Incorporating inner images into your acting brings you one step closer to delivering dialogue in an organic and natural manner. Throughout my years working alongside both new and professional actors, one of the biggest hurdles any of these performers comes across is actually delivering dialogue in a natural and fluid manner.
When we as humans speak, we do so through the use of inner images. While these images are not actually “pictures,” they are reflections of memories and while these flashes of recollection seamlessly pass through your brain while you’re speaking, as an actor you must strengthen this skill in order to deliver dialogue while simultaneously creating and visualizing inner images.
The “Visualizing Images” advanced acting exercise is developed to help actors develop their ability to “see” definite images from dialogue.
By undergoing this advanced acting exercise, you will be strengthening your ability to visualize inner images while speaking, which will help naturally enhance your believability and conviction while performing.
Instructions
An actor may perform this exercise alone or as part of a class, and in order to engage in this acting exercise you must take one of the below words and visualize a detailed and specific picture that correlates to the word.
Make sure you see yourself in the image, contemplate what you would do in this particular scenario. Allow yourself to “respond” within your mind. It is important to remember that while you cannot force yourself to feel, you can let yourself feel the scenario and visualize the images.
To help strengthen this ability, write down your visualizations. Write down what you see, what is around you, and if you are able to draw or sketch, create a picture based on the visualizations you receive from a single word.
If you are performing this exercise in front of a group, describe your actions and the world within your mind to your fellow group members. Be as vivid as possible to actually take these group members to your inner world.
Word Suggestions
You may feel free to use one of the following words, or you may make up your own.
· Beach · Party · Initiation · Concert · Funeral · Summer camp · Antique shop · Protest rally · Team · Car · Restaurant · Bar · Hotel room · Tropical vacation · First date · Blind date · Accident · Home · Your bedroom · Your pet · Celebrity · Theater · Film set · Wedding