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The Nervous System and the Actor’s Craft

Acting is often described as “living truthfully under imaginary circumstances.” Yet what determines whether those circumstances feel truthful to the actor - and believable to the audience - is not only imagination and technique, but the actor’s nervous system. The body’s physiological state plays a tremendous role in shaping how present, an actor can be in a scene, whether it’s in class, in an audition, on stage, or on set. At its core, the nervous system regulates the body’s stress response, emotional processing, and capacity for presence. When the sympathetic nervous system is activated, we move into “fight, flight, or freeze” mode. How? The heart can race, breathing becomes shallow, and muscles can tighten. While this can sometimes be useful in high-stakes dramatic moments, more often it pulls the actor out of the present, narrows focus, and makes listening to a partner nearly impossible. Instead of responding authentically, the actor becomes self-conscious or mechanical, trapped in...
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Growth in Acting: Why You Don’t Always Feel It (Even When It’s Happening)

One of the biggest reasons actors take class is a simple one: we want to grow. We’re curious, we’re hungry, and we’re eager to feel like we’re moving forward in our craft and our careers. But - and many of you have heard me discuss these themes in class - growth in acting is rarely trackable in the way we’d like it to be. Unlike the gym, where you can see more weight lifted, or a language class, where you can measure words learned, acting growth often happens quietly, underneath the surface. And because it’s not always visible or immediate, we often get impatient. Or worse, we get hard on ourselves. The truth is, just because you can’t feel your growth doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. Part of the reason growth feels invisible is because it happens in small, incremental shifts. Each time you take class, rehearse a scene, take in a note, or attempt a new accent, you’re adding to your craft. But those changes are almost impossible to notice in the moment. Acting is also deeply subjective....
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Be Analytical not Critical!

One of the greatest gifts you can give yourself as an artist is the decision to commit fully to your work and your journey. That doesn’t mean knowing exactly where your career is headed or comparing yourself to anyone else’s timeline. It also isn’t intended to make you feel shame when reading that if you feel you’re not ‘committing fully’ right now. Consider this an encouraging hand on your shoulder (mine), letting you know that you can do it(!), and that you deserve to show up for yourself with honesty, discipline, and curiosity for the path you are on right now. I heard this phrase recently that resonated with me and made me want to offer it to you. Be analytical, not critical . When assessing where you’re at in any aspect of your life, criticism shuts you down. It fuels doubt, shame, and the voice that says, “I’m not good enough.” Analysis, on the other hand, opens you up. It allows you to look at your choices, your habits, and your performances with clear eyes. Ask yourself: What w...
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Following Your Heart’s Desire - Without Apology

It’s time to get out of the wide shot and into the extreme close up of your life and your goals. Students in class have heard me talk often about “doing the quiet work”. There’s a quiet kind of rebellion in choosing to follow what you truly want. Not the goals you think you should have. Not the career path your parents or your peers approve of. Not the image your industry tells you is “marketable.” But the thing that pulls at you in the middle of the night - the thing you’d chase even if nobody clapped for you when you got there. The trouble is, we live in a world that measures worth by productivity, status, and how well you fit into an existing mold. In the arts especially, it’s easy to believe that success only counts if it looks a certain way - the Broadway contract, the major award, the agent’s stamp of approval. But these are someone else’s benchmarks. If you’re not careful, you can spend years sprinting toward a life that feels hollow when you arrive. Trust me, I experienced thi...
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The Summer of Showing Up - For Yourself

Summer has a way of pulling us into pause mode, right? Slower mornings, spontaneous weekends, and a gentle permission to take our foot off the gas. And while rest is absolutely essential (more on that in a second), summer can also be one of the most quietly powerful times in your acting journey. Many of you have heard me say ‘do the quiet work’. Chip away at your craft and your career and let the rest of the world do its thing. At Mark Evans Studio , you all know that Collaboration Is Key . And that collaboration isn’t just with scene partners or coaches - it’s with yourself. Your inner artist. Your future goals. Summer is the perfect time to check in with all three.  Here’s the truth: showing up this season doesn’t mean pushing harder - because nobody wants to do THAT in this heat and humidity. It means getting curious . What does your creative spirit need right now? Maybe it’s a reset. Maybe it’s a small challenge. Maybe it’s simply giving yourself permission to reconnect with th...
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What Does Being a Professional Actor Mean to You?

Take a moment. Ask yourself honestly - “What does being a professional actor mean to me?” Not what you think it’s supposed to mean. Not what someone once told you. But to you . If your first thoughts sound something like “If I’m talented, I’ll be discovered” or “I need to get an agent first,” you’re not alone. These ideas are everywhere. But they’re mostly myths - ones that can hold you back and keep you stuck. The truth? Being a professional actor isn’t about waiting to be chosen. It’s about taking ownership. About showing up, even when no one’s watching yet.  Professionalism = Strategy + Consistency + Craft. Let’s start with the talent myth. You’ve probably been told you’re talented. That’s great. But talent alone isn’t a strategy. It’s a foundation - but without structure and direction, it doesn’t take you far. The actors who build careers aren’t always the most talented in the room. They’re the ones who take action. The ones who decide where they want to go, who they want t...
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Expression Starts with Breath: Training Your Body to Feel Without Tension

As actors, we are in the business of feeling - honestly, deeply, and in real time. But expression doesn't begin in the voice or the face. It begins in the body, with breath. Students hear me say all the time “drop out of the upper quadrant” - meaning let’s get you into your body. One of the greatest challenges we face is learning to allow emotional truth to move through us without tensing up in resistance. This is a physical act more than an intellectual/mental one. Human instinct tells us to brace against uncomfortable feelings. We tighten our shoulders when we feel exposed. We hold our breath when we're afraid. We shut down when we're overwhelmed. This makes perfect sense in everyday life. But for actors, this instinct can block everything. If we grip against the feeling, we grip against the moment. And suddenly, we’re ‘pretending’  instead of living truthfully. You can sometimes get away with that. I've seen many people on stage performing the play, but I believe, p...
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