Any Actors/Actress out here tonight? I want to know any strategies you have? These are mine:?

Question

sigh. acting acting acting... it is hard to break into acting. I have a few acting books and a million movies. I learned new things. I thought that in order to be like the character you have to imitate the actor a lot & look at their moves & do what they do & how they laugh smile etc. If you're a great imitator than that works well for you. but I have also learned that in order to be this character you can't just imitate him/her you have to be him/her. You have to understand him/her and go into research about them sometimes it takes weeks or months to get into character you have to convince yourself that you are that person.. and i sort of use Angelina Jolie's way of doing it. For example she doesn't try to fake herself when she acts. she only eliminates the part of her that doesn't fit with the character because she truly is the character. If you can truly play someone that person is a part of you already you just have to find them and ignore every other part of you that is not needed

Answer 1

I don't personally believe in imitating another person or becoming another person in order to get a role. My way is trying to decide who this person is; what is their back story; why are they here and what do they want. An actor's best resource is their imagination (Stanislavsky). Sometimes I try to see what animal this role would closely relate to, like DeNiro did for Taxi, and evolve the animal into the character. Or I will ask questions about the role and answer them as if as the person, and constantly ask why to everything she answers. I know, it sounds like schizophrenia, but it helps. Role development could take month or weeks, Meryl Streep has filled numerous notebooks up on character development, but that can wait until after you get the role. I don't know if this is what you were looking for, its just how I go about things. Break a leg dear, and see you at the auditions.

Answer 2

Acting is a very demanding job, and those who you admire from their movies often times make it look very easy, but there's the saying; "it takes years to become an overnight success"

For me, I started On the production side (Camera, Lighting, Directing) and then decided to go from behind the camera to in front of it. I still have a long way to go, but each step you take is one step closer to achieving your dream.

I think that it's great that you are researching those actors / actresses which inspire you. That's a step. Read as much as you can, Take as many classes, workshops, training that are available to you. Even the most successful stars in Hollywood still take classes, or workshops to hone their skills.

Acting is not a destination, it's a never ending journey. If you are serious about acting, then here are some books I recommend to get you started:

A Practical Handbook For The Actor (ISBN#0-394-74412-8)
(I highly recomend)

Michael Caine - Acting In Film (ISBN# 1-55783-277-3)
(this is a very easy and entertaining look at making films, and what to expect)

Sanford Meisner On Acting (ISBN# 0-394-75059-4)
(This is along the lines of "method" acting which you described in your strategy)

There are numerous other books, as well as free information on-line. But remember, if you truly want to be an actor/actress then the only one who can achieve that goal is you. Before you can expect anyone else to believe that you are the character you portray, you first must believe in yourself.

Never give up a dream, and you can achieve anything.
Good Luck

Answer 3

First of all do you mean method to acting or actually breaking into the business?

Method wise yes becoming the charedcot is very important but you also have to loose yourself. Many people have a "tell," something that screams them to the trained eye, like a way you stand or a flip of the hair. Much traing is devoted to getting ride of these tells of course every time you get rid of them you will get new ones.

Every teachure has different methods but the best thing a beggining actor can do is keep an open mind and try lots of them until s/he finds the one that fits for he/r.

And about actually breaking into the acting scene audition all the time it is good experiance, volenter for local theatres to make connections, and find a class or a few buddies to practise with, that can be really fun.

Answer 4

Hi,

my suggestion is to get into a GOOD acting program with a GOOD teacher. If you had that, you probably wouldn't be here asking perfect strangers for tips. Don't mean to seem harsh, but just real.

I have some more advice for you that consists of two things, that will help you see some things that you should know about your career. Take the Actor Quiz: http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/actor_quiz.html

In addition, I invite you to go and download a free ebooklet at my site called: What It Takes To Become An Actor. It addresses how to begin to build a solid career. You'll also find some suggestions about choosing the right school.

Hope that helps!

Tony
ceo
http://www.actingcareerstartup.com

Answer 5

I think you are way off base. Acting needs to be much more simple than you make it out to be. Acting is easy, it is playing, and it is fun. Keep it that way. Just learn the lines, stand up and speak them honesty into the eyes of your scene partner or into the camera as though it were your scene partner.
My book, The Tao of Acting, Mentoring for the Aspiring Actor, explains how to become an actor without wading through all the muck that most acting training in the US is made up of.

I'll be happy to discuss any questions you may have about acting, contact me at [e-mail]

Answer 6

I think that what you do with a script is very important. Like you said, you research your character, basically. Their personality, their emotions, etc. Then you recall a time in your past that you were like them (it's always possible) and you force that through and make it /you/ again. I think acting is really being yourself, in a way. Acting isn't faking or imitating, it's being able to express things deep within /yourself/, not just some script, and making it honest and therefore believable.