Solo Exercises for actors at home
1. Just Breathe!
It is a common belief that we breathe with our lungs alone, but in point of fact, the work of breathing is done by the whole body. The lungs play a passive role in the respiratory process. Their expansion is produced by an enlargement, mostly downward, of the thoracic cavity and they collapse when that cavity is reduced. Proper breathing involves the muscles of the head, neck, thorax, and abdomen. It can be shown that chronic tension in any part of the body's musculature interferes with the natural respiratory movements.
When the breath wanders the mind also is unsteady. But when the breath is calmed the mind too will be still... Therefore, one should learn to control the breath.
So, let's start
- Sit comfortably on a chair
- Inhale deeply till your chest is full
- Hold breath for as long as you can
- Exhale and release very slowly till your lungs are empty
- Repeat 10 times.
2. Vocal and voice development
Speak each of the following group of lines 10 times
- Start with slow speed and then increase spoken speed
- Starting with low volume (pitch or note) and then raising it higher to your maximum level (in higher octaves), for example as in "Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Paa, Dha, Nee, Saa" and then in reverse
A.
The sixth sick sheikh's sixth sheep's sick.
She sits and shines shoes,
And when she sits she shines all day
B.
My sister Shreshtha went to sea
To see the sea, you see.
The sea she saw was a saucy sea,
A sort of saucy sea saw she.
C.
A big black bug bit a big black bear
and the big black bear bled blood.
D.
Any noise annoys an owl,
but a noisy noise annoys an owl most.
E.
Red lorry, yellow lorry, yellow lorry red lorry
Red leather, yellow leather, yellow leather red leather
F.
Whether the weather be cold,
Or whether the weather be hot,
Whatever the weather, we'll weather the weather,
Whether we like it or not.
3. Self-conversation on mirror
Have a conversation with yourself in the mirror. It may sound a little crazy, but you'll notice lots of thing about yourself you can work on; Nervous twitches, unattractive expressions. It's a great method for improving your monologues and overall acting.
Vocal Exercises
Vocal exercises would be good. Work on your enunciation and resonance. For voice work, you should purchase "The Actor Speaks" by Rodenburg .
Our recommended voice development exercises are mentioned here
4. Rolling your body and its parts
This is an essential exercise for actors to develop a free body to use it the way you want as a required gesture to accompany emotions while portraying a character who may be totally different than you and your own set physical expressions
- Rolling your eyeballs and eyebrow in clock and anti-clockwise direction
- Rolling your mouth )including lips), same as above, producing loud weird sounds
- Rolling your head in clock and anti-clockwise direction
- Stretch your hands in the front and roll your hands and fingers(from wrist) clock and anti-clockwise, keeping your elbow stretched
- Rolling your shoulders front(clockwise) and backward(anti-clockwise direction)
- Rolling your waist clock and anti-clockwise like a dancer
- Sit on a chair and cycle your kick and do the same with your feet below ankle
Note: Practice each one of the above a for minimum of 10 times. You can go on increasing the number of times
5. Developing facial and hands gesture to strengthens emotions
Three Phone calls and your response
Create the character
In this exercise, you are in your domain either getting ready to leave or settling back from being out. You will make or receive three phone calls. Each call needs to be very different, with a different point of view and tone, to three different people. You are in these phone calls while in the “doing”, meaning you are doing something during the call. Create and cast the person's role (like brother, mother, policeman, driver, your teacher, lover etc.), and hear their side of the conversation. Immerse yourself in the call, hear them, respond to them, and complete the call. As you complete the call you continue your activity and move on to the second call, either one you make or receive. A second phone call with another person with a different life…. Then a third call. When finished, you leave or go back to your activity.
Notes:
Create and cast people that you can create a genuine emotion with. Listen to them. Take your time. Make them important, and be creative. Find something that you can authentically connect to. Do this while “in the doing.” You are doing something or getting ready to go somewhere. This exercise is about specifics, activity, and living truthfully in the moment. Review the calls – are you being real or “stiff”? Authentic? Phony?
Give the phone calls contrast. These should be people you have a very different emotional point of view about. Show us your range. Don’t make them all the same. Keep each call to no more than 2 minutes. Practice, time yourself and rehearse with yourself.
Example:
I get home and am getting ready for bed, and see that I have a message. I listen to the message; it’s my mother… again. I return the call. She’s complaining about something. I feel guilty and irritated when I speak to her. I talk with her for a bit and hang up….. I continue to get ready and call a woman I’m interested in, I’m quite nervous, I like her and don’t know if she likes me. I chat her up a bit and then ask her out Friday night…..I continue and make a third call. It’s to the vet. My cat is not doing well and they tell me it’s time to decide to put her down or not... I hang up and continue.
You can practice this by yourself (In front of a full-size mirror) or with a friend, even tape yourself and review it. Again, a good “eye” watching you and giving notes and feedback is best. Do this once a week if you are self-studying.
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