believe that character is a costume which can be put on and taken off at will. And from time to time we’d all like to believe it. But that doesn’t make it true.’

At the beginning of this post I wrote that there are certain things that I don’t know if I completely agree with. This might be one of those things. Mamet talks about the character as being you. Your idea’s, actions, etc. Yet he expresses a strong opinion against Method acting. I do see how you could say that you can only play something that’s already inside of you, similarly to the fact that you can only dream about something you’ve already seen. I just think that there might be characters so far away from you that this philosophy doesn’t really work on.

5. You are unique

‘You are not one of the myriad of interchangeable pieces, but a unique human being, and if you’ve got something to say, say it, and think well of yourself while you’re learning to say it better.’

This one was just short and sweet. I liked the way he worded this. It’s also a great reminder that we as actors can always work to improve our craft, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be confident performing the way we are right now.

6. Nothing to do with hard work

‘Historically, the artist has been feared because his or her job has nothing to do with hard work. There’s nothing you or I could do to enable us to paint like Caravaggio, or to skate like Wayne Gretsky. We could work all day every day for millennia, and we would never achieve that goal.’

Mamet’s outlook on art. An artist isn’t just an artist because he worked hard and put a lot of hours into something. It’s because he brings something unique that can’t be learned.

Now, if you think at our halfway point “Hmmm I think I’ll get this book myself to see what else this man has to say”, Here’s your link:

7. The rehearsal process

‘What should happen in a rehearsal process? Two things.

The play should be blocked.
The actors should become acquainted with the actions they are going to perform.’

Mamet believes that everything other than these two things are unnecessary. Character work, understanding the script, you don’t have to spend time on that. Just say the lines as they were written in the script.

8. Your job to be truthful and brave

‘I don’t know what talent is, and, frankly, I don’t care. I do not think it’s the actor‘s job to be interesting. I think that is the job of the script. I think it’s the actor’s job to be truthful and brave– both qualities that can be developed and exercised through the will.’

This comes back throughout the book a few times. It’s not up to the actor to be interesting or funny. The script either is or isn’t and if it isn’t, there is nothing you can do to fix it.

He does say however, that the braveness and truthfulness you need, you can work on. You can learn to be an actor, when you understand what it means to be an actor.

9. Things you can or can’t avoid

‘Cultivate the habit of only having aversion for those things you can avoid (those things in yourself) and only desiring those things that you can give yourself. Improve yourself.’

I know it’s easier said than done, but the realisation that it makes no difference to worry about stuff out of your reach will help you be at peace with all that seems to happen to you. Rejections, missed opportunities, these things will happen the way they do and all you can influence is your reaction to them. Improve your skills and keep working!

10. To face the world is brave

‘To face the world is brave. To turn outward rather than inward and face the world which you would have to face in any case- such may not always win the day, but it will always allow you to live the day as an adult.’

This one kind of circles back to the first takeaway about outward-directedness and the third one about speaking out, responding quickly, and acting forcefully. Let the world see your emotions, take your nervousness and uncertainty with you and step into the spotlight despite it.

11. The audience will accept anything

‘The audience will accept everything they are not given a reason to disbelieve.’

Mamet goes on to give an example. When someone is pointed out to us as being rich, we begin to look at them a little differently. We observe how a rich person drinks their tea and lights their cigarette even though they have done nothing. A characteristic was ascribed to them and we accepted it.

He continues by saying that this characterisation is the job of the script, not of the actor. ‘You don’t have to portray the hero or the villain. That’s been done for you by the script.’

12. Show the audience some heroism

‘You can show the audience some heroism. That’s why they came to the theater. They didn’t come to see “technique”, whatever that may be. You are going to bring your unpreparedness, your insecurities, your insufficiency to the stage whatever you do. When you step on stage, they come with you. Go on stage and act in spite of them. Nothing you do can conceal them. Nor should they be concealed.

And when you go on stage determined to act, that is, to get what you came for, and not be denied, you can come offstage at peace’

Go on stage and be unapologetically yourself. You’re going to be nervous and maybe even feel unprepared. Often we convince ourselves we need more. More time, more practice, more knowledge. But the best teacher is the stage. Have your goal clear and step onto that stage fighting for that goal.

