Can You Transform Instantly Into A Character? No? Learn

An actor's transformation into a character instantly

WARNING! This post is only for those who have a passion for being a star actor and just an actor

Are You Ready To Adapt Yourself Instantly Into A Convincing Character? 

No! Your Own "Self" is Your Enemy No 1

In our fast-moving film, television, and theater industry, we actors are continually asked for "quick results." We must be emotionally ready to transform into a new human being, learn our lines rapidly, and create our characters we intend portraying with all objectives and desires of a dynamic creature—all without much preparation time. Now more than ever, the deciding factor in a successful audition or performance is the actor's ability to get inspired at a moment's notice. After all, this inspiration or motivation and consequent instant transformation  lead to real, original, surprising, fresh performances.

How is such instant transformation into a new human being by getting inspired
readily achieved? 

We are born not as an actor but as a normal human being. We inherit genetic characteristics of our parents or ancestors which become a part of our “self'. For example color of the skin, color of eyes, voice, hair, height, walk, intelligence, posture etc. Secondly, as we grow up, we are taught how to live a life as practiced in our culture and family. We learn small things like brushing teeth, toilet habits, bathing, walking, language, social behavior and because we are taught and practice these thinks repeatedly, it becomes our habit and a part of our “Archetype” or “Self”. This gives us a life lesson as well that if we practice any good or a bad thing repeatedly, it becomes our habit.

This created “Self” of ourselves may become the biggest hurdle in creating a character, that too instantly, in spite of our ability to trigger inspiration and imagination.

This brings us to what great international actors use to develop and practice to be in a character for months together. The history of acting and actors has significant names of so-called “Method Actors” like:

• Daniel Day-Lewis. Actor, There Will Be Blood
• Christian Bale. Actor, The Dark Knight. ...
• Robert De Niro. Actor, Goodfellas. ...
• Heath Ledger. Actor, The Dark Knight. ...
• Jim Carrey. Actor, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. ...
• Joaquin Phoenix. Actor, Gladiator. ...
• Marlon Brando. Actor, The Godfather. ...
• Nicolas Cage. Actor, Leaving Las Vegas.

However, in today's scenario, this may be difficult, because of 2 reasons

1. The commercial reasons: You don't get script well in advance to allow you to create a character, shun your “self” and practice it for months.
2. You are not a star yet to get that privilege of “time” which a star may demand and get.

How can you refill a glass when it's already filled? It will get spilled. Or how can you write something new on a paper or a slate already full?  You just can't. The solution is, empty the glass first, or clean the  paper or slate first.

So, what an actor should do? 

Observe yourself keenly , everything you do, your mannerism, how you behave in the different life situation and note down
Learn how to neutralize yourself as what you are making yourself 'A blank' to create a new character
By practicing at least for an hour daily-weird movements, gestures, speech, posture, voice etc which are the part of your “self” create a “blank” a neutral person ready to adapt any new life.
Apart from learning Sanford Meisner's acting technique, I strongly recommend learning Michael Chekhov's acting technique (Join us to learn)

The basic learning step

Is to analyze the character in the script. Physical, mental and cultural profile. How and why he/she behaves, emotions, sensitivity etc. Just go on imaging and dreaming. In other words, create a character's physio-psychological profile.

 Exercises

(Note: Some of these exercises are based on Michael Chekhov Acting Techniques which has helped me as an actor and my students while learning how to free yourself and how be a star actor rather than just ann actor)

 1.Wide Movements

• Make a series of wide broad movements; utilizing whole body and space around you enact the following:
• Open yourself completely, expanded position, return to neutral, imagine yourself becoming larger and larger, repeat “I am going to awaken the sleeping muscles of my body, I am going to revivify and use them”
• Now close yourself, contracted position, kneel, cross arms and head to floor – imagine becoming smaller and smaller, wanting to disappear, space is shrinking around you
• Thrust body forward on one leg, stretch out arms; now make movement sideways and stretch on left and right side (like a blacksmith, beat a hammer upon an anvil)
• Make different well-shaped full movements: throwing stuff in different directions; lifting objects from the ground; holding it high above ground; dragging, pushing, and tossing – use sufficient strength, moderate tempo, avoid dancing, Breath, pause after each moment

Goals: freedom from “self”and versatility

2. Center in Chest

• Imagine there is a center of the chest from where all your emotions, feelings and reactions emerge. Though this may be difficult in the beginning imagining and thinking repeatedly may create this center which will be under your control. Imagine and feel that from this created center, you can sense external stimuli and are responding with natural physical and emotions reactions

Goals: smooth, graceful, artistic movement, creating different body types, overcome “self”-consciousness, experience strong feeling on camera or stage

3.  Molding

• Say to self “I'm a like a wet mold and a  sculptor, I mold myself in the space surrounding me, in the air around me I leave my form by the movements of my body”
• Create strong and definite forms – as if your body is changeable, a movable form
• Mold yourself any form- tree, animal, table, flower, an idiot, mad, man or woman of different emotions and attitudes you see around you using different parts of body
• Avoid unnecessary muscular tension
• Say to yourself “Every movement I make is a little piece of art, my body is a fine instrument for producing molding movements and creating form.  Through my body I convey my inner power and strength”

Goals: create forms in whatever you do.

4. Floating

Imagine and feel floating on water-sea, space, on moon

5. Flying

Against gravity, going up and up, coming down and down, imagine different types of birds and their flying habits and fly

6. Flowing

On river course(rough, still, whirlpool, calm, hitting against a rock and bouncing back), On sea waves

7. Beauty

• Think why a thing looks beautiful?
• How can I be beautiful and artistic in everything I do?
• Be conscious of everything you do and then do the same thing slowly and artistically for example- your walk, smile, movements of your body parts, picking up a glass, pen, paper...everything

8. Transformation

Imagine and Practice:

• A beggar..and now transformed into a prince
• You are an executive turned into a spider
• You are a young girl turned into an old witch
• You are a seed growing into a tree

9. Changing routine and habits

• Pick up any activity like brushing teeth, cleaning table, room, combing hair. Observe how you do it and now, change method or style of doing it, try to do the same thing artistically
• Speak or recite anything you do normally like prayer or speaking style. Now change its rhythm, volume, your gestures etc
• Your walk, sitting on a chair, in toilet etc. Now change it. Do it again and again

Well, the above are some of the exercises which if you practice, I'm sure will free yourself from “Self" and will make you the most dynamic, creative and easily adaptable actor into a convincible new character.

To learn Michael Acting Technique and then how to create a free body and mind by developing your own acting style, join us