Becoming the character..
Mon, 1 Nov 2004, 07:55 amWalter Plinge9 posts in thread
Becoming the character..
Mon, 1 Nov 2004, 07:55 amI am 17 and recently begun a vocational course in acting, mainly because this is a career I'd seriously like to enter, thoroughly enjoying every play, musical I've ever performed in. Also having people compliment me on my work makes me feel like I've made a good career choice
This course has made me look at acting in ways that I had only touched on before in it; in particular in becoming the character. Although I'm finding this difficult, I think I'm already starting to reap the rewards in how I act.
But as I said, I do find it difficult; no matter how deeply I try to look into texts, no matter how much I think about what the character is thinking, no matter how much I try to draw from my own emotions... I don't feel that I am doing it right. However, sometimes my drama teacher has complimented on the fact that I'm starting to touch on it, but I really don't know what it is I'm doing right.
There are probably two times when I think I've become close to generating rather than demonstrating a character, and both times have left me felt mentally numb after performing. Whether this really is a side effect of "going too far", or just me thinking it is, I really don't know. However, thinking for sometime, I've been able to realise two things that might be related to getting it right:
* Being like a child - It might sound silly, but as a child I "played" in the playground by myself a lot, not so much because I was a loner, but more because I found it so fun just "playing" my own TV shows! And, when I think about it, this is probably the closest to becoming characters that I've got. Also I didn't feel restricted at all in the playground, not even slightly embarressed for playing these games alone all the time; totally different to me nowadays (rather nervous and insecure), probably because of being taught and ridiculed by society on how to "act". I'm guessing my raging childhood imagination is why I nowadays love being an actor, and I feel slightly annoyed that I have "learnt" these "bad habits" (And may I add, that imagination is totally still there, but just disconnected from myself, if that makes sense?)
* Dreaming - When you dream of course you usually act depending on what the circumstances are (e.g. evil monster, run!) so if I have the ability to dream then to some point I must have the ability to "believe" that I'm in a certain situation. Also as a side-note, in a lot of dreams at some point I realise I'm dreaming, and therefore am not afraid to do anything, or play out my own characters in these dreams (a lot like me as a kid?).
I know in my head that in some way I can use both of these to become my characters much more realistically, but I can't work out what there is I can do to take advantage of it. Also I need to somehow "unlearn" all the conformity to society so I'm not afraid to play whoever I am. So I can be a kid again!
I would really appreciate any advice anyone has; I have a huge passion for acting, and it sometimes frustrates me that I can't act as well as I know I can (I don't mean in the sense that I'm a great actor; I mean more in the sense that I know something is getting in the way from any restraints). I apologise if none of this makes sense, and again thanks!
~Gary
This course has made me look at acting in ways that I had only touched on before in it; in particular in becoming the character. Although I'm finding this difficult, I think I'm already starting to reap the rewards in how I act.
But as I said, I do find it difficult; no matter how deeply I try to look into texts, no matter how much I think about what the character is thinking, no matter how much I try to draw from my own emotions... I don't feel that I am doing it right. However, sometimes my drama teacher has complimented on the fact that I'm starting to touch on it, but I really don't know what it is I'm doing right.
There are probably two times when I think I've become close to generating rather than demonstrating a character, and both times have left me felt mentally numb after performing. Whether this really is a side effect of "going too far", or just me thinking it is, I really don't know. However, thinking for sometime, I've been able to realise two things that might be related to getting it right:
* Being like a child - It might sound silly, but as a child I "played" in the playground by myself a lot, not so much because I was a loner, but more because I found it so fun just "playing" my own TV shows! And, when I think about it, this is probably the closest to becoming characters that I've got. Also I didn't feel restricted at all in the playground, not even slightly embarressed for playing these games alone all the time; totally different to me nowadays (rather nervous and insecure), probably because of being taught and ridiculed by society on how to "act". I'm guessing my raging childhood imagination is why I nowadays love being an actor, and I feel slightly annoyed that I have "learnt" these "bad habits" (And may I add, that imagination is totally still there, but just disconnected from myself, if that makes sense?)
* Dreaming - When you dream of course you usually act depending on what the circumstances are (e.g. evil monster, run!) so if I have the ability to dream then to some point I must have the ability to "believe" that I'm in a certain situation. Also as a side-note, in a lot of dreams at some point I realise I'm dreaming, and therefore am not afraid to do anything, or play out my own characters in these dreams (a lot like me as a kid?).
I know in my head that in some way I can use both of these to become my characters much more realistically, but I can't work out what there is I can do to take advantage of it. Also I need to somehow "unlearn" all the conformity to society so I'm not afraid to play whoever I am. So I can be a kid again!
I would really appreciate any advice anyone has; I have a huge passion for acting, and it sometimes frustrates me that I can't act as well as I know I can (I don't mean in the sense that I'm a great actor; I mean more in the sense that I know something is getting in the way from any restraints). I apologise if none of this makes sense, and again thanks!
~Gary
Re: Tech'ed off.
Mon, 1 Nov 2004, 03:05 pmRyan Alexander wrote:
>
> Sorry but do you realise that this is the 'tech talk' forum,
> and that posts such as the one above should be posted in the
> relevant category, like bulletin board or musicals? thanks
? Sorry, Ryan, but I totally disagree with you. I think Gary was quite right to post here. He's not talking about musicals, and he's not promoting a show. Neither is he reviewing, selling, or gossiping. What he's asking for to be discussed are very technical aspects of the craft of acting, and surely the most relevant place to talk about it is here in "Tech Talk".
For something to be 'Tech' doesn't mean you have to plug it in. The word 'technician' is defined as, "an expert in technique; one who is known for skill in an intellectual or artistic technique; one who's occupation requires training in a specific technical process".
The word 'technical' = "relating to, or derived from technique"; "having special skill or practical knowledge"; "being peculiar to a specific field or profession". There is common usage in regard to industrial, mechanical or scientific knowledge ('technology'), but this is not to say this forum should be limited to discussions about smoke machines and followspots.
There is technique to acting as well.
Cheers,
Craig
>
> Sorry but do you realise that this is the 'tech talk' forum,
> and that posts such as the one above should be posted in the
> relevant category, like bulletin board or musicals? thanks
? Sorry, Ryan, but I totally disagree with you. I think Gary was quite right to post here. He's not talking about musicals, and he's not promoting a show. Neither is he reviewing, selling, or gossiping. What he's asking for to be discussed are very technical aspects of the craft of acting, and surely the most relevant place to talk about it is here in "Tech Talk".
For something to be 'Tech' doesn't mean you have to plug it in. The word 'technician' is defined as, "an expert in technique; one who is known for skill in an intellectual or artistic technique; one who's occupation requires training in a specific technical process".
The word 'technical' = "relating to, or derived from technique"; "having special skill or practical knowledge"; "being peculiar to a specific field or profession". There is common usage in regard to industrial, mechanical or scientific knowledge ('technology'), but this is not to say this forum should be limited to discussions about smoke machines and followspots.
There is technique to acting as well.
Cheers,
Craig
- ···
- ···