Actor Tips: Difference between revisions

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* A big part is about making the small parts work.
* A big part is about making the small parts work.
* Yeah, yeah, "no big parts, only small actors" ... it is a "part", not the whole.
* Yeah, yeah, "no big parts, only small actors" ... it is a "part", not the whole.
** [[Black Adder|I've got a big part of my own! WOOF!]]
** [[Blackadder|I've got a big part of my own! WOOF!]]
* Sometimes you get onto the set and realise that you've made a mistake. The script is corny, the sets are cheap and ''you're'' the only actor there you've ever heard of. [[Ham and Cheese|Suck it up, give it your best shot and try and have fun.]] Order a [[Large Ham]] if necessary. The audience will love you for it. For tips, see Jeremy Irons in ''Dungeons & Dragons'', Raul Julia in ''[[Street Fighter (Film)|Street Fighter]]'', and pretty much everything [[Brian Blessed]] has ever done.
* Sometimes you get onto the set and realise that you've made a mistake. The script is corny, the sets are cheap and ''you're'' the only actor there you've ever heard of. [[Ham and Cheese|Suck it up, give it your best shot and try and have fun.]] Order a [[Large Ham]] if necessary. The audience will love you for it. For tips, see Jeremy Irons in ''Dungeons & Dragons'', Raul Julia in ''[[Street Fighter (film)|Street Fighter]]'', and pretty much everything [[Brian Blessed]] has ever done.
* If you don't want everyone to know how often you screw up, swear as much as possible when you do. This will keep it off [[Blooper]] reels. Or make you look really naughty, which might be a way to up your street-cred.
* If you don't want everyone to know how often you screw up, swear as much as possible when you do. This will keep it off [[Blooper]] reels. Or make you look really naughty, which might be a way to up your street-cred.
* If your show/movie releases bloopers reels, remember that people will see them, and will want to be entertained. When you mess up, mess up ''big'', be funny if you can, be nice to your costars when they screw up (although snarking at them is all good if you can snark well), and above all, ''laugh at yourself''. No one likes a humorless arrogant drudge who takes himself too seriously, no matter how good an actor you may be. Additionally, this will not only make your bloopers good, but will probably make Act 7 Scene 6 Take 12 a lot easier on yourself and everyone you're working with.
* If your show/movie releases bloopers reels, remember that people will see them, and will want to be entertained. When you mess up, mess up ''big'', be funny if you can, be nice to your costars when they screw up (although snarking at them is all good if you can snark well), and above all, ''laugh at yourself''. No one likes a humorless arrogant drudge who takes himself too seriously, no matter how good an actor you may be. Additionally, this will not only make your bloopers good, but will probably make Act 7 Scene 6 Take 12 a lot easier on yourself and everyone you're working with.
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** Try not to be dumber than the hero character you are known for playing. "Would Captain Y do what I am about to do?"
** Try not to be dumber than the hero character you are known for playing. "Would Captain Y do what I am about to do?"
*** A strong example of the above a story told by Nichelle Nichols in her autobiography, ''Beyond Uhura''. One day on set, a director gave her a direction that she refused to follow; she maintained that 'Uhura wouldn't do that'. The argument escalated, and eventually, the director stormed off in anger and spoke directly with Gene Roddenberry. Gene called an understandably-worried Nichelle to his office, sat her down and told her very sternly that the director had called her 'uncooperative, that he would ''not'' tolerate an uncooperative actress on his set, and that the director had demanded that she be fired because of the incident. He then informed her that she was to return to work and follow any reasonable request the director made. A moment later, Roddenberry got a sly sparkle in his eyes and said with a grin, 'But I told him that Uhura wouldn't do that'.
*** A strong example of the above a story told by Nichelle Nichols in her autobiography, ''Beyond Uhura''. One day on set, a director gave her a direction that she refused to follow; she maintained that 'Uhura wouldn't do that'. The argument escalated, and eventually, the director stormed off in anger and spoke directly with Gene Roddenberry. Gene called an understandably-worried Nichelle to his office, sat her down and told her very sternly that the director had called her 'uncooperative, that he would ''not'' tolerate an uncooperative actress on his set, and that the director had demanded that she be fired because of the incident. He then informed her that she was to return to work and follow any reasonable request the director made. A moment later, Roddenberry got a sly sparkle in his eyes and said with a grin, 'But I told him that Uhura wouldn't do that'.
