Introduction

“No, I need the script,” Shirin says as she clutches the papers and twists her body to the side so I can’t reach them. I reach further and take the script out of her hands. “Just give it a try,” I tell her. “It doesn’t have to be perfect.” I can see the panic in her eyes, and her breathing gets more labored. She makes a self-degrading comment to shake off the nerves. I remind her this is class—the perfect place to learn and to make mistakes. I call “Action!” and my assistant starts the camera. Shirin stumbles to say something that resembles the line; I coach her and then commend her on her progress and efforts. As she sits back down to rejoin the other actors, she shakes her head and cracks another joke with an awkward smile, “That’s what two boys and menopause will do to ya. Can’t memorize a thing.”