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, 05:04 pmOK well I think we can agree that maybe another forum should be created specifically in relation to acting, for actors. Literally, your definition is right. But I think the majority of people will agree, when you talk about the technical aspects of musicals or theatre, you are most definitely talking about lighting, audio, staging, and various other backstage-type roles. After all, the people you are talking about are called actors, not technicians.
For me (and judging by other previous posts other people too) I check this forum to see comments and discussion from fellow LD's, sounds techs and the other theatre people that deal with the commonly-called technical side of theatre as opposed to acting technique. When you see it that way, tech talk seems to be the least relevant forum to post an acting technique question in. Musicals & Opera or Greenroom Gossip is probably best. If you look at it your way, then us techies really dont have a forum to post in!
Cheers
For me (and judging by other previous posts other people too) I check this forum to see comments and discussion from fellow LD's, sounds techs and the other theatre people that deal with the commonly-called technical side of theatre as opposed to acting technique. When you see it that way, tech talk seems to be the least relevant forum to post an acting technique question in. Musicals & Opera or Greenroom Gossip is probably best. If you look at it your way, then us techies really dont have a forum to post in!
Cheers
- ···
- ···