As an actor, one of the most important skills you can master is improvisation. While you may not desire to become an improvisational actor, even scripted actors must understand and master this acting technique as it will be used throughout your career. There will be moments where you or a fellow actor forget their lines, and when this occurs you must know how to recover through improvisation.
However, if you wish to incorporate improvisational skills you must learn how to develop your own personal freedom and self-exploration. This is typically done through exercises, and its importance is vital for an actor to not only improv without fear, but give scripted performances without and ounce of worry or fear.
Personal Freedom
Improvisation requires your willingness to surrender to your inhibitions and truly explore your own personal freedom. Now, this isn’t referring to your civil rights or freedom as an American, but rather, the freedom its referring to is one that allows you to take chances, make mistakes and look like an idiot.
I remember one of my favorite acting coaches always telling the class, “If you feel like an idiot, you’re doing just fine.”
Self-Exploration
When I was writing this article, my roommate asked me what topics I was covering. As I approached the self-exploration topic, she began to giggle. Asking her what was so funny, she responded, “Isn’t self-exploration what you do in private?”
After sharing a couple of giggles, I explained that self-exploration within the scope of improvisation is allowing yourself the means to explore vocal and physical actions that are out of your normal routine. It’s to explore the recesses of your mind and being in order to conjure up a character or emotion that you would typically submerge within your consciousness.
As an improvisational actor, you must engage in full self-exploration. You must take time to engage in movements and words that you would otherwise never do. This may involve walking around the room like you’re a monkey, being an athlete after a big win or reverting back to childhood.
I think about the show, “United States of Tara” (one of my personal favorite shows, and one every actor should watch) and how its lead actress, Toni Collette and how she was able to change into numerous characters that were so far from her ordinary self. I believe the only way she was able to fully commit and deliver realistic performances is by delving into self-exploration to learn how her body can move and how her voice can change. She was able to make such wonderful character choices because she knew her abilities and talents as an improvisational actress.