Watch and Rewind
As an actor, I can tell you it’s hard to watch a movie/television show/commercial without thinking about all of the things that are happening behind the scenes to make each moment come to life. As an exercise, put on a new movie and closely watch the actors. If you see a scene that truly moves you or resonates with you – go ahead and rewind and re-watch. What about their performance is remarkable? What is resonating with you? Are they playing a specific action or objective that is clear? Next, take note of how they use whatever props are available to them in the scene. Are the props aiding in their performance? What are they doing with their hands? How are they sitting/standing? Learning how to deliver a great performance while also believably playing in a make believe environment takes great skill. Learn from the best!
Embrace your Doppelgänger
Have you ever been asked the question: do you know what actor you remind me of/look like? If you get asked that a lot and you know nothing about the person they mention – do your research! Find their IMBD profile and study their career. Discover how they made the journey to become the actor that they are today. Watch some of their films and pull scenes that you think would be good for you and do it better! Chances are if someone is telling you that you are similar to them, they potentially are playing roles that would be perfect for you.
Read a new play each week
Seriously. You can do it! Head to your local library and check out a stack of plays you have never heard of. Make it your mission to read a new play by the end of each week. Being talented is great – but being talented and unknowledgeable is not so great. By reading a new play each week, you are discovering new playwrights and learning about their unique writing styles. You will also most certainly discover scenes and monologues that you would love to tackle – killing two birds with one stone!
Keep Your Mind Sharp and Repertoire Full
It never feels good to see an audition notice and realize you are completely ill prepared. Filling your repertoire saves you from having to skip an audition that you feel you have nothing right for material wise. Practice your memorization skills by keeping yourself accountable by adding new audition material to your repertoire monthly. Make it a goal to memorize a new monologue or film side each month. Keep your repertoire varied by pushing yourself outside your comfort zone with the material you choose to tackle. Find pieces that you wouldn’t normally pick up but showcase a unique set of skills you have. Not only will you be prepared for any audition that comes your way – you’ll be keeping you brain sharp for the next time you have a gazillion lines to memorize for the next project!
Watch Yourself On Tape
I know, I know – this is the absolute worst. Watching yourself on tape can be cringe worthy even for someone with the highest self-esteem! However, you can learn so much from watching yourself act. Does your acting professor always seem to give you the same note? Watch to see what they see. Be sure to applaud yourself as well – find moments where you feel as though you truly showcased what you wanted to.
