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 

5 Top Easy Solo Home Exercises To Improve Acting Skills

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.

Wrong Advice Till Now | How Can I Start My Acting Career?

Ignorant of acting techniques and rejections

I HAD BEEN GIVEN WRONG ADVICE TILL NOW

How truly can I start my career as an actor?

Getting started as an actor isn't that hard. It is one of the few jobs where you can actually just declare yourself an actor, even before you get your first audition or job. People do it all the time.

But, becoming successful as an actor is one of the hardest things you can attempt, with absolutely no guarantee of any kind. This business is the most unstable and volatile in the world - the best actor doesn't always get the part, and it's so much is beyond your control that you have to be willing to be rejected on a daily basis.

I tell actors about my own journey when I coach them on how to be successful in this business, and it has happened specifically because I approach this as a business, and I've become really good at three things: the art, the marketing / promotion and the technical aspects of acting. If you don't develop expertise in skills in all three areas, your chances for success rapidly disappear.

Part 1.

The first part of  my answer is to become an expert at the art of acting: get the best training. As a beginner or if a working actor and want to improve the above 3 areas do it if you love being in school, but if you want to get moving, don't waste four years at any college or university. Initially, better join a good acting coach who is an actor him/herself

Live life. Get your heart broken. Enjoy successes and failures. Learn to Suffer with the rejections. Be elated when you win.

Live...life. You'll need it as an actor.

Once you complete private one on one training, and then if required, join a school for learning how to work with a group, or for developing networking, you go for projects that will give you experience: student films, teasers (trailers), short films, art films, theater, web series, small commercials ads and more. Each of these will give you experience in the art of acting.

But that's just the first part.

There are two more parts you need to get started.

Part 2. 

The second part of my answer is that you must become an expert at the marketing and promotion of acting: as an actor, you are a product among thousands and therefore and if you want film industry should know and use you, you have to market and promote yourself.  And if you don't have business training, find the right acting coach who can help you create the business structure you need.

Any actor you admire, that is well known and successful, is not only a good actor, but also a good businessperson, without exception. They treat their careers the way a lawyer or doctor nurtures their practice. They have a brand, a product (their ability to tell stories), customers (casting directors, directors, producers etc) and they know how to get their customers' orders. They know how to market themselves (get auditions), they know how to sell themselves (audition techniques), and they know how to collect their money and hire salespeople (artist coordinators and agents) to bring them more business.

The above planning will start initially with:

A. Goal setting
B. Marketing plan
C. Plan of action

All of this will give you experience in the marketing and promotion of acting.

But that's still not all you need.

There's one more area to explore to get started.

Part 3. 

The part of my answer is that you must master the science and technical part of acting: become expert in the technology you need to understand and use in the pursuit of your acting career.

This mastery of the science and technology includes creating the perfect profile for audition and websites and grooming those profiles as you gain more work and experience. It includes mastering communications using the Internet, email, social media and more. The technical part means understanding how cameras, lights, microphones, makeup, costumes, your voice, your face, your actions, and all other components combine to tell a story on film or video. It means, to help you to  deliver the best performance you can by knowing your lines and being completely convincing.

This acting business in Bollywood, International Cinema, and TV world has changed drastically toward a less conservative to an almost completely digital world, and you need to be not only aware of those changes, but know how and when to take advantage of new technology and processes.

All of this will give you experience in the science and technicalities  of acting.

The Final Thing

As an actor, you have to love it. You have to want it. You have to be willing to put a lot of work into it, and to remember will be rejected because you're too old, or too young, or too tall, or too short, or too plain, or too hot, or too creepy or...the list never ends. To hell with it! Move on. If you can't do that, you're in trouble before you begin. If you love being a storyteller, and can handle it when you find out you didn't get the part because of XYZ,  you're in much better shape.

I do hope this helps. And I hope you do get started. And I hope that you love your life as an actor as much as I love mine as an acting coach and as a character actor. If you need help, get in touch. I love helping fellow actors maximize their chances of being a successful actor with a name and fame.

Learn 5 Minutes Art To Fight Tension For A Top Performance

Tension and anxiety before auditions and shoot

Why learn self-hypnosis and auto-suggestion before auditioning and shoot?

