[Watch the video interview on YouTube here]
Film Courage: Acting is 99 percent text analysis?
Lynda Goodfriend, Actor/Creative Director for Acting for Film at New York Film Academy (NYFA) Los Angeles: Text analysis. I love looking at a new script.
Every script is detective work.
You have to figure it out like a newspaper writer.
Who, what, when, where, why, how.
That’s what creates the scene.
So things like who, what’s the relationship? It’s all about behavior.
We want to figure out the behavior of the character.
That’s what makes the scene.
Ben Kingsley said the camera would rather see behavior, it doesn’t like to see acting. It’s all about behavior that we’re looking at. The relationship.
I’m going to relate to you, speak to you differently than I am my little girl who’s now grown up.
I babysit and have a one-year-old granddaughter now.
She’s one year old this Sunday.
I’m so glad nobody watches me because I am so silly with her.
I’m a different person.
My behavior is so different with her.
Where are we?
Are we in an outdoor cafe?
Are we in a library?
Are we in a scary place?
Are we in a place that’s dark and I’m afraid somebody’s going to jump out at me?
Are we in a place that has wonderful memories?
Is it a place where my boyfriend broke up with me and I never want to see this place again?
The place affects our behavior, the time of day, the time of the century…(Watch the video interview on YouTube here).
Our gratitude to Anthony Leone for crafting this set! And a special thanks to Christopher Pettoni for his work behind the scenes and making this possible!
About:
Lynda Goodfriend is the Creative Director for Acting for Film at New York Film Academy (NYFA) Los Angeles Lynda Goodfriend received her BFA from Southern Methodist University and did her acting study with legendary masters Lee Strasburg and Sandy Meisner. She has appeared in numerous shows on and Off-Broadway, including Good News, West Side Story, She Loves Me, Fiddler on the Roof, and The Boyfriend. For eight seasons, she played Richie’s (Ron Howard) girlfriend, Lori Beth, on the legendary sitcom Happy Days and guest-starred on shows like The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, and Vega$. Onscreen, she’s appeared in Pretty Woman, Taxi Driver, The Front, Nothing in Common, and Beaches. She founded the award-winning Actors Workout Theater in NoHo as well as the Actors Workout School. Behind the scenes, she has also worked in talent management, even opening her own firm, and has directed several television projects.
CONNECT WITH LYNDA GOODFRIEND:
About:
Founded in 1992 by Jerry Sherlock, the New York Film Academy (NYFA) provides an accessible, hands-on education in filmmaking, media, and the performing arts. With a mission to make the film industry more accessible to all, NYFA empowers students from diverse backgrounds to tell powerful stories through a project-based, immersive curriculum. Students work closely with industry professionals, gaining invaluable mentorship and real-world experience while building creative, technical, and collaborative skills. NYFA’s global community includes students from over 160 countries, fostering a network of passionate storytellers. From day one, students dive into creating projects that refine their craft and prepare them for successful careers. With a focus on practical experience and individualized support, NYFA equips students with the tools and confidence to excel in the competitive world of filmmaking and the arts.
CONNECT WITH NYFA
Nyfa.edu/location/nyfa-los-angeles
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New book from Film Courage! – See it on Payhip here
New book from Film Courage! – See it on Payhip here
