I keep in mind the primary time the place the ability of appearing actually moved me in methods I by no means anticipated. I used to be a teen watching, Good Will Searching for the primary time, and I witnessed the magnificence of Robin William’s appearing. There was one thing about it that was so charming: one thing I might by no means fairly put my finger on on the time. One thing magical. Just lately (after deciding to observe the film once more for the millionth time) I believe I discovered the key. Even throughout essentially the most intense and emotional scene, the man doesn’t transfer. Virtually by no means. He’s nonetheless even when he shouldn’t be. He simply sits there in his stillness, and but nonetheless manages to pack a punch with each phrase he says. You lean in and pay attention as if he have been proper there subsequent to you.

The intentional use of stillness in appearing is usually a highly effective and expressive device to convey feelings, ideas, stress, and subtext. It entails a deliberate selection by the actor to momentarily pause or restrict motion with a purpose to emphasise a selected second, emotion, thought or narrative ingredient inside a efficiency. Generally it feels counterintuitive to deploy stillness; nevertheless, correct utilization of this method is undeniably highly effective.

Whether or not you might be an appearing veteran and a recent eyed starting, studying the artwork of stillness can take your craft to new heights, and impress these round you while doing as little as humanly attainable. 

The Demystifying the Thriller of Stillness

Within the realm of appearing, the place motion, emotion, and expression typically take centre stage, the idea of stillness may appear counterintuitive, but ever since I realised the potential of utilizing stillness as a device, I’ve been obsessed.

I’ve rewatched a few of my favorite reveals, monologues, scenes and so they all have essence of this stillness. The actor barely strikes, and but I can’t look away. I can’t concentrate on the rest, after which once they do transfer, there’s such energy in it. So what does stillness imply for an actor in technical phrases? After speaking to completely different actors, administrators, and coaches, the abstract I give for stillness in appearing is:

Take note nevertheless that stillness isn’t just an absence of motion, the place the actor shows an absence of power, laziness, or absence of craft or ability. If something it’s the reverse, stillness is a dynamic and purposeful method that pulls the viewers’s consideration to the interior world of the character, permitting for a deeper understanding of their ideas and feelings. 

Why Stillness is So Highly effective, and Methods to Use it

Stillness in appearing might be likened to a pause in a musical composition; It’s a second of suspension that provides weight and significance to the encircling actions and dialogue.

Simply as a well-placed pause in a dialog can convey that means and anticipation, the strategic use of stillness in appearing permits us actors to speak advanced feelings and ideas with out uttering a phrase. In these moments, the viewers is compelled to fill within the gaps with their very own interpretations. And this, in flip, fosters a deeper engagement with the narrative.

So how do us actors obtain such a state? For an appearing device that requires you to do much less, it certain does require a lot. Listed here are eight actionable steps you may take to realize stillness if you act.

#1 Internalisation and Emotional Connection

Earlier than you may successfully use stillness to convey feelings, internalise the character’s emotional panorama. Take time to immerse your self within the character’s historical past, motivations, ideas, beliefs, and conflicts. Perceive what they need: what drives them, what holds them again, and why they do the issues they do. By establishing a robust emotional reference to the character, you may authentically channel their feelings by means of stillness.

#2 Stillness as Lively Alternative

Stillness ought to by no means be mistaken for inaction. It’s a aware, energetic selection made to stress a second, an emotion, or a thought. Think about the context of the scene and determine the factors the place stillness might serve to reinforce the narrative. Is it a second of stress earlier than a revelation? Is it a reflective pause after a second of realisation? Possibly it’s your character placing up a barrier whereas they internalise unhealthy ideas. By recognising these alternatives, you may utilise stillness to punctuate the scene successfully.

#3 Use of Breath and Bodily Consciousness

Breath is a potent device that may assist preserve focus and authenticity throughout moments of stillness. Take note of your breath as you maintain a pose or preserve eye contact. Enable your breath to reflect the character’s emotional state. Is it shallow and fast on account of nervousness? Maybe it’s gradual and managed in a second of calm? Or is it all over as a result of the characters emotions are in disarray?

By syncing your breath with the character’s feelings, you improve the stillness with a refined but highly effective layer of realism. The identical goes on your bodily actions. Stillness isn’t just doing nothing along with your physique, however slightly being intentional along with your actions. Transfer (or don’t) as your character would transfer within the scene and area. 