And with that we’ve come to the end of this article. I hope these sections from David Mamet’s book inspired you and made you think about your own opinions on some of these topics. Have these snippets piqued your interest and would you like to read the rest by yourself? be sure to get a copy!

Let me know what you thought in the comments!

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Holly Jackson’s ‘Five Survive’: Review

Eva Machek — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 13:30:49 +0000

Writer: Holly Jackson // Release: 2022

My rating:

Holly Jackson is on a roll! After her immense success with the ‘A good girl’s guide to murder’ series, she has written another thriller. Plot twists, shock and suspense are all wrapped up in this well written 389 page book. When I saw this book in a bookstore, I knew I had to get it. Obviously because I love Holly Jackson, but also the logline!:

“Eight hours, six friends, one sniper.”

Tell me that doesn’t make you super curious about this story. Holly Jackson managed to write 8 hours into 389 pages on basically one location and I’ve never once felt bored. The pacing is surprisingly fast. You know from the start how this book will end: five survive. But every chapter something comes to light that leaves you guessing who will be the one that dies, and when? and why?

Summary

“Red Kenny is on a road trip with five friends when their RV breaks down in the middle of nowhere. This is no accident. Someone is out there – and someone wants one of them dead. With eight hours until dawn, the six friends must escape or work out which one of them is the target. Buried secrets will be forced to light and not everyone will survive the night.”

Characters

Let’s start with the characters. Protagonist Red Kenny was a very interesting character to follow. She’s not exactly likable per se. During this book, we are mostly seeing inside of Red’s mind, and that mind of hers is very jambled and a little messed up, mostly because of trauma I assume. I love the way Holly Jackson writes out these weird thought processes like you’re following exactly what happens in the brain of a character. Red is kind of an unreliable protagonist. From the start, you know that we’re not getting the full picture, even from our lead. I like these kinds of protagonists that keep you on your toes.

Another character I’ll highlight is Oliver Lavoy. Maddie’s older brother. Even in this span of 8 hours, this character goes through so much development. At the beginning of the book he is the confident and reliable leader of the group, but as time passes and certain secrets come to light, the only thing Oliver cares about anymore is getting out of there alive himself, no matter what he’d have to sacrifice. There’s danger outside of the bus in the form of a sniper, but the danger inside of the bus is Oliver. He’s so incredibly unlikable and selfish it’s terrifying.

Maddie and Arthur were also two really interesting characters. With Maddie, there were hints from the start of the book that she had a secret, and man was the wait worth it. Arthur took some less expected twists though. That’s what I love about Holly Jackson: you think you know where it’s going, and then you’re kind of right, and then there’s four more layers to the story and a weird twist you could have never have imagined.

Reyna wasn’t really outstanding to me. She started out nice and caring but after her attempted sob story I just couldn’t take her seriously anymore, without spoiling anything, I just don’t like those kinds of people if you know what I mean.

Simon was very clearly intended as a comic relief and succeeded in that. I must admit he was funny, and made some smart suggestions. But I honestly still didn’t care for him that much. I think that’s the remarkable thing about this book: none of the characters are truly likable people and the dynamics between all those different personalities is what’s so interesting to read.

Writing style + story

This book was written in third person pov and contains a lot of dialogue, which makes it easy to read. It’s a very binge-able book, especially since cliffhangers at the end of chapters make you want to read ‘just one more page’ every single time. There is a constant tense energy that Holly Jackson always seems to nail in her books. I’ve had a few of those moments where you just have to close the book for a second and stare forward in shock.

Although I mostly liked the pacing of the book, the ending felt a little rushed to me. The whole book we were given tiny pieces of information and then at the end, all the answers were thrown at us in a matter of a few pages. I liked the ending story wise, but pacing wise I think we could have gotten a little more time to process what was happening.

In conclusion...

Overall I think this book is a perfect quick read for anyone that is in the mood for a mix between a whodunit and a locked room mystery vibe. Don’t go in expecting AGGGTM, because it’s not, but I really enjoyed this fresh story that’s just as thrilling, but so different from the trilogy. 4 stars from me!

