EPISODE DESCRIPTION:    
Continuing to build on last week's discussion, this episode presents the next three don'ts in a series of 12 that actors (and writers) should not do., and what they SHOULD do instead.

4. DON'T INDICATE, meaning, don't comment on the work, or tell your audience how they should feel about a character or situation. Both actors and writers should play the truth of the situation and leave interpretation or evaluation to the audience.

5. DON'T JUST STAND THERE, DO SOMETHING, which means, actors should find behavior to justify the text since story is about behavior, and writers should start each scene by giving the characters something to do. This will allow the scene to develop in a more dynamic way.

6. DON'T USE PEOPLE LIKE PROPS. All characters must have their own agenda. Don't have all of the supporting characters simply there to serve the main character's needs. When each character enters a scene with his or her own objective, it can lead to conflict and tension, which is what we want. Actors, focus on tactics you should use to achieve your objective, and writers, make sure every character has his or her own agenda to pursue.

UP NEXT
Next week, we will discuss the next 3 don'ts.

7. DON'T BE A DUMPTRUCK
8. DON'T HOLD BACK.
9. DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE MESSAGE

Join us for some great tips! 

QUESTIONS OR TOPIC REQUESTS?
If you have a question or a specific writing related topic that you would like Zena to consider addressing in a future podcast, click on the link below to leave a voicemail recording for Zena.

https://www.speakpipe.com/ZenaDellLowe

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Zena is currently working on making the transcripts for these podcast episodes available for download on the Mission Ranch Films website. If you would like to be notified when this option is available, click here to join our email list. https://missionranchfilms.com

SPECIAL THANKS
The Mission with Zena Dell Lowe would like to thank composer Carla Patullo for the original music she graciously permits us to use in the intro and outro of this podcast. To find out more about this amazing talent, go to  www.carlapatullo.com

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EPISODE DESCRIPTION:     

The first of several episodes exploring the craft of acting and showing the corollary between mistakes both actors and writers make. In this episode, the first three don'ts are laid out, which are:

1. Don't rush.
2. Don't be self-indulgent.
3. Don't anticipate.

UP NEXT

Next week, join us for more overlapping principles, including:

4. Don't Indicate
5. Don't be a Talking Head
6. Don't be a Dump Truck

QUESTIONS OR TOPIC REQUESTS? 

If you have a question or a specific writing related topic that you would like Zena to consider addressing in a future podcast, click on the link below to leave a voicemail recording for Zena.

https://www.speakpipe.com/ZenaDellLowe

DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPTS?

Zena is currently working on making the transcripts for these podcast episodes available for download on the Mission Ranch Films website. If you would like to be notified when this option is available, click here to join our email list. https://missionranchfilms.com

SPECIAL THANKS

The Mission with Zena Dell Lowe would like to thank composer Carla Patullo for the original music she graciously permits us to use in the intro and outro of this podcast. To find out more about this amazing talent, go to  www.carlapatullo.com

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EPISODE DESCRIPTION:     

As a launching off point into the craft of writing, Zena starts by diving deeper into the craft of  acting. We can learn six things off the bat by studying the differences between the two crafts. 

#1. While writers are often distracted by many different things they must accomplish, they can learn to focus more on the main character, like their fellow performing artists do. 

#2. Actors are judged by their flowery words and how pretty they make a story, but actors are judged according to how truthfully they portray real human beings, which is the true substance of story. 

#3. By incorporating an actor’s way of approaching story, writers can choose which things to describe so that every moment, every detail, ultimately points back to the main character’s internal emotional state. 

#4. The writer uses words to create a world, which he hopes will ring true to the audience, whereas the actor uses his body, which enables him to connect more deeply to the part of story that truly matters, namely, human nature.

#5. It may seem like the job of the actor is easier since they only have to focus on one thing, but given how oddly people behave when they’re just learning how to act, it’s clear that the actor’s craft is just as complex and difficult in its own unique way.