* [[Full-Frontal Assault|Nudity and sex scenes]] are double-edged swords. On one hand, a well-done scene in a critically-acclaimed film can boost one's career exponentially, and may put you on the fast track to mainstream and artistic respectability. Many Hollywood stars have gone on to very strong careers due to their willingness to do nude scenes -- [[Julianne Moore]], [[Halle Berry]] and [[Kate Winslet]] are cases in point. On the other hand, such scenes can just as easily derail a young actress' (and it's usually an actress) career. For example, if you are an actress who is most famous for [[Ms. Fanservice|her sexiness]] rather than her talent, and you want more than just [[Fifteen Minutes of Fame]], don't [[A Worldwide Punomenon|blow your wad early]] and do nudity near the start of your career. Once your male fans have seen you naked, what do they have left for the imagination? In particular, do ''not'' let your first nude scene be in a [[Slasher Movie]] or a frat-boy comedy, as this can get you [[Typecasting|typecast]] as "the bimbo" in a heartbeat. Compare the careers of sex symbols [[Jessica Alba]] and Shannon Elizabeth -- the former has never done nudity and got steady mainstream work for the better part of [[Turn of the Millennium|the last decade]], while the latter's career burned out and went [[Direct-to-video]] just a few years after she got naked in her debut, ''[[American Pie]]''.
* [[Full-Frontal Assault|Nudity and sex scenes]] are double-edged swords. On one hand, a well-done scene in a critically-acclaimed film can boost one's career exponentially, and may put you on the fast track to mainstream and artistic respectability. Many Hollywood stars have gone on to very strong careers due to their willingness to do nude scenes -- [[Julianne Moore]], [[Halle Berry]] and [[Kate Winslet]] are cases in point. On the other hand, such scenes can just as easily derail a young actress' (and it's usually an actress) career. For example, if you are an actress who is most famous for [[Ms. Fanservice|her sexiness]] rather than her talent, and you want more than just [[Fifteen Minutes of Fame]], don't [[A Worldwide Punomenon|blow your wad early]] and do nudity near the start of your career. Once your male fans have seen you naked, what do they have left for the imagination? In particular, do ''not'' let your first nude scene be in a [[Slasher Movie]] or a frat-boy comedy, as this can get you [[Typecasting|typecast]] as "the bimbo" in a heartbeat. Compare the careers of sex symbols [[Jessica Alba]] and Shannon Elizabeth -- the former has never done nudity and got steady mainstream work for the better part of [[Turn of the Millennium|the last decade]], while the latter's career burned out and went [[Direct to Video]] just a few years after she got naked in her debut, ''[[American Pie]]''.
* Talk show appearances are all about promoting your film. Just go with it.
* Talk show appearances are all about promoting your film. Just go with it.
* Babies aren't a fad.
* Babies aren't a fad.
* Try to look disheveled. If you're playing a scene where your character just ran thirty kilometers and fought a giant spider...muss your hair up. Look at [[Viggo Mortensen]] -- he's mastered the art of staying drop-dead-sexy while looking like an absolute mess.
* Try to look disheveled. If you're playing a scene where your character just ran thirty kilometers and fought a giant spider...muss your hair up. Look at [[Viggo Mortensen]] -- he's mastered the art of staying drop-dead-sexy while looking like an absolute mess.
** On that note: YOU DON'T ALWAYS NEED TO BE SEXY. This is an especially big problem for female actors, but males are susceptible too. Your character is bound to go through some emotional and physical states that make their features look goofy or ugly. Just relax, and act for crying out loud. We'll love you for it! Actors who try to constantly keep up their sex appeal (or "cool" factor) wind up with the charm and screen presence of a good-looking lampshade (not the [[Lampshade Hanging|fun kind]]).
** On that note: YOU DON'T ALWAYS NEED TO BE SEXY. This is an especially big problem for female actors, but males are susceptible too. Your character is bound to go through some emotional and physical states that make their features look goofy or ugly. Just relax, and act for crying out loud. We'll love you for it! Actors who try to constantly keep up their sex appeal (or "cool" factor) wind up with the charm and screen presence of a good-looking lampshade (not the [[Lampshade Hanging|fun kind]]).
