Star-dust in Hollywood (1930)

Star-dust in Hollywood expression. I had not understood how difficult this could be. On the stage the part must first be well memorized ; earlyrehearsals concentrate on words more than on actions, and the words have time to grow naturally into action. But now I found that a separate memory was needed for each department— for words, for action, and for expression. There had been no time to get the three co-ordinated. Did I try to invent appropriate action I found the words slipping from me ; if I concentrated on the words, action and expression lost their vigour. But even so there was another lurking ordeal. " That's not right at all ! " cried the director, springing to his feet. "Haven't they told you the action? Mr Menjou at the other end is saying that he doesn't want to buy a baby lion cub. His wife is in the room, and he doesn't want her to know that you are telephoning about his debts, see ? You have to get the expression of a man who is astonished at what he hears, you must listen with growing amazement, as if the other chap had gone mad, see ? And then you must shout twice : 'What, what ! ' Isn't that in your script? " " It's the first I've heard about it." "Take your time . . . take your time," said the director, in soothing tones. But it was difficult to take my time with those batteries of lamps waiting, those black eyes of the camera-boxes seeming to crouch in front of me ; the microphone with its mouth open as if ready to swallow my words. In a few minutes with a mirror I was sure I could have invented good expressions, but to grimace at that group of intent, unamused, critical faces was a daunting business. I became very conscious of how little one can know what one's face is doing. I tried again. " No, no ! " cried the director, springing to his feet. " You are now merely being a man with a telephone in his hands. You are not listening to what the other fellow is saying, do you understand? " [298]