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Character Development

Playing a Character Not Like You

by claudia (england) QUESTION: It’s not real, it’s just acting. How can you pretend to be someone else? Your character might not suit your personality at all. What do you do? ANSWER: Exactly, it’s just acting, so your character doesn’t have to fit your personality. Actually, if they did, acting would be kind of boring. […]

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Character Development

Woman playing male role

by Katie (Ohio) QUESTION: I am a woman playing a male role. I need to know how to stand and talk like a man. I also need to know how men think, how they act, and what they are like in general and how they carry themselves. ANSWER: That sounds like a fun challenge. Not […]

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Character Development

Writer character bio versus actor character bio

QUESTION: I am not an actor. Studying how actors prepare their craft, I am left with a question regarding character development. As a writer, I have concrete ideas as to any given characters background/bio, what motivates them, their fears, wants, desires, etc. I also have very concrete ideas as to why the character is even […]

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Character Development

What Type of Actress Am I

by Geraldine (Pittsburgh, PA) QUESTION: What type am I if I am in my 40s and very young looking (early 20s) and get carded,5′ and 100 lbsmixed Asian, dark hair, dark greenish eyesolive complexionhourglass figure,feminine voice. What type am I, what roles should I target? And how good are my chances of making it? Thank […]

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Character Development

How do i act like a male “Hunter” when I am a girl?

QUESTION: I am doing a small play in which i play a hunter, and i was wondering how to actually do a man-voice,(i have a high pitch girly-voice) and how to get into character before actually dressing up! Any suggestions or details of the above tips to help me? Thanks! ANSWER: First, ask the director […]

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Character Development

Acting Tips to Find the Character’s Energy

by Joey (Las Vegas) Joey QUESTION: Hi acting school stop, I’m Joey, 33 years old male and I’ve been studying for awhile mostly at home now though thru books because of finances (Stanislavski, Checkov & film acting), and I was really wondering if you could help me out and maybe some advice with this two […]

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Character Development

How can a teenager act like a small child?

by Teresa (Wheeling, WV) QUESTION: How can I demonstrate to my high school acting class how to walk, talk, and gesture like a small child? ANSWER: By observing. Watch small children play, talk and walk and take in every detail. Ask yourself tons of questions: – Where is their center of gravity? – How do […]

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Character Development

How can I act the part of a not-so-smart cop?

by Cherry QUESTION: I’m in a play, and I have the part of a cop. I’m supposed to be funny and not very smart, but I’m having trouble with this. Any tips? ANSWER: Playing dumber is always harder, because it’s easy to fall into caricatures and indicating funny moments. One thing that may help is […]

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Character Development

Acting tips to play Bad Guys

by Justin Magoffin (New Hampshire) QUESTION: I’m making a Resident Evil movie and I’m playing the bad guy Albert Wesker. Do you have any tips of how I can excel at being this bad ass villain? ANSWER: One useful acting tip when you’re playing “bad guys” is not to act as if you were evil. […]

Categories
Character Development

Acting Characters with Switching Personalities

by Sophie (England) QUESTION: My character has two sides to her personality. I am struggling to switch between the two quickly. What would you recommend? ANSWER: It depends on whether your character has two very opposite sides (for example, she’s bipolar) or whether her personality traits are connected and you need to segue from one […]