I will now forever be curious about the freaking curtain pattern Red couldn’t figure out, thank you very much Holly Jackson.

Have you read this book already? Let me know what you thought about it! If you haven’t read it yet, but i’ve made you interested, press below to get your own copy and find out all of the mystery for yourself!

This post contains affiliate links. Whenever you buy a product through one of these links, I earn a small commission. This does not affect the price for the buyer!

Daisy Jones & The Six: book REVIEW

Eva Machek — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 06:46:55 +0000

Writer: Taylor Jenkins Reid // Release: 2019

My rating:

“Everybody knows Daisy Jones & The Six. Their sound defined an era. Their albums were on every turntable. They sold out arenas from coast to coast. Then, on 12 July 1979, Daisy Jones walked barefoot on to the stage at the Whiskey. And it all came crashing down. Everyone was there. Everyone remembers it differently. Nobody knew why they split. Until now….”

Wow. What an amazingly fun story to read! Taylor Jenkins Reid has us dive into the 1970’s scene of rock n roll with this historical fiction. We follow the rise and fall of one of the most influential artists of rock in this documentary-interview style story. And even though the band is all made up, they’re giving us a backstage look into the very real world of music in the 70s.

Before starting this book I wasn’t so sure about the format Taylor Jenkins Reid chose to write in. She really gave herself a big challenge by choosing this interview-style storytelling where characters share their views on their past one by one, but it worked out great in my opinion. We got to know all the angles to the story, even if the characters sometimes contradicted each other in retelling what exactly happened.

This book was such an easy read. I went through it so fast because the story flowed really nicely and the pacing was pretty fast. The dynamics between the characters were part of what made it so interesting to read. It was the disagreements and conversations that made for the twists and turns in their careers.

Fun fact: this was the first book I ever annotated (well, I put sticky’s in it, I didn’t actually write in it). Never before did I feel the need to, but with this book, I just had so many of those moments where I was like: “omg that’s such a great quote, I gotta remember it”. This book contains many good views on life and love. I still think a lot about Camilla and the way she talks about love and relationships. Billy has some great quotes too. The following paragraph quoted from him is one of my favorites in the book because I think it applies to real life so much:

“You have these lines you won’t cross. But then you cross them. And suddenly you possess the very dangerous information that you can break the rule and the world won’t instantly come to an end. You’ve taken a big black, bold line and you’ve made it a little bit gray. And now every time you cross it again, it just gets grayer and grayer until one day you look around and think, there was a line here once I think.”

Reid had taken the subject of addiction and showed it from multiple sides, the destruction, the glamorization, the suffering, the culture and most beautifully, the life after recovery.

If there’s one thing I absolutely love in books is passionate artists. The way they talk about their creative process and urge to tell stories is just really inspiring to me. This book is so full of passion and also great quotes about artistry. One thing Billy said that stuck with me was: “[…] Which is what we all want from art, isn’t it? When someone pins down something that feels like it lives inside of us? Takes a piece of your heart and shows it to you?”

Of course it wouldn’t be a Taylor Jenkins Reid book without strong-willed female characters and lots of feminism. I love how her books aren’t necessarily screaming feminism or making it a big part of the plot. It’s just inherently there like it’s supposed to be. Karen is such a powerhouse and Camilla is a whole other level of confident. Daisy does what she wants and won’t be told no. Her desire for self-expression reflects in her iconic quote: “I am not a muse. I am the somebody.”

I’m gonna be honest. There is one thing I struggled with a bit in this book, which was the amount of characters. There were so many side characters that kept coming back that I lost track of who everyone was at some point. Even within the band I kept confusing half of the boys with each other. Maybe that’s just my own memory though, because I’m not the best with names.

To conclude this review, I’d like to say: GET THIS BOOK. I feel like this is one of those stories you just have to have read. It shines a little light on part of the world you haven’t seen yet and it stays with you for a long time. Apart from that, it’s also just super fun!!

If you’re inspired, and can’t wait to get started: I got you. Click this quick link to get your copy as soon as possible!

And then when you’re done, there’s the Amazon prime series you can watch. I started it and the vibes are so good. Can’t wait to finish it and talk about it some more. Stay tuned and as always, share your thoughts in the comment!

