How To Act

Step 1

Relax. Take a deep breath. It helps a lot of people if they tense up their entire body and keep it that way for a few seconds. Then, just relax all your muscles. "Box breathing" is also a good method. Breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, breathe out for 4 seconds. The overall effect is very relaxing.

Step 2

Position. If you're in a play, you should kind of talk to the audience as you talk to fellow actors during the play. If you're filming something that's not a play, like a movie, you should just talk to the other actors. But, whatever you do, NEVER look at a camera. (Unless its part of the script.)

Step 3

Project. Talk louder than you usually would so everyone can hear you and the camera can catch the sound. Don't talk absurdly, just loudly. If you're in a play, it's hard to talk too loud. In a play, it's good to get somebody to stand as far away from the stage as possible and see if he or she can hear you. You have to be audible. Also, don't swallow your words. Don't speak too fast. What you're saying can be lost no matter how loud you are talking.

Step 4

Developing Your Character. Put yourself into your character's head. Research everything you can on the character's life, especially if it lives in a different time period. Come up with all the little details you can. Put yourself into their life.

Step 5

Emotion. Emotion is what makes an actor. Really understand what you are saying. If you know your character well enough, you also understand their emotions. Use emphasis on important words to get your point across. Be dramatic.

Step 6

Enunciate! This means you have to say your words the way the are meant to be said. Of course, you shouldn't do this if it isn't what your character would do. But almost all the time, you will be required to enunciate. Don't you hate it when you're listening to a song and all of a sudden you hear a jumble of noises. You get frustrated because you don't know what in the world was just said. Enunciate to avoid this happening to your audience.

Step 7

Be the character! "Drama" means "To do". You are not merely pretending to be someone else; here, you are actually being someone else!

Step 8

Line please! Study your lines! Read through them before you go to sleep. Sit down and see if you can get through a big chunk of the script without using the script. If you can't say your lines without the script offstage, you definitely won't be able to onstage. You do what you practice. So make sure you practice the lines the way you need to say them: just as loudly, just as clearly, with all the right emphasis and emotion. Just knowing the lines isn't always enough. Not to mention your fellow actors will be disappointed in you for not knowing your lines...

Step 9

Be ready!!! Be sure that when it's your time to go onstage or enter the scene, you're ready to go. Meaning that you are in character, you have your props, and you know your lines. Listen to your queue. Don't get distracted.

Step 10

Bow If you're acting in a play, there will undoubtedly be a bow at the end for all the characters, regardless of how much stage-time or how important a character is. The whole cast, and oftentimes the crew, bow at the end of a play. Be sure you know what type of bow you want to do or what type of bow you are supposed to do. Even after the play, you should still be in character. If you are a shy girl, you should probably just do a quick curtsy and then dash back. If your character is confident, do a bow from the waist, maybe with a little arm movement. You can always be creative.

Step 11

Show kindness and positive attitude by wishing your fellow actors good luck (in the theater the term for good luck is "break a leg!" "Good luck", ironically, means "bad luck!") NOTE: A bit of theater superstition. Never ever ever say " Macbeth " before a performance. If needed, refer to it as "the Scottish play".

Step 12

Do your best, have fun, and don't let anyone bring you down. Remain positive and work hard to be successful!

Step 13

Listen to the director. He or she generally knows what they are talking about, and they can give you constructive criticisms.

Step 14

Release Your Inhibitions. Acting is much easier if you aren't constantly worrying about how others will perceive you. Remember that audience members won't see you doing whatever you're doing, they see what your character is doing. The downside to this approach is that it can lead to overacting. But don't worry; it is always better to overact than to underact. Your director will reign you in if you're hamming it up too much!

Tips

If you are being interviewed by a reporter, never look at the camera. Always look at the reporter and have a natural conversation.
You can ask others to evaluate you on your acting.
Use your body!!! Don't just say your lines: show them!!!
Know your lines, or you'll crash and burn.
Stay in character!!!
Practice is key.
Study actors you admire.
Take acting classes if you have time and dedication and can afford them.
Break a leg! (Just please, not literally. If you do, then you probably won't be able to act very well...")
Don't be shy! It helps if you are confident!
If it's a musical, you might want to take singing lessons [not that you're a bad singer, but you want to be in pitch].
If you can't remember your lines for the life of you, improvise. What would your character say at that moment that could be pretty much what you were supposed to say in the first place?