« Storyboard Artist Needed At Flipside Films In Ellicott City, MD | Home | Low End High Definition or High End Standard Definition? »
Acting: How To Get Into The Moment
By Frey | December 12, 2007
Acting - it’s the single most important part of a motion picture. A good actor can turn a mediocre script with dialogue that doesn’t flow properly into a decent film. Sorry, but no actor can save a really bad script - that’s asking too much from the actor, and yet writers & directors blame actors for this all of the time.
But, we’re not here to play the blame game - we’re here to get into the moment (consider it an acting how-to). It’s one of the hardest things to do when you have a lot of people staring at you, a director who’s drank three cups of coffee too much, and a fellow actor who just wants to leave for the day. So, how do you get into the moment?
During the walk through (and there had BETTER be a walk through or else the director isn’t doing his job. Note that if he or she doesn’t do a walk through, ask to do one), take note of the surroundings, the object placements, the other actors, the camera, etc. Once the walk through is over, ask to do it again and again until you feel comfortable.
Now you are ready to act:
1st: I know it sounds cliché, but take a deep breath. Depending on the stress level, you may need a second or third deep breath. Don’t worry - take as many as you may need. If the director starts getting steamy and says something, just tell him (or her) you’re trying to give him your best performance. They usually calm down…
2nd: Think about the scene for a few seconds. Where is it going? Who are you interacting with. Do you come into the scene happy, angry, or sad?
3rd: Think about your dialogue. The words and sentences have a rhythm. Think about that rhythm.
4th: Now forget the scene. Forget the dialogue. And take another breath.
5th: Time to focus on your character. It doesn’t matter if your character is a meek person or an ogre, you still need to get seated into who he or she is. Think about your character and think about his his/her thoughts, their lives, the girlfriend that just left him/her… Let it fill you as you get into their skin.
6th: Give the nod to the director that you are ready.
7th: Repeat steps 1-6 until director is happy with the scene.
One of the best things I’ve found to help an actor who is struggling with a scene or character is to assign them a physicality that they can carry with them. For instance, I may ask him or her to imagine a small pebble in their shoe, or tell them they’ve pulled a muscle, or explain that their tooth hurts. Giving these small physical quirks can help an actor get into character quicker, since they can start to think about that trait and everything else falls into place faster.
A funny story: I had a scene, several years ago, in a short film that I was also directing. I was supposed to be in bed with a woman and get caught by my on-screen girlfriend (the short film was really about her). The scene was supposed to be quick, but when the lights were all placed, everyone on set was ready, the mic over my head, and I was supposed to say action, I turned to see an entire crew of people standing in this small, tight bedroom - all looking at me! My nerves jumped as I finally realized that I was with an attractive woman lying in bed in front of 5 or 6 people and we were the focal point of everyone! Needless to say, it was extremely hard to clear my mind at that point!
One actor I’ve had the good fortune to work with and direct is DC Cathro. He makes acting look so easy that it makes me jealous. I’ve seen a lot of other actors that are equally as impressive in their craft, but DC always stands out to me as an actor I can admire. Maybe it’s because he can so easily represent the “everyman” (similar to Tom Hanks), cast into an environment beyond his control. Maybe it’s because he can take a character and mold him into something beyond original. Maybe it’s because he can tell the funniest joke you’ve ever heard, then hear the director say “action” and instantly go straight into the saddest scene you’ve ever witnessed without thought. I’m not sure, but if you ever get the opportunity, I highly suggest picking DC’s brain on how he works his magic.
Acting is extremely important to a movie. Someone who’s never acted before may do an okay job their first time, but usually it takes a lot of practice to be good - especially when the production gets heated and starts to race out of control. Clearing your mind is the hardest thing to do, and yet you still need to remember your cues and your lines. Actors that have been doing it a while know how to do all of that. It’s a LOT harder than it sounds and a good actor can never be appreciated enough.
Interested in Film Making, Acting, and Photography?
Then subscribe to the RSS feed!!
Topics: acting |
Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.