How to be a good actor
Thinking of going into acting. Got the bug? Here's a few tips on how to be a good actor...
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Instructions
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First, have a clear understanding of the motivation of the character you are playing in each scene. You need to understand how each scene connects together so that you have a good idea of what is going through your characters mind. It will show up on screen (or on stage) if you're not consistent or act in unexpected ways.
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When acting, try to stay true to your capabilities and be honest with yourself. This may sound confusing but good actors are good because they have talent. If you don't have good acting skills, you can build them up, but for now try to act within your range. If you don't, you'll look like you're overacting.
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A good suggestion from one of my favorite actors is not to blink too much when you are trying to act tough and get a point across. It sounds so simple, but that clear gaze is very effective.
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Someone once asked Sir Lawrence Olivier what else he should do to improve his acting. the other actor had tried all sorts of experiences preparing for the part including living in the same conditions as his character. Mr Olivier's response was a classic: "why not try acting?" Bottom line: If you need so much external stimuli to improve your acting, you're not a good actor.
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Comments
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to be a good or bad actor is playing the person in character thus giving stories life......
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potraying your inner world, linking your pass memories to the task u've in front of u. leave your fears behind and get engage.
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The point of acting is to reveal humanity. You're never just playing a criminal or a cancer patient or a bereaved mother; you're always playing the human being inside of his or her circumstances. This, in my opinion, is why we don't need said external stimuli, because we're obviously all human. And the same goes for portraying animals or inanimate objects, since these are personified in any play involving such characters. Furthermore, if you want to be a good actor, make sure you are always listening to what is going on onstage. It is not just, how would I react to this situation? It is more so, how would I react to this situation in front of these other characters, or based on my relationship to them, or in this setting, etc.
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Traqqer
Aug 26, 2008
Thanks for the comments, but I think there's some misunderstandings here. I think you've basically clarified my point about the motivation issue. It can come from anywhere (director, script, etc.), but the point is that you need some. Also, the point about stimuli is not whether it's bad, but on how much you need. A good actor should be able to do his job without spending a week in jail to act like a criminal, or in Nick Nolte's case to live like a bum for a few weeks eating dog food to play the role of a bum in one of his movies. -
kevinjh86
Aug 26, 2008
I disagree to an extent with your first point. It's not always important for an actor to have a clear understanding of their character's motivation. Do people in real life always have a clear grasp about why they're doing something? I don't think they do. The context of the script and the director's decisions in the scene can make clear or unclear the character's motivation. On your last point... I don't think it's a bad idea to seek external stimuli. It better informs the actors' instincts and allows him to just "be", instead of trying too hard.
