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when trying to be an actor, whats the first thing they teach you?
What would they teach you, like how to cry on a scene or something?
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Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Madison !
When first entering a course of study for Acting, it depends on which route you take. I had an academic route so I can address the training in theatre but having a foundation in theatre easily transitions the ability for film, however they are different.
The first thing you are taught is an Introduction to whichever medium you are studying in - theatre, film, radio, etc. An overall introduction gives the acting student the comprehension of the collaborative work that acting is. As an actor in theatre, you must be familiar with each aspect in order to perform to your peak ability. The introduction greatly prepares you for your first acting class. I had an academic study for theatre acting and took a private film acting class in Hollywood in the community.
One of the first things that I recall being taught is believability. How to be natural and realistic in your portrayal - in other words, not sound like you're reading words from a paper and how to appear natural moving on the stage. There were also a lot of exercises to sharpen trust and concentration. Soon enough, you are assigned scenes that the professor chooses for you and a classmate to do. These were scenes from period plays as well as contemporary plays. It's not so much that you are taught, but directed. You do the scene and than receive constructive discussion about your performance. I also took improvisation and learned pantomime (a lost art). In your introduction course, you learn a segment on acting - theory and technique. You learn about different styles such as internal or external and we focused on Stanislavski's Method Acting.
That brings me to explain the second part of your question. If a scene requires crying, an actor could use one of the methods known as Emotional Recall - some people call it Affective Memory. That is where you recall a similar time or incident in your own life that evokes you to bring forth tears. The more acting classes one takes, the better an actor learns what can help them express the appropriate emotion needed for the character. It comes with experience. An actor also draws upon what is happening in the story and the scene. You are not necessarily "taught" how to cry, it is something that is worked on and developed. Some people can do it faster than others.
I hope that this explains some of what you wanted to know and I am glad to be of help.
When first entering a course of study for Acting, it depends on which route you take. I had an academic route so I can address the training in theatre but having a foundation in theatre easily transitions the ability for film, however they are different.
The first thing you are taught is an Introduction to whichever medium you are studying in - theatre, film, radio, etc. An overall introduction gives the acting student the comprehension of the collaborative work that acting is. As an actor in theatre, you must be familiar with each aspect in order to perform to your peak ability. The introduction greatly prepares you for your first acting class. I had an academic study for theatre acting and took a private film acting class in Hollywood in the community.
One of the first things that I recall being taught is believability. How to be natural and realistic in your portrayal - in other words, not sound like you're reading words from a paper and how to appear natural moving on the stage. There were also a lot of exercises to sharpen trust and concentration. Soon enough, you are assigned scenes that the professor chooses for you and a classmate to do. These were scenes from period plays as well as contemporary plays. It's not so much that you are taught, but directed. You do the scene and than receive constructive discussion about your performance. I also took improvisation and learned pantomime (a lost art). In your introduction course, you learn a segment on acting - theory and technique. You learn about different styles such as internal or external and we focused on Stanislavski's Method Acting.
That brings me to explain the second part of your question. If a scene requires crying, an actor could use one of the methods known as Emotional Recall - some people call it Affective Memory. That is where you recall a similar time or incident in your own life that evokes you to bring forth tears. The more acting classes one takes, the better an actor learns what can help them express the appropriate emotion needed for the character. It comes with experience. An actor also draws upon what is happening in the story and the scene. You are not necessarily "taught" how to cry, it is something that is worked on and developed. Some people can do it faster than others.
I hope that this explains some of what you wanted to know and I am glad to be of help.
Alexis Camins
IT Manager at Los Angeles County - Professional Actor
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Alexis’s Answer
Hey Madison! This is a great question and it really depends on who’s doing the teaching!
To me, one of the most useful places for an actor to start is understanding Story. As an actor, you’re an integral part of telling a story and you need to understand the story back and forth. Not just the plot and characters, but also what it means. What themes jump out at you? What do you want the audience to feel when they’re watching? To think? How can the story best be conveyed? With props? With music? Where’s the climax or high point in the story?
Practice breaking down a story and thinking about ways to convey it. At the end of the day, you the actor need to know the story that all of you are telling and where you fit in to the story.
As an actor, I am still amazed by other actors that can cry easily! I imagine that’s where your question comes from. But as an actor, the most convincing crying is the result of DOING something. Think about saying goodbye to a loved. Or having to apologize for something you did. Or telling someone how much they hurt you. It’s the doing of all those things that can make a person cry. And that doing? That’s the acting! It’s not called feeling, because you don’t just walk around the stage feeling. It’s called acting because you are in action, in the act of doing something.
When you fully live in the circumstances of the story and invest in what the character is doing, sometimes tears happen because you’ve convinced your body that what you’re imagining is real.
I hope you continue to be interested in acting!
To me, one of the most useful places for an actor to start is understanding Story. As an actor, you’re an integral part of telling a story and you need to understand the story back and forth. Not just the plot and characters, but also what it means. What themes jump out at you? What do you want the audience to feel when they’re watching? To think? How can the story best be conveyed? With props? With music? Where’s the climax or high point in the story?
Practice breaking down a story and thinking about ways to convey it. At the end of the day, you the actor need to know the story that all of you are telling and where you fit in to the story.
As an actor, I am still amazed by other actors that can cry easily! I imagine that’s where your question comes from. But as an actor, the most convincing crying is the result of DOING something. Think about saying goodbye to a loved. Or having to apologize for something you did. Or telling someone how much they hurt you. It’s the doing of all those things that can make a person cry. And that doing? That’s the acting! It’s not called feeling, because you don’t just walk around the stage feeling. It’s called acting because you are in action, in the act of doing something.
When you fully live in the circumstances of the story and invest in what the character is doing, sometimes tears happen because you’ve convinced your body that what you’re imagining is real.
I hope you continue to be interested in acting!