Even though the characters in our production of the play, MR KOLPERT (2005) are pretty nasty people,
the actors needed to empathise with them to create truly rounded and truthful performances.
EMPATHY is an instinctive understanding of people, their attitudes and beliefs. It can be essential to a performer's grasp of character and plot. If you don't feel you have this kind of understanding, you can learn to develop it by observing people closely. Watch how different people behave, and listen to the kinds of things they say.
TRAIN YOUR BRAIN
Begin to "train your brain" to think in terms of people's motivations and actions. Ask yourself why people in real life and in dramatic situations, speak or act in certain ways. How might that person behave in a different situation? This kind of analysis will give you "people knowledge" that will be very valuable to you as an actor.
ACTORS ALWAYS ASK QUESTIONS.
QUESTIONS LIKE:
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WHY do people act like that?
- WHAT are they thinking?
- HOW does their body reflect their thoughts or try to hide them?
- WHO do they think of themselves as?
- WHERE have they come from and where do they want to be?
- WHEN did they decide to do that thing they do and why?
ASKING QUESTIONS HELPS THE PERFORMER TO EMPATHISE WITH THE PERSON OR CHARACTER.
EMPATHY FOR YOUR CHARACTER WILL HELP YOU TO CREATE A BELIEVABLE, THREE-DIMENSIONAL HUMAN BEING.
Compiled by Adam Fresco (2006)
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