"I feel that the thing that probably aided me the most in that scene with the dog was the utilization and using an actual recreation, affective memory, if you want to call it, of pain"

Ray Walston is referring to a scene in which he had to act out a minute of extreme discomfort. He thinks that the secret to his successful efficiency was his capability to make use of a real memory of discomfort. He had the ability to use his own experience of pain to accurately portray the emotion in the scene. This technique, referred to as affective memory, is a powerful tool for stars. By linking to a real experience, they can more accurately represent the feeling they are trying to communicate. Walston's usage of affective memory permitted him to develop an effective and practical efficiency. His ability to make use of his own experience of discomfort allowed him to develop a scene that was both believable and emotionally resonant.