5 Responses to “Any tips for a beginning actor to act real,and convincing straight away?thanks for any advice :)?”

1. lonewoff on June 8, 2010 @ 8:28 pm

   Create a story page. Give it depth and then find some motivations. Listen to the other actors but not for cues. Know the words on the page as if you said them. No improv, some writer’s etc deplore you and some classics you can not mess with. Always stay in focus. Be with character, cast and moment not with audience. Break a leg.

   10 yrs LA ,SAG card and flew off to be a Flight Attendant and beyond.
2. teddybear28_38104 on June 8, 2010 @ 9:15 pm

   I’d say know your script and find a way to put yourself into the story and make the story your story. I think of acting like singing when an artist covers a song they find a way to make someone elses song their song. I feel the same thing goes with acting your telling someone elses story but you have to make it your story.
3. Gabrielle M on June 8, 2010 @ 9:27 pm

   Well, like they said in the answers above me, it’s really important to always STAY IN CHARACTER- No matter what. That means when you’re not speaking but still onstage, when you are entering and exiting, and when something goes wrong. (Notice I said “when” not “if”). That’s the biggest mistake that most beginning actors make. Do your research and be ready to react in any situation- you’ll be convincing.

   I can back this up. This summer I was in a production of “Singing in the Rain”, and I played Lina Lamont. During one scene I got a “pie in the face”, which was supposed to hit me in the mouth/neck area. One night, the pie tin slipped on the actor’s glove who threw it at me, and It got into my eyes and contacts, which hurt and I wasn’t able to see for the rest of the time I was onstage in that scene. That was one of those times when staying in character was very difficult because I wanted more to cry than anything- that stuff stings.

   A second piece of advice is to try and CONNECT WITH AUDIENCES if you are doing live theater. Sometimes, especially in comedy, an actor who can effectively feel out the audience and connect with them, is the difference between success and failure. Acknowlegde the audience and they’ll love you for it. Some questions to ask yourself, “How did they react to what I just did? Would it be something to keep in mind to use again later? Can they see my actions/facial expressions clearly? Is it appropriate to interact with the audience now? Etc.

   Example for that. . . Closing night of another show I was in, during act 2 I had a very flirtatious solo and at one point I went into the audience, picked a poor old man and sat on his lap and played with his hair while I sang. Now, that night in particular, the man responded well to me and the audience particularly enjoyed that bit, so later, when I came out for curtain call I pointed straight at the man and gave him a little “call me” signal with my hands and a wink: result? More compliments than ever at the end of the show about how hysterical I was- “especially at the end. ”

   Hope that helped
4. J D on June 8, 2010 @ 9:42 pm

   Yep, Go take some classes. Not those John Robert Powers or John Casablanca classes, I’m talking Classes with Casting Directors, Improv Groups, Actor Model Boot Camps. That’s what you need to do. The money you spend now, will be rewarded back in no time. . . Go do it. . . . NOW.
5. sr87dot62 on June 8, 2010 @ 9:55 pm

   Ten tips I think that might help you =)

   1. Read the script at least 100 times. Trust me on this, by the time you have read it 100 times, many new things will be found.

   2. know the character. How does he moves, how does he talk, how does he think

   3. Memorize your lines thoroughly! Also, it is even better if you know the other person’s line

   4. When you read the lines, know what you are saying. For example, John: “What a fine day. ”

   Did John really mean what a fine day because John feels that it really is a fine day or was John trying to make a sarcastic comment?

   5. Take your time, many actors have a tendency to rush their lines. RELAX~

   6. REACT!!! Some actors do not react to other actors. THey are so busy trying to say their own lines. Acting is all about giving and receiving. Unless you are doing a monologue, you will always have to act upon your partner’s reaction.

   7. Do not try to memorize your lines verbatimly. You will end up sounding mechanical and dull. When you memorize your lines, do not memorize the words but the thought.

   8. try to acheive the objective. for example, if there is a scene where you need to con a person. Do everything you can to make the person believe that you are NOT conning. (ofcourse unless the director tells you otherwise)

   9. do not act. Yes. . do not act. The difference between a good actor and a bad one is that the bad one performs and shows acting while a good actor just does it.

   10. enjoy acting. Acting is a life time craft with endless possibilities. You may never get good at acting but try try try and love it.

   There are many great acting books out there. READ THEM. . . Take acting classes. Do student film. One of these days, you will find yourself as a working actor. And like i said, don’t be greedy about acting. If you want to be a good actor, stop acting. Focus on what the character wants to acheive and how the character will attain his goal. Observe those around you and you will find your answers. Good luck.