1. Makes You Confident

Both actors and models need to be confident in themselves and in their abilities. Unfortunately, many actors work in the

2. You Stay Calm In Your Auditions

Stop seeing your auditions as stressful and vulnerable moments. Feeling nervous and self-conscious leads to performances that come across as stiff and stilted, rather than the natural flow that characterizes an exceptional performance. Hypnosis can help you keep your mind calm and focused during your auditions. This is done by training your mind to re-frame the audition experience, making it into an empowering situation in which you come into your own. This is done through a combination of guided imagery and positive suggestions while in the hypnotic state. With the use of hypnosis, you can train your mind to act, regardless of distractions such as who might be in the room. Train your mind to be in the moment so that you can give a stellar performance.

3. Can Quickly Get In And Out Of “Character”

A good actor becomes the character he or she seeks to portray. Truly memorable performances are partially a result of this ability. When you are your character, every gesture flows with ease, including your vocal inflections and intonations. Your character’s affect and demeanor takes front stage center, because you’ve already left yourself at the door. This requires a level of immersion that is not unlike the hypnotic state. Since the process of role immersion and hypnosis have many common aspects, learning self-hypnosis will improve your ability to get into your characters quickly and thoroughly. By giving yourself the ability to go in and out of character on command, you give yourself the ability to retain a strong sense of who you are. This ensures that you do not inadvertently create any psychological issues resulting from blending the lines between your characters and your own identity. In addition to helping you get into a role, hypnosis can help you retain a clear sense of yourself, apart from the roles you play.

4. Can Overcome Camera/Stage Fright/Performance Anxiety

Stage fright, also known as performance anxiety, can be crippling to actors, whether they perform on stage or in front of the camera. Stage fright is the anxious feeling or downright fear that comes over some people when facing the prospect of having to perform in front of others. For some, it can be paralyzing, while in others, it takes the form of “butterflies in the stomach,” as the colloquialism goes. Just as with helping the actor stay calm for auditions, hypnosis can help with stage fright in the same way — by engendering positive associations tied to performing on stage or before the camera. Through hypnosis, you can train your mind to experience a new reality in which you are calm and in control.

An actor's job is to create compelling characters in interesting relationships. In order to achieve this, you need to understand your character and the "reality" in which your character lives.
But that's only the beginning!
Each character in a script has physical energy that underscores the words; the vocal and physical performance. Actors must also find that energy within themselves and release it through their body  and voice during a performance.
The starting point for all physical performance is a relaxed mind, body and an auto-suggestion technique to motivate self and gain great confidence
Once the body and mind are settled, the appropriate tension and energy for a performance can be brought in to create the reality of the character.

Yoga Relaxation Techniques for actors to Relax Body and Mind 

A SURE WAY TO SUCCESS!


Yoga is the union with the divine. It is a philosophy used to the growth of mind, body, and spirit and also a system of exercises that help to balance your body and mind. It also increases your breathing techniques and focuses the grouping of your body. This way it can help you tremendously as an actor to overcome tension, tiredness, fears of rejections in auditions, on the set in front of a camera.


There are 2 stages:

• A. To practice it at home and be an expert

• B. To be able to practice and do it instantly while waiting for audition or a take  before your scene

Stage A

 

At Home

An actor's job is to create compelling characters in interesting relationships. In order to achieve this, you need to understand your character and the "reality" in which your character lives.

Here is a yoga relaxation technique used to achieve deep relaxation to your body and mind.

Corpse Pose Technique

"The Corpse pose", also known as Shav Asana, is a tremendous yoga posture that can be used among poses, which allows total relaxation. The corpse pose is a standard yoga relaxation pose, which is practiced by all disciples of yoga.
Anyone at any time when one requires a few minutes of total rest and relaxation can also practice this yoga relaxation technique.

