How To Become A Better Actor

HOW TO BECOME A BETTER ACTOR

As a student studying film directing, I have been subjected to all kinds of acting: good and bad... I strongly believe however that anyone has the potential to become an amazing actor/actress, it just takes a lot of practice, and a lot of self criticism.

Several actors I have met are extremely cocky when it comes to their skills. Many actors deny the fact that there is always room for improvement, but the truth is, no one is perfect. I've come to recognize the best actors are those who take corrections and take the time to really become the character they are portraying. Acting is often seen as extremely easy because anyone can read off of a script right? But it is those actors who really dive deep into their characters that are the best and most realistic.

• Tip #1: Be Natural.

I cannot stress this one enough! So many actors I have worked with feel the need to over exaggerate every emotion, and every action, but who wants to watch that? Unless I'm going to see a middle school play or a comedy skit on Saturday Night Live, no thank you! A true actor truly becomes the character they are trying to portray, and it takes a lot of time and dedication to be able to do that. First, go into a quite room with your script and break down every part. Break down the setting, why your character is there, what emotion your character is feeling, internal and external conflicts your character is dealing with, and who else is in the scene and your characters relationship with them. By doing this, you can take in everything your character is feeling and going through, creating an emotional connecting between you and your character. Secondly, take a few minutes to close your eyes, and imagine the scene/film taking place in your head. Imagine how your character would say the lines. Say it's a girl who has just lost her mother. Is she angry? Is she sad? Is she empty inside? You as the actor and the director decide how this character needs to be portrayed, but if you can't imagine the lines being said in a real setting, you will never be able to truly pull it off. Be careful not to stretch too far with characterization, as some people tend to use too much emotion completely taking away the believability.

• Tip #2: Don't Change Your Voice Unless Necessary.

This has got to be one of the most annoying things to see an amateur actor do, is change the tone of their voice for no reason whatsoever. Some actors will do a higher pitched voice when acting, or will do this really annoying drag on certain words such as, "ahhh- I just don't think, ahhh- I just wish..." It is extremely annoying and down right not natural! Just speak your lines how you would say them. If a director is casting for a role of an emotional girl spiraling out of control from, I don't know, say a drug addition. No director wants to hire an actor who can PLAY that character, a director wants to hire someone who can represent and truly portray that character. There is also actors who add a little laugh before saying certain words. I don't know where that sprouted from, but that is not good acting. Just be natural.

• Tip #3: Take Criticism.

If you truly want to make it as an actor/actress, you need to be able to take criticism and improve from it. You need to be able to recognize when you are doing something wrong, and you need to be able to fix it. This isn't easy, and it takes a very open mind. No one wants to be told what they are doing is not good enough, but try to think about it in the sense they are just trying to help you improve so you can reach your true potential. Some people will have opinions that are completely different from yours, and it doesn't mean they are always going to be right, but you need to be able to try new things even when it feels weird or uncomfortable. 

• Tip #4: Find Which Type Of Actor You Are.

This tip can be split into half, and then split into subdivisions really, but I am mostly going to discuss the two completely different types of actors: play actors versus film actors. Some people may disagree with me that these two types are not different, but they really are for several different reasons. One, play actors always WAY over exaggerate, while film acting is a representation of real life. While both a film and a play can have very exaggerated plot lines, it is safe to say the acting is completely different. Two, projection is key in plays, but not so much in film. In film, there are microphones over the actors or attached to the actors at all times, so there really is no need to project. Plus, projecting takes away the believability and realistic feel, thus it definitely does not belong in film. Three, kind of piggybacking off of one, actors can get away with fake emotions in play acting since everything is over exaggerated anyways. Taking these into account, an actor must find which type of acting they prefer. Do you like acting energetic with a loud voice and creating a live fantasy? Or do you like acting with true emotions and portraying more realistic situations? Every actor is different and are better for certain things than others, which is why I suggest asking your peers and self examining to find out which type of actor you best fit. If you were to then decide you are best as a film actor, you would have to decide which type of character you best portray. If you notice, many actors seem to play the same type of roles, and that is because of type casting.

• Tip #5: Pacing Is Key.

Whether you are going into play or film acting, you must pay attention to your pacing. These two different types of acting differ greatly in pacing though. In play acting, you often don't want to go to slow or the audience will get bored very quickly, and it may come off as you forgot your line, but you also don't want to rush since there is no rewind button if the audience missed what you said. In film acting, pacing tends to depend on the scene. In an emotional scene where a character is revealing a dark secret from her past to her therapist, the pacing is greatly different from if she were having an argument with her cheater boyfriend. In an angry scene, an actor often is speaking fast and flustered, but in an emotional scene, an actor is often speaking very slowly as it is hard for the character to say. 

• Tip #6: Facial Expressions.

Facial expressions are another one of those key elements that will make or break a film/play. In film you need to have subtle, natural facial expressions, especially when another character is talking. To do this, stop looking at the script and thinking about the lines, and just be the character. React how your character would react, and you will become an amazing actor. In a play however, you need very extreme facial expressions as "The people in the back need to be able to see your reactions," as they say. 

• Tip #7: Watch Movies/Plays.

For the last tip, I decided to give the easiest tip, which is to watch movies or plays! This of course though is depending on which type of actor you are. If you are going into film acting, don't bother watching plays, instead study movies. Study how the actors act and watch their pacing. Watch their reactions to other characters dialogue and their facial expressions.

Summary

1. Be natural when acting, particularly in film acting. Do this by spending time studying your script, not for memorization, but to get a feel for your character. Be the character, don't play the character.
2. Don't change your voice unless necessary. It just sounds weird and unnatural. 
3. Take criticism, you'll be a better actor for it.
4. Find out which type of actor you are: play actor or film actor, you often can't be both.
5. Pacing is key: don't rush your lines, but also don't go too slow. Find the perfect pace with practice and comments from your peers for particular scenes.
6. Watch your facial expressions, in film you don't want to over exaggerate, but in plays you don't want to not over exaggerate.
7. Watch movies or plays for examples of how to act. You will learn fast just by observing.

I hope you enjoyed this and learned a lot from it! You can also check out my YouTube channel to see what I am working on at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHwYUvoe_nfh-yVje_h_y1g