Acting tips are everywhere. You’ve likely come across more than your fair share. Have you remembered or tried to use most of them? There is no shortage of people giving young actors directions and instructions. How does one separate the worthwhile tips from the poor ones? In this article you will learn a few of the rather poor pieces of acting information. Aspiring actors should avoid this poor advice.
How can you tell what acting information is worthwhile? You can find reputable acting resources. Acting training, class work and experience have led me to know which acting advice is good. Uta Hagen provides acting instruction in her book Respect for Acting. I have read, studied and practiced acting, and I can tell you what advice not to follow.
Have you seen acting tips regarding script memorization? Attempting to retain every word of dialogue is a mistake. You should focus on why the character is speaking the lines. What are the characters goals? How does he feel when he is speaking? How does he respond to other characters? The last thing the director and casting people are searching for is the ability to recall dialogue. Of course you want to try to keep with the dialogue as written. It’s acceptable to have the side in your hand when you perform an audition and refer to it as needed. The important thing is how well you can act. How well you remember the script word for word does not count. Actress Jessica Alba said in Elle Magazine December 2010 issue “Good actors, never use the script unless it’s amazing writing. All the good actors I’ve worked with, they all say whatever they want to say.” That demonstrates how often professional actors stray from the script.
A further dreadful acting tip is telling you to react. Of course you want to react to other characters, but you don’t want to plan your reactions. Faked body language appear fake. When you hear someone in the industry say an actor is “chewing the scenery”, this is what they mean. Jim Carrey has made a career of it. Movies like Liar, Liar have a good bit of hamming it up. However nothing beats the Ace Ventura movies where Jim goes over the top in every scene. You should concern yourself on what your character wants and how he feels, and you won’t have to rehearse your reactions. You don’t want to concern yourself about body language. Director Steven Spielberg told George Clooney if he would stop moving his head he could be a star.
You just read some examples of bad acting advice. However there are worthwhile acting materials out there for you. A perfect example of high quality acting information is ActingScenes.com. You will find free scripts that you can use for acting classes. You can request your copy of a free method acting guide. Method acting teaches you exercises like the breakfast drink to help you improve your concentration, eliminate stage fright and develop as an actor.
Click on ActingSenes.com to get the acting secrets PDF. You will get several Disney monologues and lots more.