Method:

It is most important to select a place for practicing yoga relaxation where you will not be disturbed. You need to wear loose comfortable clothing. First, you lie down on your back with feet about 18 inches spaced out with your hands palm upward about 6 inches from your sides. Let your legs and feet to roll outwards.
See that your body feels balanced. Close your eyes and relax centering your consciousness on the rise and fall of your abdomen. Deeply and slowly take a breath.
Next step:
Now you have to relax to go into a mild self-hypnotic state and then guide and instruct your subconscious mind:
Instruct starting from your mind, then eyes, then face, neck, hands, chest an abdomen, thighs, legs and finally toes

• "Mind, please relax", wait
• "My mind is relaxing, relaxing..."
• "My mind has relaxed" wait and repeat

-Like this, slowly proceed to eyes. Here you must notice heaviness in your eyelids with a feeling of sleepiness
-Then proceed to other parts as stated above.
Once done, the wait, feel a sort of floating feeling, a sense of nothingness.

Next, instruct yourself:

• I'm gonna to be a good actor, repeat
• I'm gonna to remember my lines
• I will do my best in audition
• I will get the role
• I will enjoy filming of scenes, shots
• I'm looking good
• My voice is becoming better

Note

• -Select few objectives
• -Always give "Positive" suggestions to your subconscious mind. NEVER BE NEGATIVE, for example, don't say "I will NOT be afraid" , "Will not be tense" etc. Instead say, "I will be this", "I will do" I'm gonna to be great" and so on..
• -Start and try to do this exercise every day. In the beginning, it may take 20 to 30 minutes. Slowly you will be able to do in 10 minutes and eventually you can do in 2 minutes at any place. Maybe just before an audition, or before your shot.

Stage B

 

To Practice Instantly Before Auditions, Before a Shot or Anywhere

- When you have mastered the above at home, start Practicing Steps in “Stage A” while sitting on a chair, going through steps a bit quickly till you start relaxing your eyes.
-Expand a bit longer your “instructions, feeling and a complete relaxation” sequentially and slowly to eye brows, eye lids, eye-balls.
Then, Say to you:
“I'm going into self-hypnosis” 9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1.......I'm now completely relaxed."
-Now repeat saying to you:
“I'm feeling good, I'm gonna to give a great performance, I'm good, I'm confident”....like this speak to yourself
-You must practice the above to an extent that you achieve your objective of relaxation, a calm mind and feeling confident within 3 to 5 minutes

Congratulations! You are now a super actor ready to face any situation

6 Free Home Exercises For Actors To Look Well Built And Hot

The fitness freaks of Bollywood Tiger Shroff and Nargis Fakhri

• One of the top requirement of being  An Actor Internationally or in Bollywood is to have an excellent physique and a Hot Body

Wanna have a body like Hrithik Roshan, Salman Khan or Hot like Bipasha Basu?

In an audition room, you need the foundation of a steady mind and a strong, flexible body to support
Not everyone can afford to join a gym or afford to purchase multiple machines for a home gym or 100 kg of dumbbells! Many of you can’t invest thousands of Rupees to build their body

So how do you get in a good workout without the fancy equipment?

Here is good news! You can get in a great workout right in the comfort of your own home by using your bodyweight or even few light dumbbells.

Here is my workout plan which is almost FREE and if you follow seriously with a daily schedule of about 1 to 2 hours either in the early morning or in the evening whether you are staying alone or in sharing place with 3 or 4 partners

Six Exercises for a Six Pack Body  At Home to Win Auditions

1. FROG SIT UPS

The classic sit up where the feet are fixed or held down is a great abdominal exercise but this exercise also uses the hip flexors – the muscles right at the top of the thighs – to pull the torso off the floor. The frog sit up, with the thighs out to the side means the hip flexors are less able to help with the movement meaning more work for the abdominal muscle.
TIP: As the abs are working hard and the feet are not pinned it helps to change hand position. Instead of putting the hands behind the head or neck hold them out over the thigh and slide them up the legs with every rep.

2. TWISTER

Twisting is one of the main functions of the core but is often overlooked when people train the abdominal muscles. This movement trains the whole of the core and helps tighten the waistline.
TIP: Resistance can be increased by holding you hand further out in front of you or by holding a weight –  dumbbell, medicine ball or weight plate. At all times keep a strong neutral spine trying not to arch or slump.

3. BICYCLE KICKS

A great exercise that allows you to focus on the 6 pack muscle as well as the obliques all in one go.
TIP: As with all crunch type movement, avoid cranking your head forward by using your arms, and instead gently touch your finger- tips on the side of your head. Your aim is to touch your knee to your elbows on every rep, but this is a challenging exercise so try not to cheat by using momentum. Keep the movement controlled.

