Get into character faster with these acting exercises

Contrary to popular belief, not a lot of actors can start getting into their roles at the drop of a hat. In reality there are lots of actors with a “switch”. Some of the actors I know are actually introverts who need time to internalize a character. While I consider myself more of an extrovert, I must admit that I also need to psych myself up before I face an audience or the camera. Here are some of the the acting exercises we do to get into character faster:
Image source: Thoughtco.com

Repetition

Instead of the usual mirroring exercise where you try to imitate what the other actor is doing, repetition allows you to put a different spin on what he’s saying. It allows you to do so much with one line. If I start out as an overly confident version of Mike Giuffrida, we can go on without changing the line but this time with me being a hysterical character and my partner playing a criminal. It’s a good game that draws out your expressions.

Feel the music

Image source: Pixabay.com
This is personally one of my tricks to get into character faster. I have a playlist of songs that can help me get into a certain emotion, mood, or personality. You know how some songs can actually make you feel sad or hyped up? If you’re an actor you need all the “feels” to perform well. After a few minutes of immersing in a certain emotion, that’s when I get into the zone. I leave the real Mike Giuffrida behind and start embodying my role.

If you want to improve your internalization skills, you need to do practice and watch fellow actors. You also have to trust that you can be a truly different version of yourself every time.

Mike Giuffrida is an LA-based student trying to break through the entertainment industry. Visit this blog for more reads on entertainment.

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