Acting Techniques Tips

Acting Techniques for Warming Up:


A well known warm-up acting routine involves re-naming your surroundings. The point of the exercise is to break down external barriers in the hopes of challenging any inner barriers that you may have.

Follow these steps:

1. Take a deep breath



2. Choose an object in the room, and rename it. It does not have to be a special name, just different. Example: change chair to elephant.



3. Move on to the next object, rename it, and repeat the new name of the first object.



4. Repeat until you have renamed everything in the room.

It sounds corny...I know. But it works for some.

What I Love about my mom

There is a concept, an idea, a thought: I don't want to be average. I got that from my mom.

She, from a small southern town in Alabama always stressed; "When you open your mouth, nobody should be able to tell where you come from." The second thing she stressed is work. She did not wait or depend on the government. She worked.

She worked. She paid her mortgage. She bought our food with cash. She did not want public housing or food stamps..."It's not my pedigree."

Because of that, work is my philosophy today. You may be a little smarter than me, you may have more connections than me, you might have more talent than me or a few more other things than me, but I will not be out worked or out hustled. I will not. If we run a race, one of two things will happen: you will quit or I'm going to die. It is that simple. And I do not die. You are not going to out work me. I get up very early and go to bed late. Work full time, school and a business. Hard work is the who, the what I am. I even named one of my businesses with that name.

...And this hard work ethic that I love about my mom is what I love about my grandmothers, my cousins, my sisters, my friends and all women who work and work hard. Work to provide for their families. Not waiting on the government for public housing and food stamps. Loving and wanting a man instead of needing one.

HardWork...

This is my pedigree!

HeadShot Format

Format for Your Headshot. Having a proper headshot is crucial to your acting career. Consider a black and white 8×10 photograph. Commercial headshots should frame only your face from the shoulders up. You should be smiling, showing a little of your teeth. It’s not a bad idea to have an alternate shot as well that shows off your body. This picture can be more casual. Once you have a headshot, make sure that it evolves with your acting career. If you drastically change hairstyles or gain or lose weight, make sure to have up to date headshots taken. Remember, you want to be recognized.

Theatrical HeadShots

There are two basic types of headshots: commercial and theatrical. A commercial headshot should be attractive, warm, and open. A theatrical headshot, on the other hand, is more serious, and should try to represent your characteristics as a person. The format for headshots varies throughout the country –- from close-ups to 3/4 shots, from bordered to borderless. Make sure you use the preferred format of the theater company who is requesting it for your area of application.

HeadShot Tips

Little things can make a big difference.
When mailing; enclose your headshots in an envelope that is easy to open. That way, the casting director doesn’t have to struggle with your materials. A simple clasp envelope sealed with a small piece of tape should do the trick. Attach a small note to your headshot. It will gain you a few extra moments of the casting director’s time without being annoying. Your name should be printed on the front of your headshot and your resume should be on the back. If you have not printed it directly to the back of the headshot, staple your resume to the photo. Never use paper clips as they snag on other documents

St. Pete's Monica Raymund

Shorecrest Preparatory School graduate, Monica Raymund is to appear on new show. Raymund has a supporting role in Fox’s Lie to Me, which stars Kelli Williams from popular ABC series The Practice. The Lie to Me series begins Jan. 21.
Read article by St. Petersburg Times' Mary Jane Park and blog post by St. Petersburg Times' Eric Deggans.

Selecting A HeadShot

Get your headshots taken by a professional headshot photographer who knows how to capture your personality. When you go over the proof sheet, view the entire shoot, not just the photographs that the photographer selects for you. This way, you get a better idea of the photographer's overall skill, rather than letting them hide behind a few good shots. Remember, you want an experienced photographer who not only makes you look as good as possible, but also captures the true you.

Inauguration Day

CHILD ACTING TIPS

Television Acting Tips:
You’ve just landed your first acting job on television, and you’re feeling overwhelmed. Episodic television acting can be extremely demanding, particularly when you’re the new kid. The pace is frantic, the writers keep changing the script, and there’s so much to learn. How will you ever cope? Relax. You already have the essentials — the acting skills and the talent. The rest is just a steep learning curve. You’ll get the hang of it. Keep in mind that television is a writer’s medium. That fact coupled with the reality of television production schedules means scripts are forever being altered. If you’re used to features, you’ll have to be ready — to change, that is. The better prepared you are for all surprises, the less harried you’ll feel on the set. That kind of readiness requires a lot of work ahead of time. Just Do it. You’ll be grateful.When things start getting crazy, keep your cool and remember to breathe. You may not think you know how to pull it off, but you do. So search within yourself, stay in the moment, and have fun!

Acting School

You’ve decided to follow your dream and apply to acting school.

Congratulations!

Whether you move to a different part of the country or stay closer to home, there are many acting and film schools to choose from. These tips will help you find the right program for you.Visit the campus. Check out the facilities. Talk to the other students. What’s the atmosphere like? Do students and faculty alike seem jazzed and happy to be there? If you can, catch a student performance. Ask about the faculty: Are the drama teachers experienced actors? Are they well-respected? Do they have connections in the industry? Try to meet with first-year instructors during your campus visit. Ask about the curriculum: Besides acting technique, what else will you learn? Does the school offer courses in film and drama history? How about dance, movement, and voice classes? Will you also learn practical skills for making your dream happen, such as how to approach agents, put together your resume and headshot, plan your career, and keep your books?

Much Success!

