Tips for the Beginning Actor
by Ruth Kulerman
Recently a man phoned to say that he had retired early and had always been
interested in acting. Henry (not his real name) had never studied acting, had
been in one high school play twenty years earlier, and now had time to explore
something that interested him. Henry is 37. People have asked if 27 is too old
to begin. Or 55. Or 21.
By the end of Henry's first coaching session, I realized the earlier article on
getting started in acting presumed that the actor already had taken acting
classes, already had headshots, already had something to put on a resume. In
other words, my earlier notion of "getting started" actually was way past the
real "starting line." Actors with classes or theatre diplomas, with headshots
and resumes were light years ahead of Henry, who was starting with nothing but a
twenty-year delayed dream.
And so let's back up and start with the delayed dream. That is, let's look at
the real basics of the basics. I am an Olympic expert in this area, having been
way past middle age before taking my first coaching session. I write as one who
stumbled and fumbled and had nary a notion of what to do or how to begin my own
delayed dream.
Back in the 1980s when the urge to act could no longer be ignored, I assumed I
should take some classes. In spite of a basket full of degrees, I didn't have a
clue what "taking classes" in acting meant. Perhaps in some Oz land I expected
just to stroll down the gold brick road, sight an emerald stage, get up on it,
and start acting. That did NOT happen! Over a hundred coaching sessions later I
auditioned for and booked my first role.
SUGGESTED STEPS FOR THE BRAND-NEW NEWCOMER
Preliminaries: Self-examination
-
A vital question: Why do you want to act? Henry's response was, "I don't
know. It just always interested me." My own answer: "I wanted to act all my
life."
- Next question: What is your goal: Fame? Money? Performing? Self-exploration?
Henry said he just wanted to see what he could do if he studied some. My own
answer: Conquest.
-
Another question: How do you feel about the idea of performing in public or
auditioning? If it terrifies you, then go back to question #1 and do some real
soul-searching. Why? Because until radio drama returns, acting is something that
almost always involves auditioning and performing in front of people. It occurs
on a stage in front of an audience or in front of a camera with dozens of techs
around. Acting is in front of people!
After asking and answering those questions, what then? It's time to discover HOW
YOU FEEL IN THE ACT OF ACTING. How? Coaching or classes.
In a larger city, finding a coach or acting classes is not difficult. In a small
town, ask the high school principal or go to your local junior college and ask
about acting courses. Someone somewhere not too far away has acted and can point
you in the right direction.
I strongly feel that a brand-new adult actor should consider coaching rather
than taking a class--unless he can find a class composed solely of serious adult
newcomers like himself--not dabblers. Being in a class with younger or
experienced actors can be overwhelming. This is the most vulnerable stage in a
newcomer's acting life. Avoid discouragement at this step. Discouragement
awaits us all, but hopefully by the time it hits we'll have enough confidence
to not crumble. A newcomer's confidence level is notoriously low. So go the
coaching route rather than the class route. There's less stress and more
personal attention.
Another way to start acting is in community or church theatre. Volunteer. Talk
to the head of the acting group. Tell them what you would like to do and ask
their advice. If necessary, form your own group.
NEXT?
What are the really basic necessities?
One absolute necessity is a knowledge of the vocabulary of acting. You have to
know Stage Right, Down Stage, ad lib, upstage left, close-up, hit the mark,
and...action! The first commercial class I took in NY taught me only one thing:
The word "slate." For that one word I paid over $200 for a six weeks course.
That's pathetic! Which is precisely the reason for this article on the basics of
the basics. To help you avoid being "pathetic."
I realized the importance of a basic vocabulary during the first coaching
session with "Henry."
He was reading a short monologue from "Homicide, Life on the Street." At some
point during our session I said to him, "OK, let's start from the top." His
blank look spoke volumes. "The top???" Vocabulary is a basic.
Therefore? Find a book containing basic acting vocabulary. They exist. I have
seen them. Try a bookstore or Amazon.com or visit
Actingland.com.
Another "must" for an adult newcomer is to start working on material
immediately. The most basic acting requirement is the ability to say a line and
sound real. It's hard to imagine an audition or a scene without having to speak.
And his potential to sound real when he says a line is precisely what all
beginning actors must discover. This is BASIC.
If you cannot learn to sound real, then acting is not for you.
It's best to discover your level of sounding real before spending too much money
and building up great expectations. You MUST find out if you can say a line
believably. THAT IS THE BASIC OF THE BASICS.
To summarize, if you are an adult who has always wanted to act, begin either
with community theatre or with coaching sessions. After several lessons you can
then decide, based on an intelligent assessment of your potential and an honest
evaluation by your coach, if you want to spend the next several years following
the delayed dream.
PS: A word of encouragement to the older newcomer: Every minute for fifteen
years I have loved LIVING THE DELAYED DREAM. My regret? Not having started when
I wanted to--at age five! Live your delayed dream!
"Actor Tips" is copyright 2006 by Chad Gracia and ActorTips.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
For more articles on acting, as well as free monologues and acting supplies, visit
www.actortips.com.
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