Mike is a machine

So I've secretly been keeping track of 'blooper' takes while editing. Not to ever show anyone of course, more from an accounting perspective. What's amazing is that a number of takes make me wonder if they're bloopers or part of the film. Something will happen in a shot that makes me go, "oh, blooper", but Mike will simply roll with the event and play some new element off of the mistake. So instead of ending in laughter or chaos, the scene keeps going. It's kind of a trip to watch. There are two keys as I see it: his improv background and his focus.

Focus is the essential part. One need not riff on top of every unexpected event, but strong focus lets a scene progress despite adversity. It's an important trait for actors. If something falls off a table in the scene and someone breaks that concentration, you have to reset the whole scene and run the take again which always takes more time. Whereas if everyone keeps going, that little element can often be trimmed out and you have a usable performance that often is blessed with a unique spontaneity. If you're in a situation with a gifted comedian or improviser, that focus is even more important because you might only have the single take where they add a fresh bit and you don't want it disrupted.

Anyone can get caught off guard and break out for a moment and you accept that. Mike the machine is not immune, as one of my favorite moments during editing proves. But actors should work to develop concentration and focus so that between 'action' and 'cut', they never break character.