I don't feel like an actor?

Question

I am a teen and I am still taking classes... I started since January at a really bad class... Then I started to do another class and for 8 weeks now ( I learned a lot.). But, sometimes when I go up and do the scene it seems like I really suck. I mean I don't look like myself and I look really weak on camera. I really want to work on this! I know where I need to work on, but I don't know how because every time my teacher play the scene back i don't look at myself as an actor. I go to class with confidence, but as I leave I feel like cra*! Can anyone give me advice? THANKS!

Answer 1

Maybe if you get a friend to help you videotape yourself acting, several times, so that you can have more confidence to overcome the weakness that you see. In acting, you have to be "bigger" than what you do in normal life situations.

Please read Shakespeare--aloud--even if you have to do it alone. Reading it that way will help you to understand the punctuation, and when to breathe. Maybe what is affecting the "weakness" you speak of, is the fact that most people, don't know how to breathe properly, so that your voice is supported, so that you can "project".

If you can get voice / singing lessons, this may also help!
Good luck, keep at it. Look at James Earl Jones -- beautiful sonorous voice, and HE used to be a stutterer!

Answer 2

Sure, you have to learn what acting is and how to do it. It is really quite simple. One problem is that you likely have not been in many if any stage plays, which is where you really learn to act. I help people become actors for free, if you want my help, click on my name, read my profile and write to me at my aol address