To All Actors...

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 10/20/05 at 11:31pm

When you're developing characters at the very start of a performance, what is usually your method? I'm a bit of a novice at the whole acting thing and I was pretty much just looking on different people's perspectives on it.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 10/20/05 at 11:32pm

Acting classes!

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 10/20/05 at 11:34pm

No, I'm talking about like the very start of a play. What is your "method" for getting into character.

I usually just try to be in character all day or a few hours before the play but I don't think I'm doing nearly enough.

Posted: 10/21/05 at 12:06am

Cruel - are you talking about for an actual performance, or for the beginning of a rehearsal process?

Your little anecdote of your preparation reminds me of hearing about Olivier and Hoffman working together. After watching Hoffman go through this, that and the other thing to 'be ready for the scene', Olivier supposedly said to him, "Wouldn't it be simpler to just act?"

[Carl Magnum]

Posted: 10/21/05 at 12:22am

Live truthfully in the moment

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 10/21/05 at 1:50am

Read A Practical Handbook for the Actor--that's the technique I am studying.

Posted: 10/21/05 at 1:53am

"I usually just try to be in character all day or a few hours before the play"

This concept intrigues me. My characters only live on the stage - I wouldn't be very happy if they decided they wanted to participate in the experience of MY life.

[vbplayer]

Posted: 10/21/05 at 2:07am

" Act well your part; There, all the honor lies."

I had to do it.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 10/21/05 at 2:25am

I'm with DGrant on the issue of staying in character offstage. I don't believe in it--but if it's what works for you, then I respect that.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 10/21/05 at 2:39am

This is such a funny concept to me, I mean for Daniel Day Lewis, or Sir Ben Kingsley I can see no one saying anything, but imagine third girl from the right in 42nd street constantly acting that way, or "refidgerator repair guy" in a comercial. I would be afraid of overstepping the directors vision, and making an a$$ of myself as well.
I always limit my method to the time immediately surronding the performance. If it works better for you to do it longer, then more power to you, I actually wish I could try.

[Beergoggles]

Posted: 10/21/05 at 7:06am

I give my character a history so i get to know them. I try and give each role my own interpretation so that's another reason it helps! I don't think i could walk around all day in character... it would feel as if it were taking over reality and that can prove dangerous. I start on the way to the theatre... i don't have any music on in my car and just sort my head out and then warm up properly and off i go!

[broadway86]

Posted: 10/21/05 at 2:00pm

I give my character a reason for coming onstage at THAT moment, even if one is already given. Something has to propel me on.

[ConvinceMe2]

Posted: 10/21/05 at 2:04pm

broadway86, that's exactly what I used to do, when I was acting. Motivation for every single move I made, was important to me.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/21/05 at 2:07pm

I wonder if it might make more sense for film actors to "stay in character" all day, as they film scenes that have nothing to do with each other consecutively, and stop and start many times. There is not the time that theater actors have to warm up and be in the show from beginning to end.

Posted: 10/21/05 at 2:11pm

Rath - that, at least, makes some sense I guess.

I've always been intrigued by the craft of screen acting. Shooting scenes over a length of time, completely at the whim of whatever forces must be caterred to - and in whatever order is convenient - and have it try to add up to a coherrent whole. Quite a task, I'd say.

[robbiej]

Posted: 10/21/05 at 2:16pm

I read the script, then get up and play. I work very much from instinct. I only really rely on technique when I get stuck.

Posted: 10/21/05 at 2:17pm

Robbie - I would state the same thing, word for word.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/21/05 at 2:18pm

Me three.

[robbiej]

Posted: 10/21/05 at 2:24pm

I spent four years in a pretty good theatre school, studying technique day and night. When I first got out of college, I tried to apply my 'technique', but realized very quickly that it was ingrained (sp???) in me. I didn't have to really think so much about the basics. My mind just went there.

There are days when I get stuck. And there are certainly situations in which I need to remember technique (mostly auditions, because they are so artificial in some ways...it's tough to do one's best work when a paycheck is being held just out of your grasp and you know you have to rush back to your desk job!).

[lildogs]

Posted: 10/21/05 at 2:39pm

I try to enter thinking something simple and physical--I don't do any kind of back story or history or research. Like, "I want to get laid."

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 10/21/05 at 2:39pm

isn't that what we were talking about?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/21/05 at 2:41pm

lildogs, that was totally my motivation for Hodel.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 10/21/05 at 2:46pm

lol! I think sex could be a very common motivation for most all characters.

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 10/21/05 at 2:46pm

I love character acting.

[flaemmchen]

Posted: 10/21/05 at 2:52pm

I only start developing the backstory if I feel that I'm not working well enough from the script alone. Usually, though, I work like robbiej: read the play through and just get up and see what happens.