How can I practice acting?

Question

I don't know many people who will be willing to "act" with me and let me videotape it, and all I have is myself, the Internet, and a videocamera. Do you think I would get anything out of simply acting in front of the camera? After having memorized lines from scenes and trying to realistically portray that character? Or will it be useless because it will just be me in front of the camera, and I wont have any interaction with anyone else? What can I do to sharpen my skills? What do you amateur actors out there do? Thank you :)

Answer 1

I highly recommend Uta Hagen as well, but the book we used in college was "Respect For Acting". This is a mainstay in Theater training. It helps you identify how to portray life realistically.
An exercises that is from the book is to take an activity from your life, examine it, and then see if you can then reenact it as if you were doing it for the very first time. I did this for my Acting IV class in my senior year of college, and chose making breakfast before I went to class. I was doing fine, until I started the coffee maker. It's funny, you don't realize how much quieter a classroom for acting is than your apartment is until you reenact your life. The coffee maker started peculating and making sounds that were similar to groans and pleasurable 'ohs' and 'ahhs'; it was almost pornographic. My teacher told me I did a good job, and I almost finished expect the coffee maker made a last 'uhh', and the whole class cracked up.
Seriously, read Uta's book, and observe everyday life, and remember how people act, look, and imagine how they think. The closer to reality the better for you. Good luck!

Answer 2

a challenge for the actor by uta hagen- great stuff in there!!

the point of acting is reacting- you can memorize lines and you can rehearse, but you cant just "act". there are methods and theories- but what it comes down to is making the words and actions live in the moment. that's what great actors can do- everytime an actor gets on stage or infront of a camera the point is to make what you are doing saying as organic as possible and at the same time , the line you've just said 20 times in a row needs to sound like its the first time you've said it every time! people a lot of times think acting is easy, well its not. not by a long shot. trust me- get this book, practice the lessons in it. my suggestion is to not only practice the lines, but further investigate the characters you intend to portray- where is the character from? where did they go to school? what is their religion? how do they relate to the other characters in the story? when is this scene taking place? where? what time of day? what is the main objective in the scene? etc. its all in the book. when a hollywood actor picks up a script, believe me they do not stand infront of a camera and see what is wrong- there is not wrong- there is only better more appropriate choices. if you have more quesitons- email me! ive studied and performed for years! and the best thing i can tell you about being infront of a camera- get friendly with the camera- get used to being infront of a camera and you can "forget" its there. break a leg!

Answer 3

Practicing in front of a camera is great! Especially if that is the best you are going to get practice wise. BUT! You must make sure you are hard on yourself. And, it sounds stupid to say, but make sure you are able to tell good acting from bad acting. (If you think Paris Hilton is a good actress, this camera thing is NOT for you).

Please note that theatre acting and film acting are very different. Be sure you know what you're going for when you start and while you're watching the tape.

While you critique yourself, watch out for a nervous twitch (wringing your hand, twiddling your fingers, always looking a certain way, etc.) in your movements. Speaking of movements, watch you entire body to make sure you are bringing it ALL with you. Are you moving mostly your top half while your legs are cemented to floor? Are you only moving your hands like a crazy Italian? etc.

Watch facial expressions. Are they jr. high drama class or not there? Do they match up to what you are saying? Are you reacting to what you are thinking? Are you reacting to what the other character is saying? Are you showing subtext?

Listen to your voice. Are you completely shrill the entire time? Can you hear yourself? Are you words mumbled together? Do you add music to your lines? (music as in - not monotone). Do you emphasize the important words and lines and brush away the right lines?

etc! etc! etc!

filming yourself can be great practice! and if you practice serious scenes with stuffed bears, you'll be practicing your ability to not laugh onstage when something hilarious happens.

best of luck!

Answer 4

Absolutely acting in front of a camera can help you even if you have no one else to act with. Watching yourself can help you decide what kind of "business" you should do or not do. ("Business" being what you do while you talk or while someone else is talking.) If you act out a scene that should have someone else in it, go through their lines in your head and react to what they should be saying. Also watching yourself act gives you the ability to see if you're saying the lines the right way or if maybe a different word should have emphasis. Try out different ways to say different lines. Break a leg, and join a community theatre as soon as you can. Only way to get better at it is to do it, do it, do it!

Answer 5

This may sound stupid lol, but when ever I get roles in musicals or plays I usually stand in front of a mirror and watch myself act out the part, acting infront a video camera and watching it and fixing your mistakes is a great idea too.

Answer 6

This may sound odd, but singing along with music. When you hear a song, pretend that you are telling the story of the song. Sing it and act out the song.
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Answer 7

I quite have been in many performs. once I prepare, I prepare in too places. a million. in my room by applying myself and a couple of. in my mom's bathing room (via fact it has an prolonged, finished physique reflect) I prepare how my voice ought to sound in happy scenes, unhappy scenes, and scenes the place you act mad. I attempt distinctive tones with my voice to work out which sounds greater beneficial with that scene. I additionally prepare facial expressions and physique strikes. via fact of this that's clever to prepare in front of a reflect.

Answer 8

role playing with a friend online is fun and i do it all the time but just remember to keep it clean

Answer 9

play gestures

Answer 10

dono