4. ABDOMINAL PLANKING

The plank is the ultimate stability exercise, it activates and strengthens the deep abdominal muscles which act like a corset supporting the spine and drawing in all the organs for a strong, tight core.
TIP: Try to keep the lower back neutral, the minute you cannot do this end the set, rest and then start again. Lesser quality work is better than lower quality work.

5. MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS

These are a great conditioning exercise for the core, and ideal for putting into a circuit. The exercise hits the front and side of the core at the same time as training stability.
TIP: Try to think about locking everything in place except for the leg that is moving. In practice, this will not be possible but it helps keep the hips and torso stable which trains both strength and endurance in movement and stabilisation.

6. FLUTTER KICKS

These train the often neglected lower portion of the abdominal muscles.
TIP: try and avoid arching the lower back. For added stability, the hands can be by your side palms down or for more work raise them and your shoulders off the ground

 Based on

Related Post

11 Tips To Defeat No.1 Actor's Enemy of Anxiety Tension

The Enemy of Performance Anxiety And Tension

If you fear the thought of getting up in front of a group of people and performing, you are not alone. Millions of people suffer from performance anxiety, commonly called "stage or camera fright."
 In fact, most people would rather get the flu than perform. Actors, musicians, athletes, people appearing for an interview and public speakers often get performance anxiety.
Performance anxiety can prevent you from doing what you enjoy and can affect your career.
Worst of all, performance anxiety can negatively affect your self-esteem and self-confidence. Although it may be impossible to totally overcome performance anxiety, there are many things you can do to control your emotions and reduce anxiety.

1. What are the causes of performance anxiety and tension?

Being the center of attention and having all eyes on you can be stressful. This is more prominent when you are facing the strangers as in auditions, during a film or TV shoot where dozens of strange looking people and their prying eyes are watching you with their serious faces.

• Your body reacts to this situation in much the same way as it would if you were being "Attacked!". Your body's "fight-or-flight" mechanism kicks in, which is why symptoms of stage or camera fright are similar to symptoms that occur when you are in "Real danger".
• Confronting your fears and vulnerabilities (weaknesses), accepting yourself for who you are, and not feeling like you have to prove yourself to others, is the first step toward overcoming performance anxiety. Keep in mind that nobody is perfect, nobody expects you to be perfect, and it is OK to make mistakes.
• The second step is learning how to redirect your negative thoughts, beliefs, images, and predictions about performing in public. Doing this is not as difficult as you might think.

How Do You Know When An Actor's Worry Turns To Anxiety That Needs A Sure Remedy?

There is nothing wrong if you worry about your performance. As a matter of fact, it would help an actor or any other performer to focus on his/her preparation seriously. The problem comes when it turns into anxiety tension and nervousness

What are the symptoms of when a worry turns into a performance anxiety?

• Racing pulse and rapid breathing
• Dry mouth and tight throat
• Trembling hands, knees, lips, and voice
• Sweaty and cold hands
• Nausea and an uneasy feeling in your stomach
• Vision changes
• And the worst! Forgetting your lines and being in a "character"

How to Defeat Performance Anxiety And Tension?

Here are 10 tips to help you overcome your fears and be a star on auditions, camera on shoot, stage, on the field, or at the podium:

1. Be prepared: practice, practice, practice.
2. Limit caffeine and sugar intake the day of the performance. Eat a sensible meal a few hours before you are to perform so that you have energy and don't get hungry. A low-fat meal including complex carbohydrates -- whole-grain pasta, lentil soup, yogurt, or a bean and rice burrito -- is a good choice.
3. Shift the focus off of yourself and your fear to the enjoyment you are providing to the spectators. Close your eyes and imagine the audience laughing and cheering, and you feeling good.
4. Don't focus on what could go wrong. Instead, focus on the positive. Visualize your success.
5. Avoid thoughts that produce self-doubt.
6. Practice controlled breathing, meditation, biofeedback, and other strategies to help you relax and redirect your thoughts when they turn negative. It is best to practice some type of relaxation technique every day, regardless of whether you have a performance, so that the skill is there for you when you need it.
7. Take a walk, jump up and down, shake out your muscles, or do whatever feels right to ease your anxious feelings before the performance.
8. Connect with your audience -- smile, make eye contact and think of them as friends.
9. Act natural and be yourself.
10. Exercise, eat a healthy diet, get adequate sleep, and live a healthy lifestyle.
11. Keep in mind that stage fright is usually worse before the performance and often goes away once you get started.