#4 Subtext and Intention

Stillness can talk subtext and intention extra successfully than spoken phrases. Think about what lies beneath the floor of the dialogue. What are the unstated ideas and wishes of the character? Use stillness to stress these hidden layers.

For instance: a personality’s smile might conceal disappointment, and their gaze might betray longing. Maybe they’re attempting to carry again laughter, and even hiding disdain for the character they’re speaking to however for no matter motive can’t categorical it outwardly. By using stillness, you permit the viewers to decipher these subtleties and interact within the narrative on a deeper stage.

#5 Timing and Rhythm

Like a well-composed piece of music, appearing requires a way of timing and rhythm. For me, I see stillness (and appearing on the whole) as jazz, the place stillness can play a vital position within the pacing of a efficiency.

Experiment with completely different durations of stillness to create stress and rhythm, the identical manner a jazz musician performs round with the rhythm of the music they’re taking part in. A quick pause would possibly construct anticipation, whereas an prolonged second of stillness might signify introspection or revelation, then no pause in any respect might replicate panic. Maybe your character simply heard terrible information, or have been given an inconceivable selection. Would they react right away, or would they take a beat and pause?

Various the timing of stillness retains the viewers engaged and means that you can management the emotional arc of the scene and character.  Bear in mind additionally there isn’t any “right” time to make use of stillness essentially. If it feels proper then circulate with it, however understand that for those who use stillness each time it might change into monotonous. Experiment with timing and rhythm and after some time you’ll get a really feel for when it’s time to react, or a time to be nonetheless. 

#6 Lively Listening, Reacting, and Distinction

Stillness is just not restricted to solo moments. It can be a potent device in scenes involving dialogue or interplay with two or extra characters. Observe energetic listening and reacting while maintaining nonetheless. By immersing your self within the different actor’s phrases and responding by means of considerate stillness, you create an intense change of feelings and unstated communication.

Your stillness turns into a mirror for the feelings being expressed, emphasising the connection between characters. It’s as if the stillness itself turns into a dialog all by itself. Additionally the stillness of 1 actor, permits area for the physicality of their scene companion. This helps give the scene depth, creates energy constructions and defines relationships. Take the opening scene from Inglorious Bastards for instance:

#7 Creating Physicality and Gestures

Stillness doesn’t essentially imply full immobility. Think about incorporating refined bodily actions and gestures to reinforce the stillness. These actions must be deliberate and purposeful, contributing to the character’s emotional state, perspective, or the scene’s dynamics. A slight shift in weight, a mild contact, or a rigorously timed gesture can amplify the emotional affect of a scene.

Take this scene from No Nation for Previous Males for instance. The refined gestures, actions and consuming of nuts (you’ll see), present the viewers how every character is feeling, and their perspective to 1 one other, with out ever saying so:

#8 Rehearsal and Experimentation

Similar to any ability that may stage up your appearing recreation, stillness might take a while to good. Much more-so for those who’re a loopy extrovert like me and have a pure inclination to present or categorical an motion for each feeling, phrase and thought that I’ve.

Mastering the artwork of stillness requires apply and experimentation. So rehearse your scenes with numerous ranges of stillness and discover how every selection influences the scenes dynamics. See the way it feels utilizing subsequent to no stillness first, then experiment with completely different postures, facial expressions, and respiration patterns to search out essentially the most compelling and genuine strategy for every second. After getting had a play a spherical with it, take that stillness to a max stage. From right here, you need to discover a vary—and due to this fact temperance between the 2 extremes. 

Finish Scene

It’s not about freezing since you forgot your traces, froze on account of stage fright, or felt like taking a break on stage (or display). Stillness is about making a deliberate and impactful selection that enhances the emotional depth of a efficiency. Once we, as actors, are nonetheless and current, we let the scene unfold and change into what it’s naturally. If a scene is meant to be tense, we don’t must act tense, we simply should be. If the scene is humorous, we don’t should be humorous, we simply should observe the beats. It’s a highly effective method nevertheless you would not have to make use of it all the time. How a lot stillness you incorporate will rely on the character, scene, and story you might be telling. Some characters can endure some too little motion, the place others will thrive.

It’s human to specific your self bodily, however it is usually human to carry in and internalise your emotions too. This is the reason I consider us people discover stillness on stage and display charming: it’s the closest we might get to actual life. Stillness typically lies within the realm of realism, due to this fact it’s subconsciously, one thing us people recognise and might relate to. So use the device nicely, experiment, and witness the distinction stillness can to your performances.