These are just a few principles that we can appropriate from the craft of acting and apply to our own discipline. 

UP NEXT

Next week we’ll dive into even bigger lessons on a practical level that we can learn from our fellow performing artists. There are some profound takeaways from the craft of acting that writers can use to enhance our own skills, because unlike writers, actors only have one concern: to embody and truthfully portray a single character to the audience.  

QUESTIONS OR TOPIC REQUESTS? 

If you have a question or a specific writing related topic that you would like Zena to consider addressing in a future podcast, click on the link below to leave a voicemail recording for Zena.

https://www.speakpipe.com/ZenaDellLowe

DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPTS?

Zena is currently working on making the transcripts for these podcast episodes available for download on the Mission Ranch Films website. If you would like to be notified when this option is available, click here to join our email list. https://missionranchfilms.com

SPECIAL THANKS

The Mission with Zena Dell Lowe would like to thank composer Carla Patullo for the original music she graciously permits us to use in the intro and outro of this podcast. To find out more about this amazing talent, go to  www.carlapatullo.com

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EPISODE DESCRIPTION:     
There are many things about your story that you can discover as you go along, but there are four primary things that every writer should know about their story before they sit down to write. 

1. First and foremost, who is your character and what is he like? 
2. Second, what does he want, meaning, what will he relentlessly pursue over the course of the telling?
3. Third, what does he need, meaning, what wound or flaw or need must he overcome? 
4. And fourth, what tangible, concrete action steps will he take to relentlessly pursue his goal throughout the story? 

Whether you’re just getting started on a new project or whether you’re already halfway done, take an inventory of your story the next time you sit down to write. Cam you clearly articulate each of these four things? If so, you’re off to a good start, and if not, you have a chance to correct it in the hopes that it will go easier for you from there. 

UP NEXT
Next week we’re going to borrow some tenets from our fellow performing artists. We’re going to discover three major lessons on craft that writers can learn from actors. Stay tuned!

QUESTIONS OR TOPIC REQUESTS? 

If you have a question or a specific writing related topic that you would like Zena to consider addressing in a future podcast, click on the link below to leave a voicemail recording for Zena.

https://www.speakpipe.com/ZenaDellLowe

DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPTS?

Zena is currently working on making the transcripts for these podcast episodes available for download on the Mission Ranch Films website. If you would like to be notified when this option is available, click here to join our email list. https://missionranchfilms.com

SPECIAL THANKS

The Mission with Zena Dell Lowe would like to thank composer Carla Patullo for the original music she graciously permits us to use in the intro and outro of this podcast. To find out more about this amazing talent, go to  www.carlapatullo.com

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EPISODE DESCRIPTION:     

 How do we figure out which of our characters' traits ought to be accepted, and which ones ought to be rejected? We start by looking for the universal moral truths that apply to the human condition, which manifest themselves in the form of either universally accepted virtues or vices.

 Or we use a cheat sheet.

Here is a list of positive character qualities that we want our characters to either keep, or strive to obtain. These are called the Fruits of the Spirit:

Love
Joy
Peace 
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control


Conversely, here is a list of negative character qualities that we want our characters to overcome or change. The are called the works of the Flesh:

sexual immorality
impurity and debauchery
idolatry and witchcraft
hatred
discord
jealousy
fits of rage
selfish ambition
dissensions
factions
envy
drunkenness
orgies 

QUESTIONS OR TOPIC REQUESTS? 

If you have a question or a specific writing related topic that you would like Zena to consider addressing in a future podcast, click on the link below to leave a voicemail recording for Zena.

https://www.speakpipe.com/ZenaDellLowe

DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPTS?

