Ever since my first acting class well-over a decade ago, there has been a resounding theme amongst my acting coaches – you must learn how to tune into the world around you in order to create and sustain a believable character. Many times, actors feel that they can cultivate a character without drawing in from external influences; however, the performances from these actors are nothing more than skin-deep.
As a professional actor, you should never stop observing and making notes of the world around you. Because you will be playing characters that are far from your natural self, how can you play another person if the only way of living, talking, walking and being is yourself? While the process of tuning in and observing the world around you can vary according to your personal learning habits, I have created several tip to aid you in this journey.
Carry a Notepad
One of the most important things to do as an actor who wishes to delve deeper into exterior influences of those around you is to document your findings through a notebook. I always carry a notebook with me, and within its pages are countless encounters with strangers or observations. These entries may be descriptions of how a person is walking, to how a person speaks. What you include within this notebook can vary; however, I have found that this form of observation helps me tune into the world so I can create a new world within my head, which leads me to my second tip…
Write Stories
Although as an actor you may not be the best writer in the world, I’ve found one of the most interesting ways to delve deeper into character development or obtaining an understanding of how a character thinks is to simply write stories. These stories can be based on things you’ve seen throughout your day, or completely from your imagination; however, no matter what type of story you write, you should include at least three characters and include as many details about them as possible. By creating an imaginary word on paper, you can create an imaginary world within your performance. After all, acting is nothing more than an advanced method of storytelling.
People Watch
Now, this tip may seem a little obvious and arbitrary, but I feel it is necessary to point out the importance of people watching. As an actor, you will spend a great deal of your time observing people, and the best way to do this is by grabbing a cup of coffee, a notepad and planting yourself somewhere that sees a lot of foot traffic. Flea markets, shopping malls and parks are excellent people watching places.