E-Report
#1
"Inside the Actor's Head"
What goes on inside an
Actor's head is one critical determining factor in their success. What
do you tell yourself before an audition, before a show? After an
audition, after a show? Do you tell yourself that you are the greatest
actor ever to have graced this earth or that you are so bad you'll never
make it? Do you find that you are very critical of yourself? Are you
objectively or subjectively critical? Maybe you are not critical at all
of yourself.
If you play the guitar
and someone says that you are a rotten player, you may feel hurt but you
can always put the guitar away. If someone says that you are a rotten
actor it's very hard to put yourself away, it's very hard not to take it
deeply personally.
If you don't get the
part after an audition, do you take it personally? Does the little voice
inside you say; “I'm a bad actor”, “I'm too fat”,
“I'm too ugly” “I'll never make it as an actor”?????? Do
you go over and over in your mind the things you should have said, the
things you should have done?
“I
should have done it this way”
“I can't
believe I forgot my lines, I knew them at home!”
“If only
I had ….”
“I could
have done so much better”
“I may
as well give up”
If these are the sort of
things you say to yourself then you are probably in the majority of
actors. However, the majority of actors are out of work….
On the flip side you may
think that you are the greatest actor ever and when people realize this
fact they will all bow down before you.
This industry is plagued
with huge egos and tragic low self-esteem and quite often they can
happen in the same person within the same week. There is a very fine
line between the two, one minute low self esteem, haven't had a job in
months, the next minute you land a good role and suddenly the sun's
shining out of all places unholy!
What you must learn to
do is walk the lines between low self esteem, confidence and
over-confidence, and walk it well. Boost yourself up when times are
hard;
"I am
a good actor"
“I do
work hard”
“I'm
going to get this next job”
“I'm the
best person for the role”
And when things start going well for
you, time for that reality check;
“Yes,
I've done well but I still need to work hard”
“I am a
good actor, but there are others out there just as good and better”
“Focus
on the work, not on myself. I want to do a good job”
Boost yourself up when down and pull back when the
head starts to expand. Be objective, not subjective, in your
self-appraisal.
“Next time I will have to learn my
lines better”
“I really nailed the first half of
the monologue but I started to rush, next time I'll remember to relax
more”
“My preparation was excellent, now I
just need to breathe and relax more”
Try not to
emotionally charge your self-criticism. Don't abuse yourself for the sake of
self-pity, the way you talk to yourself will sink into your subconscious and
become your reality. Tell yourself that you're a bad actor and guess what will
happen!? That is what you'll become! Talk to yourself always in a positive
way, only allow thoughts that will aid you in your pursuits not hinder. There
are plenty of other people wanting to hold you back without you joining their
ranks. And always keep a close eye on that ego.
To sum up
What you think and the things that you say to yourself are critical
determining factors in all facets of your career. Get that right and the rest
will come.
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