This post contains affiliate links. Whenever you buy a product through one of these links, I earn a small commission. This does not affect the price for the buyer!*

A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder: full trilogy review + Kill Joy

Eva Machek — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 16:37:46 +0000

Writer: Holly Jackson // Release: 2019-2021

My ratings:

AGGGTM

GGBB.5

AGAD

Kill Joy

Starting my first review off strong with this mystery thriller series that I read earlier this year. These books have gained quite the attention on social media. As always, I was influenced and decided to give them a go. With the promise of a great story and strong female protagonist, how could I withstand the temptation? Let me share my SPOILER FREE opinions and thoughts on ‘A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder’ by Holly Jackson. And stick around for my final verdict: Are these books worth your time?

“ The case is closed. Five years ago, schoolgirl Andie Bell was murdered by Sal Singh. The police know he did it. Everyone in town knows he did it. But having grown up in the same small town that was consumed by the crime, Pippa Fitz-Amobi isn’t so sure. When she chooses the case as the topic for her final project, she starts to uncover secrets that someone in town desperately wants to stay hidden. And if the real killer is still out there, how far will they go to keep Pip from the truth … ?”

One thing that will make you fall in love with this series is the protagonist. Pippa Fitz-Amobi’s character starts off as a strong, determined student, always pushing for the best: the good girl. The more Pippa’s story twists and turns though, the more she starts questioning if there is such a thing as ‘good’ and whether she is as good as she thought. By the end of book 3: ‘As Good As Dead’ she’s gone through so much that her character has developed into something not as easily definable as ‘good’ or ‘bad’.

I read the whole series in 2.5 months. Which, for me, for 4 books (if we’re counting kill joy), is quite fast. This was for the most part because this is the kind of books you get sucked into and just can’t put down once the story starts to unravel. The plot twists in these books are so well written. Holly Jackson succeeded in shocking me quite a few times with her unexpected twists and reveals. What I admire most is that every step Pippa took and all her thoughts felt logical, and looking back, the endings make sense, only you’d have never expected it when starting the books.

Furthermore on Holly Jackson’s writing: the way she is able to create so much suspense with words is crazy. Especially during the third book I was sitting on the edge of my seat and slowly turning pages a few times. The pure anxiety you feel for Pippa while reading some parts is memorable.

One quick observation I had is that although there is a relationship budding in the book, there is never an emphasis on romance, which really keeps the focus on the mystery. That’s just something I love. Not every story has to be a love story.

Now for one of the best parts about this series: MIXED MEDIA. Mixed. Media. This just makes the story so much more fun to read. Sometimes it doesn’t even add that much story-wise, like pictures of audio files, but most of the time it’s integrated so well. This way you get information through interview transcripts, text messages, courtroom drawings, documents and pictures.

Personally I loved the first and third book in the series the most. They both get 5 stars. The second book for me didn’t really hit as hard. The story took quite long to really get me interested and it felt a bit smaller in a way, which is not necessarily a bad thing. I get that we had to spend some time learning about what the events of the first book mentally did to Pippa. I have to say though, that the end of the second book is so well-written. Holly is able to really let emotions like fear bleed through the pages. All-in-all, I rated the second book 4.5 stars.

Now ‘Kill Joy’, the prequel to the trilogy, set right before ‘A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder’. I enjoyed it. It was a nice good-bye to the characters and universe. It’s mostly entertaining because you already have a bond with the characters and want to know what their lives were like before things went down. Even in this less seriously themed short story, the mystery is detailed and there are moments of suspense. I rated ‘Kill Joy’ 4 stars.

Ok, so here is the final verdict: If you like a good mystery and are ready to learn about all the secrets of this small town, this series is definitely worth your time. Once you’ve started, be prepared to let curiosity take the best of you. You’ll have finished this series before you know it. I can’t wait to see this book be turned into the series adaptation and talk about that more!

Check out this boxset that contains all 3 books in the trilogy!

I hope you enjoyed this first review on my blog. I definitely loved writing it! Don’t hesitate to share your opinions on the books or my post.

*This post contains affiliate links. Whenever you buy a product through one of these links, I earn a small commission. This does not affect the price for the buyer!*