Youth Voice-Over Acting

Many actors at one point or another will have an opportunity to audition for voice-overs as well as theater, film, and/or television. There are some actors, however who go out of their way to narrow their career to doing only voice-overs. You may wonder, “How do I become an actor who does just voice-overs?” The answer is: With a lot of training and experience. Becoming a voice-over actor does require you to have a decent voice, but it’s also great if you have a unique or quirky voice. Example of unique would be James Earl Jones. Regardless of the type of voice you have, you will need training to help you learn to sell the product or entity for which the advertisement has been written.There are several classes available devoted to just the art of the voice-over. You can also find voice-over classes within most acting colleges’ curricula. Once you have received training, you’ll still need to practice almost on a daily basis. Daily practice can be accomplished at home (by just reading copy) or in a studio, if one is available to you. You should look for voice-over auditions. Be sure to attend as many as you can, especially when you’re first starting out.

ENTERTAINMENT CREDITS

A writer is anyone who puts pen to paper, whether for enjoyment, artistic talent, creative outlet. In entertainment, a writer provides the words the talent uses in television, film, radio or on stage. A freelance writer is simply a writer who acts as a small business or independent contractor; s/he sets his own pace, seeks out his own work, and pays no one but himself.



A director is responsible for overseeing every creative aspect of a project, from start to finish. From the "look" of it to atmosphere or mood, When a director reads a script he or she develops a personal vision for how that story should be told. Whether it is a dark tale, a story of triumph, or one of passion, the director's unique vision will be responsible for presenting it in a way that no other director would. A director sees beyond the words on the page to a moving picture with specific angles or scenes, lighting, mood, nuance and emotion -- all visually created for the audience.


An executive producer is someone who is either financing a project, or is representing a studio or entity that is financing a project. Entertainment projects can have multiple backers, and therefore more than one executive producer is possible. Executive producers -- often referred to as "the suits" because of their formal attire -- some EPs do not have any entertainment-making experience at all---JUST MONEY.

Just Waiting Around

If you got into acting for the glamour, you’re in for a shock. You may make it to the small screen or even the big screen. You may be required to do night shoots, act like you’re freezing in 90-degree weather, or jump over that thing-a-mam-bob over there a million times. Your days will for sure start early and usually end quite late. For most of those long hours you’ll be just sitting around. Unless you’re a mega star, your chair probably won’t be that comfy, either. Setting up a shot takes time. LOTS of time. As the actor, you’ll be twiddling your thumbs while the technicians do their work. That can get to be draining. How on earth will you be able to deliver your emotional scene when your energy levels are depleted? You may not have a lot of control over the filming schedule, but you’ll be a much happier camper if you learn to spend your “waiting around” time in a constructive manner. What’s constructive for you will depend on your personality and on the demands of the film. If goofing off with the other actors will lead to greater freedom in front of the camera, then go for it. On the other hand, if being around people leaves you feeling dispersed, spend the time alone in quiet meditation. Or you may need some physical activity, to chill out with some music, or to run through your scene one more time. Each role, each film, will be a new experience and may require a new approach. But if you remain tuned into your own deepest needs, you’ll find the time spent on set less tedious. Both you and your performance will be better off.

Youth Acting Tips

Want to keep your acting from getting stale? Make sure your life is interesting!
Your most crucial dramatic lessons won’t come from acting class but from your own life.

Sure, it’s important to go to movies and plays, read scripts, and study the great directors. But if your only reference point is other movies, your performances will come across as flat and derivative.

An actor has to continually fill her/his well of creativity to stay inspired.

For me, I must immerse myself around art and creative people frequently. The broader your experiences and your studies, the more resources you’ll have to draw from during a performance.

Follow these tips to spice up your acting:

Read. Learn all you can about art, music, family, science, psychology, history, politics and theology. Each field in its own way examines what it means to be human.

Become a first-class people-watcher. Keep a notebook with you and jot down dialogue, mannerisms, and interesting situations.

Develop a desire to experience other cultures. How do people greet each other within their own race, age group, social economical level? And then observe those same people interacting outside of their groups.

Follow current events for insights into the best and worst of human theater.

Seek novelty. Do something you’ve never done before, such as learn another language, repair a car’s engine, or pet-sit a snake.Take risks. Bungee jump. Travel solo. Scuba dive. Love and lose.

Love and win.

Live with your mind and senses fully engaged, and you’ll perform the same way. Not to mention you’ll have fantastic stories to tell your grandkids someday!

Casting Call Tips

A huge part of getting a casting call or finding out about open casting calls is working your connections. A good actor keeps track of the people s/he meets. A good actress believes: no role is too small. A good actor always have his/her feelers out looking for leads; casting directors from your previous work might be able to recommend a new direction for you. Be active in the industry community. You’re not going to find any leads by sitting at home. Try to introduce yourself to new casting directors, producers, and writers every week.

Casting Call Preparations

Make sure that your training is up to date and be sure to practice beforehand. Gather information through any connections that you have made in the industry. Whenever possible, prepare by reading the script from which you will be performing. If this is not possible, get all the information about the key players: director, writer, producer, etc. The more you know, the more you will stand out.

Casting Call Attitudes

Here are another essential elements of advice:
Do not be annoying, or needy, whiny, and don’t beg for a break. Nobody wants to hear it. Be confident and respectful. Let you light shine from within. Be yourself. Even if you stumble on a line or two...you can always start over.You can always train more and improve, you can always give it another shot, but you can never again make a good first impression. Remember that you have a set amount of time with a casting director; they have to sit there and audition people all day. Be considerate of their time. It will pay off!

Casting Call Tips

There’s a basic application process behind getting into a casting call. Keep it simple unless you are asked for a package. If asked, your mail-in package should be simple as well: just a headshot, cover letter, and resume. Make sure to put your name on your headshot, so the casting director is not forced to flip through pages to remember your name. The cover letter should be brief. Introduce yourself, highlight apart of your resume, and give them a reason to see you. You can always try to send something crazy to seem creative, but they might just remember the crazy part and forget all about the creative. It’s best to stay professional. You don't want to be remembered for being crazy. You want to be remembered for talent.