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3 biggest mistakes actors make

8/10/2015

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Happy Monday dear actors. These are the 3 biggest mistakes I see actors making on a daily basis. I want you to ask yourself if you do any of these. If you do, your approach may need some tweaking. 
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1. Thinking talent is enough

Ok, so great, you're talented. Own that, enjoy it, put it on your Plenty of Fish profile. It is not enough to succeed in this industry. The road is quite long, some say it is never ending. It takes hard work, discipline and very specific skills to be a great actor. Do not assume that when you're on set you will be able to just turn it on. Set is filled with distractions, judgment, technical issues and shooting things out of sequence. You need a technique that will strengthen your focus and listening while keeping your ego in check. Nobody cares that you killed in your grade 12 production of Hamlet. There are a million other people contributing to this film. They need to see you deliver your lines, hit your mark and accept an imaginary circumstance- no matter what is happening around you. That takes constant practice, doing it every single day. It is a skill that anyone can learn with extreme dedication. But you need to get to class. You must find a studio where you can work out your issues and build chops so that you are ready when opportunity knocks. You need to be in a supportive environment where you can learn to be vulnerable when you need to, and thick skinned for all other times. If you think your talented enough and you do not need class, you are only fooling yourself.

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2. Trying to be someone else
You don't get paid for trying. Acting is living and behaving, truthfully and fully under an imaginary circumstance. It is not simply pretending to be someone else. To be compelling to watch, you must be willing to be completely seen for who you really are, while living the circumstance of your character. That means you must know your truth. You need an intimate knowledge of your own instrument and accept your actual point of view on things- not socially- instinctively. Many actors spend to much time people pleasing and trying to give casting directors and directors what they want rather than the truth. Not every role is right for you. Do what's true and the right roles will be written FOR you. 



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3. Worrying about how you're going to look

To become compelling to watch, you must risk looking bad. Then and only then, do you come off looking great. Most actors walk around trying to look good by avoiding their own feelings of inadequacy or loneliness, of shame or fear. Avoid coming off as a jerk because you don't want to be mean. That is a huge mistake. We don't go to the movies to watch the guy who always wins win again with ease. We want to see him struggle and fight to win. we go to the movies to watch stories of the human condition because it allows the general public to go through something and feel something. You must never judge your own true feelings, your job as an actor is to allow, and never judge or second guess what is truly in you to give. Never rob your audience of your pain, your struggle and fears, for while they rejoice in your victories, your humanity is what they love.



Robyn Kay is an acting coach and founder of the Robyn Kay studio in Toronto, acting classes rooted in the Meisner Technique. If you're ready to transform you acting and career, click a link below or contact Robyn at 416-312-9188 info@robynkaystudio.com
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3 Rules for Actors

8/5/2015

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Happy Summer actors!!! Its August and time to start preparing for the fall audition season and making sure you finish off 2015 stronger than ever! Here are my three main rules you must employ and remember to make sure your acting is compelling to watch. You should be practicing this often....here we go. 
1. You need every one of your emotions
There is no such thing as a positive or negative emotion to an actor- remember, your emotions are your tools! So not wanting to express anger or sadness because you "want to be positive" will kill your acting! Socially you may say "it isn't necessary to be so angry" which, I am told, is a healthy way to live. However in your acting, anger is completely necessary. Expressing anger will take you to sadness and eventually joy- TRUTHFULLY. You need every one of your emotions. Would you hear a carpenter say, "My hammer is negative and makes to much noise. I think I'll just use my caulking gun for these nails". Ridiculous right? So is an actor ignoring his true feelings. 

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2. Your strength is in your vulnerability
While your anger is absolutely necessary, it doesn't last. Once you fully express your anger, your joy or your excitement, there is always a much more vulnerable note waiting just underneath the surface. Your vulnerable moments are what will make your characters human and relatable, what will make you compelling to watch. The most heroic thing an actor can do on screen is admit their loneliness or fear, not with words but by being seen and allowing the truth, not running from it. You must be willing to be seen.


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3. I don't give a F@&% what you want
Fight for something. I often hear actors who come in to prepare for an audition knowing what their "want" is in the scene. Wanting something isn't enough, it often comes from your ego and puts you in your head. Plus when you don't get what you want (which may just be in the script) you'll end up feeling frustrated and dissatisfied, not the best emotions to watch. Instead, you must be fighting for something. You must constantly be fighting, for when you stay in a fight that you truly believe in, then your attention is on the fight, rather than your emotions and ego. You leave yourself alone and whatever is going on in you can go on as a result of your action. So take a stand, start a fight, fight for love or money or justice- just don't settle for a want. 

If you are ready to take action and transform your acting by following the above rules and igniting your instincts with acting classes rooted in the Meisner Technique please check out the links below. 


Beginner class starts August 12th, Ongoing classes on special until September 1st, Drop in any Sunday evening!
For more info or a free consult with Robyn Kay contact her at 416-312-9188 or info@robynkaystudio.com
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    Robyn Kay

    Acting coach, an artist and an advocate for truth. 

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