Unfortunately, I’ve been to far too many plays where the actors gave great dialogue; however, their movements were strange and off-putting. It wasn’t because the actors didn’t know how to move properly, but the source of this performance malfunction was due to the actor’s inability to truly believe in his physical actions.
As an actor, one of the most vital aspects of your physical performance is truly believing in your movements. While this may seem like a strange concept to some, it is simply another way of mimicking realistic life. Think about, when you move, you are believing in your actions. You have a real goal that you wish to achieve.
When it comes to teaching yourself to believe in your actions, there are several tips that you may use to help engage in your movements within a realistic manner.
Why Are You Moving?
The first step in believing in your physical actions is to uncover why you are making them. If you are blindly moving from one part of a room to the next, you would be a zombie. There is always a purpose to your movements. While this purpose can be as simple as getting a lighter to light a cigarette to as complex as moving across a room to get away from your abusive boyfriend who showed up at a friend’s party, your movements always have a purpose.
Emotions Behind Your Movement
Again, every movement you perform is not out of accident. You have a specific emotion that is driving your movement; however, these emotions may not be very well pronounced. The emotional drive of your movements can be found by dissecting your script and performing full character development. Don’t be looking for LARGE emotions, but also the smallest ones. For example, you walk into a crowded auditorium and your movements become rapid and you seek out the least crowded area of the room – emotion behind this: social anxiety, afraid of large crowds, self-consciousness.