The query of easy methods to change into an excellent actor is requested on a regular basis by actors. It’s an excellent query, too—it’s a testomony to understanding that actors ought to at all times be on the lookout for methods to enhance.

I say there are three key phases with regards to changing into an actor:

1. Coaching
2. Working
3. Dwelling.

On this submit, I’ll dive deep into every of those three phases and why they’re so essential to 1 one other.

“When on the lookout for an performing class as an grownup, be sure to search for crimson flags reminiscent of chilly studying and auditing.”

 

Coaching can imply quite a lot of issues, however the perfect coaching you’ll be able to obtain is from a two-year performing focus or, if you happen to can afford it, a four-year school in theater. The youthful you begin, the higher—it’ll solely enable you in the long term. (I speak about performing colleges in additional element in my earlier weblog submit: I Need To Develop into An Actor: The place Do I Begin?)

In fact, grownup actors even have an array of courses to select from, from conventional in-person courses to zoom courses popularized through the pandemic. But not all performing courses supply the identical worth.

When on the lookout for an performing class as an grownup, be sure to search for crimson flags reminiscent of chilly studying and auditing.

Let me be clear: chilly studying is one thing that you’ll by no means use in your performing profession. It’s an inexpensive tactic that courses use to fill time. Why’s that? The unhappy reality is that almost all of performing courses will not be severe.

Let’s be blunt: the purpose of many performing academics is to fill seats and being profitable. Actors are usually lazy, assigning college students homework will discourage them from coming to class. Chilly reads are solely used as a result of there isn’t a homework with chilly studying. The much less homework, the extra incentive for not severe actors to solely use class as a social gathering. You don’t need that! You need a spot the place you’ll be able to study and set up your craft within the trade.

Auditing is alright so long as the instructor of the category permits for brand new college students to solely be a part of initially of a brand new semester. If a instructor lets them be a part of proper after an audit, it’s unfair to the present college students. College students who’ve been finding out for months and at the moment are compelled to withstand by the identical lesson. Hindering their development to changing into a greater actor.

Coaching vs. Work

Hold this in thoughts: coaching shouldn’t be work.

Work is figure—coaching means isolating your self from the work so that you could be ready if you end up performing professionally.

All actors want steering. If you wish to enhance your craft, it’s crucial to seek out somebody to point out you easy methods to hone your craft.

But you need to even be 100% dedicated to your coaching. If you happen to’re not, you received’t be capable of carry out what you’ve been taught. What’s extra—you received’t be capable of absolutely comprehend the challenges you’ll face when working as an expert actor. Generally when you might have been taught an concept or approach you could not absolutely perceive it till two years after your coaching, if you end up working.

After coaching comes working!

Working professionally is the following stage in changing into a greater actor—give it some thought: the extra you’re employed, the higher an actor you’ll change into. 

With out work, you received’t develop as an actor since you received’t be placing your coaching into apply. With out work, there’s no technique to see you’ve comprehended what your performing instructor was speaking about. 

The time for errors is throughout your coaching. If you happen to make errors whereas working you’re fired. Coaching shouldn’t be solely getting ready your craft however easy methods to put together your self to be an expert actor. 

Professionalism is essential as a result of nobody needs to work with a tough or unprepared actor. The leisure trade is a small city and phrase of mouth travels. In case you are unprofessional, you possibly can see a large decline in work. The much less work, the much less development. (I share extra particulars on professionalism in my submit How To Deal with Stardom)

If you end up working, there are such a lot of essential elements of the craft, and the trade general, that may by no means have been defined to you. When on set there are producers, administrators, veteran actors, and so on. making it a special expertise than your coaching.

The one technique to study is thru work, that’s the reason it’s such an essential stage in making your self a greater actor.

The third side could seem odd at first, however as I clarify it’ll begin to make sense.

If you end up coaching or working, you’re making a efficiency of another person’s life. You are attempting to copy their emotions and feelings to persuade the viewers you’re that character.

However most of the issues you’ll carry out you won’t have skilled but. 

For instance, how can one play the a part of a lover if they’ve by no means been in love? How can one really really feel the ache of demise if that they had skilled it themselves?

Dwelling life is simply as essential to performing as actively finding out and performing the craft. You should seize your personal feelings, ache, and experiences and use them to gas the character you’re taking part in. That is the sacrifice that actors should face to change into higher actors.

So strive issues! Do all the pieces a minimum of as soon as in life, so long as it doesn’t come at a value to your well being. Attempt pot, climb Mt. Everest, leap out of airplane, every of those experiences can solely enhance your craft.

One be aware of warning. If an expertise is harmful or dangerous—please use ‘substitution’. Don’t do something too dangerous trigger you suppose it’ll make you a greater actor.

“You should seize your personal feelings, ache, and experiences and use them to gas the character you’re taking part in.”

Your coaching handles all the required questions that you could be ask your self whereas making an attempt to enhance your craft. Your work helps you make the most of these instruments to supply a top quality efficiency. Dwelling is your life experiences, it’s what makes it private and interesting whereas on stage.

We want all three of those elements as a result of it not solely helps our development as human beings, but in addition the expansion of changing into profitable actors. Generally meaning sacrificing sure issues to develop, however these experiences are simply as essential to the craft.

So, you need to know easy methods to change into a greater actor? It’s essential to practice, work and stay.