My mother used to say that to me when I was misbehaving, act like a human being. When I say it to actors it doesn't quite mean the same thing my mother intended, but it all comes down to the same thing, behavior. How are you behaving? How are you being? Sanford Meisner said an ounce of behavior is worth a pound of words. Behavior is what makes and actor watchable. So while you must train to learn how to move technically in front of a camera, once you are there, on your mark, using subtle movements, not blinking and keeping your forehead still, how are you behaving? My guess is less like a human being. Here are my top ways to keep your acting human:
Fight to win but consider what will happen if you lose
There is always something you're fighting for in a scene. We want to root for you. But we need a reason to care, we need to know that you are just like us. We need to see your struggle, see that you have moments of doubt and regret. You cannot rely on the script to provide a "to be or not to be" soliloquy to explain your inner turmoil. You must express it truthfully and fully while you continue to fight. We want to see that your reason for fighting is human, your job is to make the audience see that your intentions are human. The best example is My Best Friend's Wedding. Julia Roberts is doing a horrible thing (breaking up an engagement) yet we root for her. We want her to win because she expertly portrays a look of terrible heartbreak every time losing becomes a possibility.
There is always something you're fighting for in a scene. We want to root for you. But we need a reason to care, we need to know that you are just like us. We need to see your struggle, see that you have moments of doubt and regret. You cannot rely on the script to provide a "to be or not to be" soliloquy to explain your inner turmoil. You must express it truthfully and fully while you continue to fight. We want to see that your reason for fighting is human, your job is to make the audience see that your intentions are human. The best example is My Best Friend's Wedding. Julia Roberts is doing a horrible thing (breaking up an engagement) yet we root for her. We want her to win because she expertly portrays a look of terrible heartbreak every time losing becomes a possibility.
Keep the love alive
When another character double crosses or betrays you in a scene, the easy generic choice is to just do angry. Many actors become one dimensional and sub human by deciding, that "someone did me wrong, I'm pissed". Consider that anger is a secondary response in humans and always stems from hurt, loss or abandonment of some kind. The only way someone could actually make you angry in the first place is if you cared about them, trusted them and had a personal stake in how they treat you. That doesn't go away when they betray your trust. Love lives on. Simply responding with anger is not enough. Adding hurt is not enough either. You must also show through behavior that you do still care. That is the ultimate pain of human existence. That makes you compelling to watch.
When another character double crosses or betrays you in a scene, the easy generic choice is to just do angry. Many actors become one dimensional and sub human by deciding, that "someone did me wrong, I'm pissed". Consider that anger is a secondary response in humans and always stems from hurt, loss or abandonment of some kind. The only way someone could actually make you angry in the first place is if you cared about them, trusted them and had a personal stake in how they treat you. That doesn't go away when they betray your trust. Love lives on. Simply responding with anger is not enough. Adding hurt is not enough either. You must also show through behavior that you do still care. That is the ultimate pain of human existence. That makes you compelling to watch.
Breathe
You are not a robot. Holding your breath hurts you in many ways. Firstly you need oxygen to survive. So does your character. Not breathing also stops emotion from flowing through you freely and keeps part of your brain focused on yourself rather than something outside of yourself. Your characters breathe, if they are real people. Deep breaths and sighs are some of the best true behavior you have because people are immediately affected by them and they occur naturally when you are stressed in some way. Breathing is not something to plan, it is what you must allow into your acting. It is undeniably human.
You are not a robot. Holding your breath hurts you in many ways. Firstly you need oxygen to survive. So does your character. Not breathing also stops emotion from flowing through you freely and keeps part of your brain focused on yourself rather than something outside of yourself. Your characters breathe, if they are real people. Deep breaths and sighs are some of the best true behavior you have because people are immediately affected by them and they occur naturally when you are stressed in some way. Breathing is not something to plan, it is what you must allow into your acting. It is undeniably human.
Remember that at the end of the day an audience will forgive many things when they are rooting for the character. We want to feel like extraordinary things are possible for everyday human beings. We want to win vicariously through you. That's what makes all this show business worth doing.
Robyn Kay teaches Meisner Technique classes at the Robyn Kay Studio in downtown Toronto. To hear more about classes contact her at 416-312-9188 or [email protected]
 Interested in starting class?? Summer Promotion on now! |  Drop in class every Sunday night 5-8 pm! All levels of experience are welcome. | 
Come in for an audit and see what the Meisner Technique can do for you. |
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