Acting: Fear

Acting:  Fear

This could apply to public speaking or life in general, but I'm only going to be talking about fear as it applies to acting here.

People express their fear in different ways - some people get louder, overcompensating for their fear.  Some get very small and shy - some get frozen.  Generally though, none of these people are totally aware of what they are doing and if they do become aware - it just makes them do it more.  All they are aware of is that they're afraid.

So - fear when acting is bad, but how do you get rid of it?

When I was in high school I was given some dating advice.  "If you're nervous, it means your thinking about yourself to much.  To overcome that - think about the person your with.  Give all your attention and energy to them.  They'll appreciate it and it will take the pressure of you."

Not only was that good dating advice - it's great acting advice.  You really can't go wrong when acting to put your attention on the people your in a scene with.  If you're alone - you give it to the audience.  If you're alone on film - you give it to the crew.

Fear is like a ring of fire surrounding the "zone" you want to be in for your performance.  There are many many reasons you might be afraid of going to that zone.  But you know what?  None of them matter, because there will ALWAYS be that ring of fire surrounding it.  And it seems very intimidating from the outside - but when you past through it quickly - you realize how thin that wall really is.  What happens, though, is that the moment people start to feel fear - they stop.  They don't want to move forward - so they just sit in the flame.  

I've met people in life who never seemed to have ever thought to wait in the burning flame - but most people need to learn to move through it.

Once through it - you're in the zone.  It's a comfortable place to be.

So - you're waiting for an audition to come up that  you really want.   You might be thinking a thousand things - "If I could only get this, I could stop waitressing - my father would be proud - I wouldn't feel guilty for pursuing acting - I would feel good about myself" - I could go on and on with that list.  And all of that is NOT something you should be thinking about.  Why?  Because you are basically on a date and just thinking about yourself.  Think about the people your performing to and with.  Give them everything.

When you stay with the person in the scene - it gives them someone to perform to.  Feel them.  Empathize with them.  Don't judge them - even if they are ruining the audition - give them everything you have and believe them - listen to them - feel them... you know what you're not doing right now - being afraid!  'Cause you're totally focused on making a connection with this person.  And when you are connecting with them - you are present for them... and that is why they say great actors have presence.

That ring of fear might always be there - you just won't care.  You'll jump through that in a moment.  And you'll be experienced enough to know that if for some reason you do start to feel the burn, you know what to do - stop thinking about yourself and put your focus on your partner or audience.  Practice does help.  Improv classes are a fantastic place to begin because in a good class you have no choice but to move through the fear barrier many times a class.

Okay - now go be incredible.