Before entering the arena of acting, you may have various encounters with the concept of method acting in one form or another. Now that you are on the path and you may wish to explore the method acting technique in depth.
As a budding actor, there may arise some roles that demand special skills from you. Method acting is an impressive talent to have in your repertoire.
Before we describe some exercises that will help you excel at this art, let us give a brief answer to the much-asked question, ‘‘What is method acting?”
Method acting is donning the character emotionally to give such a seamless performance that the audience cannot tell where you end and where the character begins. The lines between you and your character blur. Think of it as not wearing your character’s costume, but their skin itself. An actor accomplishes this by empathizing with the role and drawing upon their own experiences.
Here are some exercises that may help:
Affective memory technique
This is one of the most potent methods of acting techniques. It is when you ponder over your personal memories that are parallel to your character’s. Finding a way to relate to your character makes your performance more real.
Sit in a quiet room and bring to mind all the experiences that can evoke similar emotions and thoughts that the script requires you to display. Dissect this memory into its sensory components like smell, touch, sight, sound, and taste.
You will emerge with a deeper understanding of why your character says or does something. And you can then go on to do justice to your part.
Get into character physically
This is a common mode to practice method acting. You need to embody your character if you hope of breathing life into it. If this means walking around with a blindfold for a few days because your character is blind, do it!
By doing this, you will dig deeper into the emotional faculties and explore the blind spots of your character. This will translate into a mesmerizing performance.
But you have to know where to draw the line. Do not go around shooting people if your character’s an assassin.
The coffee cup game
A lot of acting coaches conduct this game. It requires you to sit down in front of a hot cup of coffee (or any beverage you prefer). Now all you have to do is observe. Do not touch the cup or lift it just yet. Use your five senses. What does it look like? What do you smell? How do you think the texture of the cup will feel against your skin? How heavy or hot will the cup be? And what will it taste like when you sip it?
Now ponder over these questions and then go on to perform those actions. Check if you were right about the touch and weight. If you guessed the taste right or was it different?
This game helps you explore a particular moment with the power of your sensory memory. So the next time, you will be able to recreate all of it without having a cup of coffee in front of you. This skill is invaluable for method acting.
Mulling over your character
Do you know what Heath Ledger did before playing his role as Joker? He sat down in a seedy room and penned all his dark thoughts in a notebook. Why do you think he isolated himself? Because he wanted to venture into the territories of his character’s mind. Once you understand the subconscious aspects behind your character’s actions, it becomes easier to play it.
That is why you need to sit in a quiet room and explore your character and their reasons for being the way they are.
Learn acting online with Manoj Bajpayee
Method acting is truly an art that only a few can master. Speaking of method actors, Manoj Bajpayee has given one riveting performance after another. When he plays a role, he does not act the part, he becomes it.
What if we tell you that you have the opportunity to learn from this revered actor? Well, it is true. Manoj Bajpayee’s online acting course is available only on unluclass. So what are you waiting for? Go sign up now and unleash your potential as an actor!
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