DIY Acting Techniques

Most people have dreamed of becoming a famous actor at one time or another. For the majority of these people, it’s just a passing fancy—an entertaining daydream to pass the time. These people really don’t have the desire to seriously pursue acting. Then there are those people who give it a halfhearted attempt. They join a play or two, take some acting classes, but eventually give up when they discover how tough the acting industry is. And then there are those aspiring actors who cannot imagine themselves pursuing any other career. If you think you belong to the last group, then it’s time to see if you have what it takes. Before you invest in an expensive drama school or move to New York or LA, take a look at these DIY acting techniques that you can do by yourself.

Observe veteran actors

One of the easiest ways to learn acting techniques is by simply watching and observing actors that you idolize. If you don’t have a particular favorite actor, then try observing well-recognized or award-winning actors and actresses. Buy, rent or download the films which garnered them awards and study their performances. This will mean watching the film a couple of times. During the first time, watch the film as you would normally watch any movie. The second time around, pay close attention to the acting of the actor. Observe how the actor plays his character, and take notes if you must.

Mimic the performance of the actors

Another effecting acting technique would be to mimic the actor in various scenes in the movie. Not only will this allow you to try acting firsthand, but it will also make you aware of the many subtleties that are involved in acting. These subtle details go unnoticed most of the time, but as you mimic the actor, you will learn how simple details like a nod of the head or a half-smile can have a huge impact on a scene.

Try method acting

Method acting is one of the most popular acting techniques available. Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Jack Nicholson are Hollywood heavyweights that are also method actors. Method acting is basically becoming the character, instead of just playing the character. It will require you to be in your character’s shoes even when you are off-screen. A good exercise is to create a character in your mind. Make sure that you develop this character’s background, motivation, habits and everything you can know about him. For a few hours a day, imagine yourself as the character while doing the things you would normally do. How would your character eat? How would he walk down the street? Practice with many different scenarios.

Recall emotional experiences

If you have trouble conveying emotions in a believable manner, one of the things you can do is to recall your own real-life experiences. For instance, if the scene calls for you to be nervous, you can go back to a memory of a situation where you were really overwhelmed with anxiety.