Introduction to Acting

"[Human beings] will begin to recover the moment we take art as seriously as physics, chemistry or money." - Ernst Levy

"I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being." - Oscar Wilde

Acting is not as easy as many people believe it is. The job of the actor is not simply to just recite some lines from a script on stage. Acting is also not as glamourous as many people see it. If you want to be an actor, you must realize that you just don't jump onto a movie set and make it big. Many of the actors you see in films or on broadway today went through years of training and schooling and still had to work their way up doing local theatre. It really is a lot of work. Only the truly passionate will take the time to become an actor even if they never make it as far as they'd like.

That doesn't mean that you can't be a great actor. If you are willing to put in the time, you can get your name out there and start moving up. First, however, you will need to do a few things.

First off, acting requires a considerable amount of raw talent. However, talent alone is not enough to make you a great actor. If you have never had any real experience in acting, you are going to need to learn the basics. That includes learning about such things as character development, vocal inflections and accents, movement, stage direction, performance techniques and much more. Training requires time, patience, hard work, self discipline. "Acting Is Believing" also adds that "enthusiasm, a strive for perfection (although it can never be achieved), and a willingness to work cooperatively with others; all are also important."

We can divide actor training into seven parts. The development of mind, body, and voice, plus training in auditioning, rehearsal technique, performance skills, and cultivating the ability to self assess your own work. Over the next few months I will go into detail on these things and give you more tips on training your craft.