*** [[Julia Roberts]] is good about doing this -- check out ''Runaway Bride'' or ''[[Conspiracy Theory (Film)|Conspiracy Theory]]'' for examples.
*** [[Julia Roberts]] is good about doing this -- check out ''Runaway Bride'' or ''[[Conspiracy Theory (film)|Conspiracy Theory]]'' for examples.
*** We're looking at you, [[Angelina Jolie]] -- hell, just play a character once in a while that looks/talks or even acts like a normal person.
*** We're looking at you, [[Angelina Jolie]] -- hell, just play a character once in a while that looks/talks or even acts like a normal person.
* Your character crying is not the main point of a sad scene; making your ''audience'' cry is. If your character's just been [[Break the Cutie|emotionally crushed]], speaking the lines called for in a very quiet and simple tone will usually result in enough tears in the theatre without you adding to the flood.
* Your character crying is not the main point of a sad scene; making your ''audience'' cry is. If your character's just been [[Break the Cutie|emotionally crushed]], speaking the lines called for in a very quiet and simple tone will usually result in enough tears in the theatre without you adding to the flood.
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* When possible (and if the director is cool with it), make the character your own. This works particularly well if you were badly cast, recognize that fact, and are willing to accept it. If you're a woman cast in a traditionally male role, play with it (particularly in musicals -- girls often have a much larger range than guys, meaning you can play with solos a LOT more). If you're a huge, hulking, 6'7" guy cast as "[[Name McAdjective|Tiny McShort]]", your work is practically done for you -- [[Chewing the Scenery|ham it up]]! Just go out there, have fun, and pretend you aren't one screwup away from a cardboard box on the street.
* When possible (and if the director is cool with it), make the character your own. This works particularly well if you were badly cast, recognize that fact, and are willing to accept it. If you're a woman cast in a traditionally male role, play with it (particularly in musicals -- girls often have a much larger range than guys, meaning you can play with solos a LOT more). If you're a huge, hulking, 6'7" guy cast as "[[Name McAdjective|Tiny McShort]]", your work is practically done for you -- [[Chewing the Scenery|ham it up]]! Just go out there, have fun, and pretend you aren't one screwup away from a cardboard box on the street.
** But "making the character your own" does ''not'' mean "play the character differently no matter what". Playing a role differently than commonly portrayed just for the sake of being unique is not a good thing because you focus more on past actors' performances rather than on the character itself. On the other hand don't just portray them how they have always been ''because'' that's how it's always been. Don't be afraid to experiment and try to figure out what is ''really'' necessary. The key is to find a balance between what is necessary for the character and your own acting style regardless of what others have or have not done. If you think the character should be sarcastic, play them sarcastic not because he was ''always'' played as sarcastic, not because he was ''never'' played as sarcastic, but because you think he ''should'' be played as sarcastic. Above all, ''talk to the director''. Work it out.
** But "making the character your own" does ''not'' mean "play the character differently no matter what". Playing a role differently than commonly portrayed just for the sake of being unique is not a good thing because you focus more on past actors' performances rather than on the character itself. On the other hand don't just portray them how they have always been ''because'' that's how it's always been. Don't be afraid to experiment and try to figure out what is ''really'' necessary. The key is to find a balance between what is necessary for the character and your own acting style regardless of what others have or have not done. If you think the character should be sarcastic, play them sarcastic not because he was ''always'' played as sarcastic, not because he was ''never'' played as sarcastic, but because you think he ''should'' be played as sarcastic. Above all, ''talk to the director''. Work it out.
* If you're shooting the last episode of your series & you're pissed about it or don't like the script or whatever, still don't act like [[Gone With the Wind|you don't give a damn]]! You ''are'' actors. See the main cast of ''[[Star Trek Enterprise]]'' during their final episode.
* If you're shooting the last episode of your series & you're pissed about it or don't like the script or whatever, still don't act like [[Gone with the Wind|you don't give a damn]]! You ''are'' actors. See the main cast of ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]'' during their final episode.
* Don't get pissed if someone has some critiques about your performance -- listen to what they have to say! Yes, you know what you were trying to create. It's the people who were watching who know what you ''did create''. What really came across may be very different than what you intended. Listen to them.
* Don't get pissed if someone has some critiques about your performance -- listen to what they have to say! Yes, you know what you were trying to create. It's the people who were watching who know what you ''did create''. What really came across may be very different than what you intended. Listen to them.
