ACTING

Acting...where do I start?

There is so much to learn, and only so much space on a web page,
but I'll try to shorten it up and give the quick tips here.

First rule...no acting allowed!
Don't be the actor playing the role, be the character.
Go from the inside out, not the outside in.
You don't need to figure out what facial expressions to make,
or where to put your hands or how to stand.
Understand your character, and let that character be himself.
Your character will know what to do without thinking.

Build your character...

Who is your character?  Where do they come from?  What is their background,
heritage, education, family and life experience?  Even if the writer or director
hasn't given you that information, you need to create it.
You need to go into a scene knowing who you are, why you're there,
who your scene partner is, what your history is with them, how you would
react or respond to them, and why.

Just like you in real life, your character has a history.  One that has molded
them into the person they are today.  That's where you do something
counterintuitive.  Create that history in your head, from childhood until now,
determine why your character is the way he or she is, memories of your
past interaction with your scene partner, bring it all in, and then...
forget it all and play the scene.
Why do all that to forget it?  Because that's what we do in real life.  All those
things that made us who we are, are not in our thoughts every moment, but they
are somewhere in the back of our minds.  It's all about being that character,
genuinely living their life, long before you walk onto that set.

Environment...

Where are you?  A corporate office, an old barn, a doctor's office, a cruise ship?
Sometimes the warehouse or cardboard set you're shooting on doesn't
bring the tactile or visual environment you need to really feel the scene's location.
Pull from your own experiences to see, smell, touch, and know where your character
is supposed to be, so your body and your mind can take you there.

Practice...Practice...Practice...

Nothing teaches better than doing.  Student films, independent short films,
whatever you can find to act in, do it.  Don't try to get paid right from the start.
Look for local film schools, like MPI in Troy, where you can audition for student
films every couple of months.  They make films as part of their curriculum, and
need local actors to work for free.  It's great experience, and you never know
who you might end up meeting or networking with there.

Should I Be in This Film?

Sometimes we run across people or situations that make us uncomfortable.
Sometimes we do things that later, we wish we hadn't done.
Most filmmakers are good, honest, creative people.
Some, like in any profession, are shady and do not have your
best interests in mind, and may want to hurt you or use you.
Think about these things when you're agreeing to participate in films.
If you don't feel safe, if you're not morally comfortable with what you're being
asked to do, go with your gut and don't do it.  We all want roles in film,
but weigh the risks, and decide for yourself if it's worth your safety or dignity.
There will always be another role in another film.


More to come...