A COMPLETE PREPARATION
The 2025 Academy Award-nominated film A Complete Unknown tells the story of American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. The actor who portrayed Dylan, Timothée Chalamet, spent five years preparing for the role. He worked with dialect and performance coaches to capture Dylan’s signature sound and stage presence. Music teachers—including a harmonica coach!—helped him perform Dylan’s songs for the film. His preparation even included a road trip across the Midwest, visiting significant locations in Dylan’s life. In an interview with the Associated Press, Chalamet reflected on the process: “I feel changed by the experience. . . . The process of it, the yearslong endeavor into it, the dignity in playing something that actually happened. Those were new facets to my experience as an artist.”
A COMPLETE CONSECRATION
This week’s study focuses on God’s instructions to Moses regarding how to consecrate, or make holy, Aaron and his sons as priests. Their consecration required significant preparation: offering sacrifices, undergoing purification, putting on special garments, and being anointed with oil. This extensive process prepared them for their unique role to the Israelites: intermediaries between the people and God.
Questions
- Have you ever had to undergo extensive training and preparation for a role? What did you learn about yourself in the process?
- What is your reaction to God’s detailed instructions for the priestly consecration? Why were these instructions important?
- What role(s) might God be calling you to prepare for?
