As a professional actor, perhaps one of the most commonly asked questions when it comes to performing a dramatic scene is, “How do you cry on command?” There are several things wrong with this question; however, one of the most important of these is it is not “crying on command.” As an actor within a dramatic film, you are not expected to cry at the drop of a hat; rather, you’re expected to become so involved in your character and in the circumstances the tears begin to flow naturally.
Learning how to cry within a scene is a very individualized process; however, there are certain tips you can follow to help jumpstart this acting technique.
Don’t Force the Sad
When you’re acting in a dramatic scene or delivering a dramatic monologue, the audience can easily tell if you’re forcing yourself to become sad or distraught. This emotion is so raw, and so common, if you are not feeling it with true conviction it comes across as hokey and cheesy. The best dramatic actors are those who can actually place themselves within the character, and within a scene. These actors are able to transport their mind into the situation, and due to the highly emotional state of the character, the tears begin to naturally flow.
I remember working on a television pilot, and my character was having an emotionally charged argument with his mother. I spent several weeks performing character analysis and dissecting the script, thus I had a strong connection with this character. While we were filming the scene, I was so involved in what my character was saying, and I was actually LISTENING to what my “mother” was saying tears began to roll down my face. This wasn’t a scripted cry; however, the emotions running through me caused a physical reaction.
This goes to show you, in order to make yourself cry naturally during a dramatic scene you must be fully connected with your character, and actually absorb what the other characters are saying to you. By actively listening and not just waiting for them to finish their line so you can speak, you create a realistic and believable emotional bond, which will result in the necessary emotional reactions.
Mediate on the Scene
Before stepping onto a film set or onto a stage, it is important to mediate on the scene you’re about to perform. Meditate on your character, on the circumstance, on the other characters and how this scene is affecting your character emotionally. By doing so, you are filling your subconscious with the emotional power needed to deliver a highly dramatic scene, which will result in a natural formation of tears.
When All Else Fails, Sniff an Onion
Okay, so you’ve tried connecting with your character, truly listening within the scene and meditating on the script; however, you’re still unable to make the tears flow naturally. This is not an uncommon circumstance, and don’t let it get you down as sometimes crying just doesn’t happen no matter how great of an actor you truly are. Whenever my fellow actors or myself have encountered this situation, the easiest way to get the tears flowing is to cut an onion in half and take a big sniff. The pungent odor of an onion will immediately make your eyes well up with tears, and once they start flowing, it will continue. I’ve often found that by simply starting the tear production is all it takes to really begin crying.