Zena is currently working on making the transcripts for these podcast episodes available for download on the Mission Ranch Films website. If you would like to be notified when this option is available, click here to join our email list. https://missionranchfilms.com

SPECIAL THANKS

The Mission with Zena Dell Lowe would like to thank composer Carla Patullo for the original music she graciously permits us to use in the intro and outro of this podcast. To find out more about this amazing talent, go to  www.carlapatullo.com

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EPISODE DESCRIPTION:    
It's important for a storyteller to understand the difference between their protagonist's character flaws and their personality traits, because getting these two categories confused can not only baffle your audience, but can also inadvertently cause harm.This is because story is the most effective means by which the world learns what is good, right, and true. 

Since the heart of every story is a personal paradox, the real basis for story is the internal emotional journey that the protagonist experiences. It's always about the character's arc or growth as they heal from a wound, flaw, or some other characteristic that is holding them back and preventing them from becoming their authentic self. Consequently, the plot elements of the story actually become the device through which the character is able to address his flaws.

But if the storyteller doesn't understand the difference between these two categories, they are liable to have their character pursue the wrong stuff. This would confuse the audience, who has certain expectations. They want the character to heal from his wounds and to grow in self-acceptance and own his personality traits. We see all these things play out clearly through the TV character Bosch.

QUESTIONS OR TOPIC REQUESTS? 

If you have a question or a specific writing related topic that you would like Zena to consider addressing in a future podcast, click on the link below to leave a voicemail recording for Zena.

https://www.speakpipe.com/ZenaDellLowe

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Zena is currently working on making the transcripts for these podcast episodes available for download on the Mission Ranch Films website. If you would like to be notified when this option is available, click here to join our email list. https://missionranchfilms.com

SPECIAL THANKS

The Mission with Zena Dell Lowe would like to thank composer Carla Patullo for the original music she graciously permits us to use in the intro and outro of this podcast. To find out more about this amazing talent, go to  www.carlapatullo.com

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EPISODE DESCRIPTION:     

The self-love, self-acceptance, and self-actualization movement is a good thing. However, unless we can tell the difference between what is a true personality trait versus what is a character flaw, we run the risk of causing harm to or being harmed by others. 

It's quite common in today's climate for people to claim that a particular character flaw is in fact a virtue, or part of their essential self. This created a lot of confusion and turmoil in relationships, and disrupts our ability or willingness to work on our true character defects. 

QUESTIONS OR TOPIC REQUESTS? 

If you have a question or a specific writing related topic that you would like Zena to consider addressing in a future podcast, click on one of the links below to leave a voicemail recording for Zena.

https://missionranchfilms.com

https://www.speakpipe.com/ZenaDellLowe

DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPTS?

Zena is currently working on making the transcripts for these podcast episodes available for download on the Mission Ranch Films website. If you would like to be notified when this option is available, click here to join our email list. https://missionranchfilms.com

SPECIAL THANKS

The Mission with Zena Dell Lowe would like to thank composer Carla Patullo for the original music she graciously permits us to use in the intro and outro of this podcast. To find out more about this amazing talent, go to  www.carlapatullo.com

Send us a text

Support the show

EPISODE DESCRIPTION:     

When we hear self-condemning messages from our inner critic, composing positive affirmations to directly combat the lies is an effective way to achieve freedom from the self-abusive messages of our inner critic. However, whatever affirmations we compose must be actually and really true. The fundamental goal of the storyteller is to always tell the truth about ourselves and the world. Thus, we must avoid writing silly or self-flattering words of affirmations. The goal is not to feed a false view of self, but to grow in self-acceptance and self-love by acknowledging the reality of our character flaws while giving grace to ourselves for our foibles.

Here are a few examples of affirmations that might be written to specifically address some of the critical messages that might get played over and over again in the artist or trauma survivor's head. 