* Sometimes, as mentioned above, a performer can perform best when they perform a character totally different from themselves. So if you're playing the villain when you wanted to play the hero or whatever -- just have fun with it! It might be better than you expect.
* Sometimes, as mentioned above, a performer can perform best when they perform a character totally different from themselves. So if you're playing the villain when you wanted to play the hero or whatever -- just have fun with it! It might be better than you expect.
* If you're playing a cute character... ''Don't. Squeak.'' (see [[Final Fantasy XIII (Video Game)|Oerba de Vanille]].) And playing a [[Yamato Nadeshiko]] does not require an annoying breathy voice.
* If you're playing a cute character... ''Don't. Squeak.'' (see [[Final Fantasy XIII|Oerba de Vanille]].) And playing a [[Yamato Nadeshiko]] does not require an annoying breathy voice.
* Just because you get the lead does ''not'' mean that you can do whatever you want and be a total ass about it. You are not irreplaceable. Treat your fellow cast, crew, directors, and character with respect and work hard. If two people can play a role just as well as the other, they will choose the nicer one. Even if you're the best actor in the world, if they hate working with you, chances are slim that you'll be hired often.
* Just because you get the lead does ''not'' mean that you can do whatever you want and be a total ass about it. You are not irreplaceable. Treat your fellow cast, crew, directors, and character with respect and work hard. If two people can play a role just as well as the other, they will choose the nicer one. Even if you're the best actor in the world, if they hate working with you, chances are slim that you'll be hired often.
* Just because you're an extra does not mean that nobody's looking at you. Therefore try not to do anything that you would regret like picking your nose or something. Either be serious about walking that dog through the shot over and over or do something awesome/hilarious so that you'll be forever remembered as a really cool extra. Especially do this when the movie isn't all that great. ([[Futurama|"And you extras, wave your arms and make faces. What is this, a morgue?"]])
* Just because you're an extra does not mean that nobody's looking at you. Therefore try not to do anything that you would regret like picking your nose or something. Either be serious about walking that dog through the shot over and over or do something awesome/hilarious so that you'll be forever remembered as a really cool extra. Especially do this when the movie isn't all that great. ([[Futurama|"And you extras, wave your arms and make faces. What is this, a morgue?"]])
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** Calling the paparazzi every time you leave the house.
** Calling the paparazzi every time you leave the house.
** Making a spectacle of yourself being [[Lindsay Lohan|dragged drunk out of clubs]], [[Tom Cruise|jumping on talk show hosts' couches]], or having [[Twitter]] fights with your estranged parents.
** Making a spectacle of yourself being [[Lindsay Lohan|dragged drunk out of clubs]], [[Tom Cruise|jumping on talk show hosts' couches]], or having [[Twitter]] fights with your estranged parents.
** Commodifying your personal life. We don't need to know every detail of your relationship with your SO, and at least let the doctors clean off your new baby before you let ''People'''s photographers start snapping away. If you've got a cutesy [[Portmanteau Couple Name]], it's [[Alien (Film)|game over, man. Game over.]]
** Commodifying your personal life. We don't need to know every detail of your relationship with your SO, and at least let the doctors clean off your new baby before you let ''People'''s photographers start snapping away. If you've got a cutesy [[Portmanteau Couple Name]], it's [[Alien (franchise)|game over, man. Game over.]]
** Leaking [[Home Porn Movie|a sex tape]]. C'mon, folks, no one believes your laptop was stolen anymore.
** Leaking [[Home Porn Movie|a sex tape]]. C'mon, folks, no one believes your laptop was stolen anymore.
*** On that note, while the security of various network databases is a matter of debate now, "my [[Cellphone/Twitter|Twitter]] [[Account/Facebook|Facebook]] page was hacked" won't hold up as an excuse forever when nudie photos of yourself show up on TMZ, either. Especially if the release of said photos happens to coincide with a project you're promoting at the time.
*** On that note, while the security of various network databases is a matter of debate now, "my [[Cellphone/Twitter|Twitter]] [[Account/Facebook|Facebook]] page was hacked" won't hold up as an excuse forever when nudie photos of yourself show up on TMZ, either. Especially if the release of said photos happens to coincide with a project you're promoting at the time.
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