Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Becoming an Effective Theatre Actor

Hiya!! I'm here again! As I sit in front of the computer, I thought of the moments when I used to become a theater artist. I thought of my professor who helped me developed my talents. I remember the time when my professor used to throw anything that she is holding just to discipline me on stage. I remember all the criticisms that they told me like "What the hell is that? You don't deserve to be here." Well, yes, it hurts! But I have to accept all of those.

Tips on how to become an effective theater actor:
  1. Be an open-minded person
            Being open-minded will help you a lot in this kind of business. You have to accept all things positively whether the comments are negative. Take criticisms as treasure. These things will help you become better actors in the future. Take them as friendly advice from your jury.  Always remember that criticisms are given for you to know what are the things that you need to improve and not for you to get embarrassed or to be pulled down.

     2.   Confidence

               Always believe in yourself. Just be reminded that no one will ever help you in as much as you help yourself. You have to overcome your stage fright. It's normal to have stage fright but you should know how to handle yourself in encountering it. Let yourself play the stage and not the stage play on you.

     3.    Be professional enough

                Portray the role that is given to you with your whole heart. Even the character does not fit your personality, an effective actor may portray it naturally. Just put yourself in the shoes of the character that you are portraying. Don't get conscious  if people laughed at you. It only shows that what you are doing is effective.
               Don't be late on rehearsals. This simple thing will make you considered not only as a professional actor but also a professional individual.

     4.    Attend acting workshops

                Acting workshops are very much important in becoming a stage actor. Through this, you will know yourself better. You will know the things that you can do, you cannot do and things that are hidden on you (see johari window). You'll get to encounter the four moods in acting.
  • happiness
  • sorrow
  • anger
  • fear
Practice these four moods in front of the mirror  even after workshop. These moods are the foundation of your facial expressions and acting deals with facial expressions.

I got this video from youtube.com. Come and watch it! Here you may have the idea on how theater workshop is done.

    5.   Always remember that a theater actor is different from a film actor

               Although both of them are actors, there are still differences when it comes in the acting, and expressions. In theater, actors must spread their arms and mouth up to the extent since there is no camera around them and the whole crowd is watching them. All movements should be exaggerated. They need to show their actions up to the last audience in the venue.There is also difference in the voice. Theater actors should have louder voice for the same reason that there are lots of people watching them and the fact that it is done live.

    6.   Always have an eye contact with your audience.

                 Eye contact with the audience is very important. As they say, eyes are the mirror the soul. You'll get to convince your audience that you are sincere of what you are doing or portraying through eye contact. This will make your audience be amazed. Believe me, eye contact with the audience is hard to do but you must practice it.

For you to become an effective actor you have to be the person who has the traits of these 6 tips. It may sound difficult but if you really like it, you can make it.

Am I forgetting some more tips? Please comment on my blog so that readers may know how to really improve themselves. :-)

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