15 POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS THAT COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE

1. There’s nothing “wrong” with me. I’m doing the best I can to address both my trauma wounds and the sins of my past. I’m fully committed to a life of recovery. 
2. I am not perfect. I have made mistakes in the past. I have caused harm to myself and others. But these facts do not take away from my inherent value and dignity. I am a human person who is worthy of being loved. 
3. It is alright for me to make mistakes. The purpose of my making a mistake is to make more mistakes. I do not need to be perfect in order to be worthy of love. 
4. While it’s true that I am flawed, I have a lot of positive traits. I am kind, compassionate, honest, generous, thoughtful, talented and forgiving. Furthermore, I am repentant. Anyone would be lucky to have me as their friend. 
5. I do not need to prove myself to anyone. I need only express myself as honestly and effectively as I am capable. 
6. I am not a bad person getting good. I am a flawed person getting better. 
7. I am not my actions. I am the actor. My actions may be good or bad. That doesn’t make ME good or bad.
8. I take things one day at a time. Do first things first. I do the next right thing. 
9. I am not stuck. I have other options available to me. 
10. No one is forcing me to be here. I’m here by choice.
11. I do not act out of obligation. I no longer do things for others because I feel guilty or because I am “supposed” to do them. If I choose to say yes or no, either choice is okay.
12. I am not afraid of getting hurt. I do not need to push success away or subconsciously sabotage myself. Even if I do get rejected, it’s okay. Rejection from others does not define my value or worth.
13. I do not need to know how to do everything right at this moment. The knowledge and tools will come to me at the right time. 
14. All I have to do is my part. Just do the work. The rest is up to my higher power.
15.  I never fail. I either succeed, or I learn.

QUESTIONS OR TOPIC REQUESTS? 

If you have a question or a specific writing related topic that you would like Zena to consider addressing in a future podcast, click on the link below to leave a voicemail recording for Zena.

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EPISODE DESCRIPTION:     

 This episode of The Mission with Zena Dell Lowe answers the philosophical question that was raised in episode 3 of this podcast, namely, what do we do if our perceptions of reality are distorted given that the artist's job is to tell the truth about the world as it really is? Zena provides four guiding principles to free artists from any potential fear or bondage related to this issue:

1. We can't "will" ourselves to believe what is true; we can only choose to expose ourselves to truth and let that truth permeate us.

2. We must commit to being rigorously honest with ourselves and others about how we feel.

3. We must live in consultation. When we isolate ourselves or try to arrive at truth on our own, we are more likely to miss the mark.

4. We must tame the inner critic, because we are in an abusive relationship with ourselves.

QUESTIONS OR TOPIC REQUESTS? 

If you have a question or a specific writing related topic that you would like Zena to consider addressing in a future podcast, click on the link below to leave a voicemail recording for Zena.

https://www.speakpipe.com/ZenaDellLowe

DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPTS?

Zena is currently working on making the transcripts for these podcast episodes available for download on the Mission Ranch Films website. If you would like to be notified when this option is available, click here to join our email list. https://missionranchfilms.com

SPECIAL THANKS

The Mission with Zena Dell Lowe would like to thank composer Carla Patullo for the original music she graciously permits us to use in the intro and outro of this podcast. To find out more about this amazing talent, go to  www.carlapatullo.com

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EPISODE DESCRIPTION:     

In Episode 15 of The Mission, Zena Dell Lowe clarifies a few of the issues raised in episodes 13 and 14 of this podcast.  Namely, what's the difference between bias and worldview, and what's the difference between agenda and theme? All of these terms are explored and explained to help the storyteller move forward without confusion. 

QUESTIONS OR TOPIC REQUESTS? 

If you have a question or a specific writing related topic that you would like Zena to consider addressing in a future podcast, click on the link below to leave a voicemail recording for Zena.

https://www.speakpipe.com/ZenaDellLowe

DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPTS?

Zena is currently working on making the transcripts for these podcast episodes available for download on the Mission Ranch Films website. If you would like to be notified when this option is available, click here to join our email list. https://missionranchfilms.com

SPECIAL THANKS

The Mission with Zena Dell Lowe would like to thank composer Carla Patullo for the original music she graciously permits us to use in the intro and outro of this podcast. To find out more about this amazing talent, go to  www.carlapatullo.com

Send us a text

Support the show