Introducing Actors Tank | Pitch + Cue — a weekly series sharing each filmwork’s proof-of-work and the key lessons uncovered in the process. Each post doubles as a sizzle and story setup, a living pitch for those interested in expanding these scenes into larger works.
The Pitch
Proxies: Two longtime co-authors, Eddie and Alvin, walk through a deserted city street, debating their future — and the meaning of authorship itself. Eddie, burnt out and hungry for a payday, has made a deal with a tech company that uses AI to replicate their writing style — their “voice,” perfectly cloned. Alvin, the moral compass of the pair, sees it as a betrayal of everything they’ve ever stood for.
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The Cue
By rehearsing with the actual camera setup, actors learn how stillness often speaks louder than motion. The frame becomes a partner—every glance, breath, and silence carries cinematic weight.
Going on location and using the energy of the streets and the public adds another layer of realism. It sharpens focus, heightens listening, and challenges the actor to stay truthful amid real-world distractions. The unpredictability of the environment becomes fuel for presence and responsiveness.
Takeaways
Camera proximity demands restraint and heightened awareness.
Real environments amplify authenticity and sharpen listening.
“Small” on set becomes “large” on screen—especially when the world around you is alive.
One of the best ways to grow as an actor is to challenge yourself. That can be done many ways: taking on a character that is vastly different from you; exploring a new technique; or, in the case of “Proxies,” filming a scene in an environment that is completely out of your control. Shooting in a real world setting instead of a controlled set makes an actor have to adapt to interruptions and curveballs while forcing them to truly listen to their scene partner because that partner is going to be adapting and changing in the moment as well and you’ll have to react accordingly.
- Logan Cannon (Character of Alvin)
This was the most dynamic environment I had ever worked in. There were so many elements going on around us that we couldn’t predict. Very unlike a controlled set or rehearsal room. But that just made it crackle with life. We were in a “given circumstance” within a live environment and those two had to blend together. It worked.
- David Jacobs (Character of Eddie)
