Actors: Walk in Your Character's Shoes

To my Acting, Writing and Directing Friends,  I thought you might like to read my latest blog from Acting Tips Blog site.ACTORS: WALK IN YOUR CHARACTER’S SHOES

  by Jeanne Hartman, author of The Right Questions for Actors.

Sometimes an actor will ask me how to know if he is really prepared for an audition or a job?   Now that is not an easy question to answer and it is different for each person but I have found that if I pose  this question I pretty much know if he needs to do more work, more investigation.  

I ask the actor, “Did you try walking in your character’s shoes?”   If they look at me not knowing what I am talking about I think there still might be work to do!

Remember the famous aphorism:   walk a mile in another man’s moccasins.   Sometimes you will hear it this way.  “Before criticizing a man, walk a mile in his shoes.”   I have found this is helpful for actors to investigate their character.  

First of all you must become accustom to thinking and feeling as your character.  Another way to look at it is to think you are looking at the world from behind his or her eyes and you are seeing each situation as your character would see it.  

So why is this so important?  You need to make sure that your opinions about each situation does not conflict with your character’s opinions and feelings.  Now sometimes you and your character might agree about what to feel or what your decision would be, but many times you, the actor, the person who you are each morning when  you walk up, might not make the same choices as your character.  An extreme example is if you are playing a serial killer.  I really hope that you personally would not make the same decisions as your character.  If you would, please let me know and I’ll call the police!

Walking in your character’s shoes helps you to understand why your character thinks as he does or acts as he does.  It reminds you to stay in your character’s head.  Think as he would think.  Make decisions as he would.  

For most actors you need to practice this technique.   Try doing this with a character BEFORE you are under the pressure of an important audition.  Get used to doing this with each monologue, each scene you work on.   Just like professional athletes, practice your technique before the “big game”.   If you don’t you will forget to do this when you really need it.  

Let me reiterate what you need to do.  Once you have read your scenes and have learn the facts about your character and the scenes he is in, then take some time to ask yourself some questions and answer as the character.  Notice  how he answers in different situations.  Have fun doing this.  Some of the information may not seem important but it will help you to find what really matters to your character.   Here are some possible questions to ask your character to get you started.

When you get up in the morning what do you want to get done today?

Who is the most important people in your life?  And Why?

What scares you the most?

What are you willing to fight for?

What is your favorite lunch?   (It may seem trivial but it helps to add details in your life)

What is your favorite shirt or blouse and why?

What was your relationship with your father and mother like?  

What were you most afraid of as a child?

As I said, these are just some questions to get you started.  Don’t worry about asking the best questions right away.  Just get started. Ask a question! Answer the question.  Do it again.   Notice what keeps repeating in your character’s answer.  That may be very telling about your character.  

Sometimes it is helpful if your coach or a friend asks you questions and you answer as the character.   That way you only have to wear one hat.  The hat of your character.   You will discover things you had not yet thought of.  

As long as you are walking in your character’s shoes you might also decide what kind of she’s he’s wearing!

Enjoy the process!