Actors

Actors

For the average actor

• The rewards are few • The work is hard• The rejection is constant• The sacrifices are many• Most have a “day” job.

Presentational vs. Representational

• Presentational – from the outside in.• Study behaviors from historical periods.– Master many performance techniques• Vocal skills

– singing

• Dialects and foreign accents• Physical dexterity

– Dance– Mime– Fencing

• Representational- from the outside in.– Enter the mind of character being played.– Think their thoughts– Feel their feelings– Win their goals– Cry their tearsBe the character don’t act the character.Which way do you think is best?

Stanislavsky

• Moscow art theatre• Book “An Actor Prepares”– Create the inner life of the character– Discover and pursue the characters “objectives”• Juliet

– Win Romeos love– Win her fathers respect– The friars blessing– The nurses assistance

• By concentrating of winning the tasks of her character during the performance the actor can lose her stage fright, throw herself into the character and convincingly represent Juliet as a real and whole person rather than simply presenting her as a fictional-though admirable- Renaissance teenager.

• Identifying the characters goals is the the key to this process.

Pete’s take

• You need to have the ability to do both.• Actors need to study and develop their

physical techniques. Voice, style, physical, movement.

• Actors need to study the inside methods of discovering the premise of the play, and the objectives of the character.

• You must develop virtuosity• Study it all• Become good at it all.– Juggling, magic, clowning, acrobatics, stage

combat• Read everything……. Not just acting books• Develop an expressive voice and a supple

body

The actors Instrument

• Voice and speech• Movement• Discipline• Psychological– Imagination– Willingness to take risk

Actors Routine

• Audition

• Rehearsal

• Performance