Acting, believe it or not, can be a grueling experience for a well-seasoned actor. Line memorization can be difficult–and even if done completely, delivery is another thing altogether.
Between that and being nervous on the camera, unsure of how to perform, and the simple newness of the experience, your actors may have a lot of problems starting out–especially if they have no experience whatsoever.
Here are a few tips to help your actors out.Explain things completely. Let them know how you want them to act, to begin a scene when you call out, “Action,” and help them remember to be afraid during a fearful scene, etc. While these simplicities may sound basic, it can be difficult to remember them when a camera is pointing in your face.
Watch the eyes. Remind your actors that the audience is always looking at the characters’ faces–particularly their eyes–and that they should always be expressive and looking in the right direction as indicated by the director or the script.
Make sure they always stay in character. If Jill gets flustered when she forgets a line, help her to be flustered as her character, not as Jill–and then, of course, to stop being flustered as soon as possible and to continue with the scene. Advise your actors to try and feel things the way their characters feel them–such as remembering a sad event to bring up some sad emotions on-screen.
Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. Make sure your actors know their lines back to front. Advise them to practice even when you’re not in rehearsal–on the bus, at home, wherever. Even if a line is forgotten here or there, it’s better than no lines memorized at all.
Tags: acting tips, casting actors, casting characters, directing actors, hiring actors, tips for low-budget actors