Being an actor, I have had the privilege of working with some of the most talented individuals in the industry, and while each of these professionals has their own “form,” there is one thing that is universal – each professional has his/her own unique way of delivering lines and cultivating their character.
As an actor, you are an artist, and as an artist you must take time to cultivate your own unique art form. If you think about all the great actors of our time, they have something special, some type of ingenious method of creating their character.
Creating and refining your acting form is an advanced-level process in which actors are required to pinpoint their unique acting form and expand upon it to create a unique voice.
Uncovering Unique Actions
I want you to think about your friends, those that are closest to you. While each of these individuals may have a common personality trait, their movements (or actions) are just as unique as their fingerprints. This can be tested by instructing your friends to perform very simple movements, such as brushing their teeth. Although the overall action is the same (putting toothpaste on the toothbrush and moving their arm in order to brush their teeth) the idiosyncrasies of their movements are quite unique.
As an actor, you must uncover your unique actions, or the movements that make your character unique and what separates you from all other actors. The process of exploration in the terms of action is one that can take years to master and truly shape; however, it is a process that every actor must take seriously.
Moving Beyond Mechanical Actions or Dialogue
Every great artist uses mechanical means to create his art. Painters use brushes and brush strokes, sculptors use clay or marble and various tools; however, these “mechanical actions” are not stale. They perform such actions with unique talent and ability that is strictly their own.
As an actor, you must recognize that your movements and dialogue are mechanical; however, you must move beyond simply “moving” and create a character that is unique and defined within his own form.
The great acting coach Stanislavski continually reminded his actors that they must live in the moment. They must only think about the right here, the right now and the current moment. Every action should be done not because you are instructed to, but because it is what the character must do in order to reach his goal and objective. It is only when you move beyond the mechanical requirements of being an actor that you can truly create and refine your acting form and separate yourself from the masses.