I'm a high schooler who's trying to get into acting and I struggle a lot with getting into the moment. My director says I keep reading scripts and characters like a book and I need to look at it more surface level but it's hard to change the way I think about things. I want to be a good actor but I don't know how to stop over-analyzing and embody a character
Thanks so much for your question. First of all, it is incredibly difficult to stop thinking and to simply be (exist) in the moment. This is one of the things actors train for years to improve. One of the things to try would be instead of looking at the script and trying to figure out "what's happening" in the story, try to make a choice about what you NEED from the world around you. For example, if you are in a scene with another character (your acting partner), make a choice on what you want and need from them from an emotional standpoint. How would you like to AFFECT them right now (as it relates to your character)? Do you want them on your side? Do you want them to agree with what you are saying? Do you want them to back off? Do you want them to apologize to you? Do you want them to forgive you? Or... As you can see, you can take this anywhere the script demands. But... keep it OUTWARD from yourself - don't worry about what YOU are doing, but rather, focus on what you need from your partner. This can help with getting you out of your head and into the moment, since you have to focus on your partner in order to do these things :-)
I'm a high schooler who's trying to get into acting and I struggle a lot with getting into the moment. My director says I keep reading scripts and characters like a book and I need to look at it more surface level but it's hard to change the way I think about things. I want to be a good actor but I don't know how to stop over-analyzing and embody a character
Thanks so much for your question. First of all, it is incredibly difficult to stop thinking and to simply be (exist) in the moment. This is one of the things actors train for years to improve. One of the things to try would be instead of looking at the script and trying to figure out "what's happening" in the story, try to make a choice about what you NEED from the world around you.
For example, if you are in a scene with another character (your acting partner), make a choice on what you want and need from them from an emotional standpoint. How would you like to AFFECT them right now (as it relates to your character)?
Do you want them on your side? Do you want them to agree with what you are saying? Do you want them to back off? Do you want them to apologize to you? Do you want them to forgive you? Or...
As you can see, you can take this anywhere the script demands. But... keep it OUTWARD from yourself - don't worry about what YOU are doing, but rather, focus on what you need from your partner.
This can help with getting you out of your head and into the moment, since you have to focus on your partner in order to do these things :-)
❤
Thanks so much!