Actor Tips: Difference between revisions
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* Try not to get [[Typecasting|typecast]] into a particular role, but don't take it so far that you're afraid to audition for a given part. Take the typecasted role, count those shiny coins, and consider doing off-Broadway for your artistic needs.
* The camera doesn't actually add [[American Customary Measurements|ten pounds]]. The lighting and camera angles , on the other hand, can do anything from 'take off ten pounds' to 'add twenty'. Don't worry about it. Keep yourself in shape and at a healthy weight.
* Don't [[Fake Nationality|affect an accent]] that you can't handle. It's a ticket straight to [[Narm
* Get to know your character. Know how they react to information, how they face danger, what they think of their friends, and so on. If the movie is an adaptation, do as much research on the original as you can. Yes, even if it's [[Comic Book Adaptation|a comic book]]. Hell, ''especially'' if it's a comic book. The fans of the work '''will''' notice. Don't be afraid to argue about what your character would or would not say. Improvise if necessary; it's a lost art.
** 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'.
* [[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
* Talk show appearances are all about promoting your film. Just go with it.
* 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]]
** 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
*** We're looking at you, [[Angelina Jolie]]
* 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.
* Acting is being yourself under imaginary circumstances, but that's no excuse for laziness. If you're not a good bullshitter, you certainly can't play a good bullshitter, and if you are a good bullshitter, anyone could still clock you if you haven't done your homework! Honesty makes a better performance than faking sincerity, and being yourself under imaginary circumstances requires that you fully appreciate the circumstances your character has lived through.
** On that note, discuss things with not just the director of the movie, ''but the writer as well''. He'll have valuable information on the character you are trying to play.
* 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
** 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.
* Don't get pissed if someone has some critiques about your
* 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
* 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.
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