Most Widely Reviewed And Chosen Acting Schools and A Coach

Here is the list of top acting institutes in India. You can visit their website and get the details. The fee for the courses are  high, but these schools seem reliable, as per my knowledge on the date.

Warning!

Disclaimer

However, please note that the situation may change in a school in the context of the present faculty, standard of training etc. Therefore, please check carefully by visiting personally and doing some research. 

My Pick and Preferred 12 Acting Schools and An Acting Coach In India

My Pick (Where I was trained but in New York, U.S.)
New York Film Academy | Mumbai, India

(Though a bit expensive, it's for those who want to be an international star and not only in Bollywood)
Address: 1103 Regus Office, Level 11, Tower B, Peninsula Business Park, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400013
Phone: 022 6687 9386
https://www.nyfa.edu/mumbai/

The Other Top Acting Schools

1. *FTII, Pune Film and Television Institute of India or FTII is located in Pune. The Institute offers 2 year PG Diploma in Acting. Expensive: 2 Lakhs?
http://www.ftiindia.com/

2. *The Barry John Acting studio
The Barry John Acting studio is in Mumbai and offers various courses including the Diploma and Certificate courses in acting. Expensive: 2 Lakhs?
http://www.bjas.in/

3. *National School of Drama (NSD), Delhi
NSD offers a 3-year course which leads to a PG diploma in Dramatic Arts.
http://nsd.gov.in/

4. Anupan Kher’s, Actor Prepares
The institute offers full time and part time course in acting.The institute has branches in Mumbai,Ahmedabad and Chandigarh.
http://www.actorprepares.net/

5. *Subhash Ghai’s, Whistling Woods International
Subhash Ghai is the chairman of Whistling Woods International, Mumbai. The courses include a 2-year course in acting. Expensive: 9 Lakhs?
http://www.whistlingwoods.net/

6. Roshan Taneja Acting Studio
Roshan Taneja Acting Studio in Mumbai offers 6 months course in acting.
http://www.roshantaneja.com/

7. AAFT, Noida 
Asian Academy of Film and Television is located in Noida,UP. AAFT offers 3 months and 1 year programs in acting.
http://www.aaft.com/

8. *Kishore Namit Kapoor Acting Institute
Kishore Namit Kapoor Acting Institute in Mumbai offers 3 months course in acting.
http://www.knkactinginstitute.com/

9. Delhi Film Institute
The Delhi Film Institute is located in South Extension, Delhi. The institute offers 2 months acting course in acting.
http://www.delhifilminstitute.com/

9. ZIMA
Zee academy of media arts is located in Mumbai and it offers a 3- month course in acting.
http://zimainstitute.com/

10. Digital Film School, Mumbai
http://www.dafilmschool.com/

11. Kreating Charakters Pvt. Ltd
Established in 2005, they claim to be the best acting training institute in Mumbai.
Website:http://www.kreatingcharakters.in/
Contact Phone:
+91 98924 56347 | +91 98210 18560

12. Grace Acting Academy
* Weekend courses are economical (Rs. 15,000). The rest is from Rs. 30,000 to Rs.1,50,000
301, 3rd Flr, Trans Avenue, before Ganesh Acharya Hall.
Above VLCC, Behind MTNL Tel Exchange
Mahada, 4 Bungalow, Andheri West, Mumbai -400053
Website:http://www.graceacting.com/

Personal Acting Coach

13. * Kiran Pande
Top Professional Acting Coach
For adults and kids
An Acting coach, Audition doctor, Filmmaker, Film Story Writer and Actor
Personalized courses designed for each individual
Ghatkopar East, Mumbai 400089
For details, visit:http://topactingcoach.weebly.com
Email: kiran.aged@gmail.com
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