Exercises you can do to improve your acting skills?

Question

I mean, before you go to an audition? Any good tips or special techniques?

Answer 1

Your question is very vague. Do you mean physical exercises so that you can move better in your audition? Vocal exercises to warm up before an audition? Or techniques that will help you during an audition? I'll check this question later to see if you've elaborated and offer you an answer then.

Answer 2

you can chatt on line and network with those in the "biz" closer to home, in chatts and forums. here are a few sites i picked up on the quick, that may give you more information, ideas, and possible leads to what you arelooking for: europe. bloomgerg.com (odp: arts: performing arts::theater:chats and forums), categories can come in assorted languages, including sweedish., www.dmoz.org/arts/performing_arts/theate... cached,, www.vl.theater.com/list13.shtml,,dir.yah... arts/theater/theater_companies/...&o=a.,... you may make good contacts this summer at the goteborg dance and theater festival- www.sweeden.se/templates/cs/event__19473... also try these at www.kedja.net/user files/file/1000 words swe.pdf .. i hope these will work for you until you can network with  performers that are in your region. if you may visit the usa in the future, remember the information i gave you before in yahoo answers. i remember hearing the story of young ingrid bergman's early start under the direction of legendary sweedish filmmaker ingmar bergman, before she came to the usa. fabulous actress. few have achieved such a personna. study her films, and her developement as an actress.. the university in stockholm is a resource you might try doing some research and networking with. also search for theater productions, groups, companies. they could all lead you to books,people, activities,training,auditions,coaching, ascociations,etc. to further your interests in sweeden. for auditions, i would find several one to two minute monologues, to practice, that expand on what you can bring to the prospective part or role/characterisation, you are auditioning for. whether you get a lead star-costar role, supporting,charactor,feature, or extra. each is a biginning. as you read a monologue or script(doing a 2 person dialogue) think about who the person is their situation/circumstance, what they're thinking about as they're speaking/ reacting to the situation they're in, make the thoughts and reasons yours, speaking clearly, with the feelings  the person you are portraying, would most likely feel as you do it.. when auditioning, go to the waiting area to be called up, go over your monologue and script if you have one, focus entirely on what you have to do until called up. afterward thank them and leave. let it go and focus on the next one. be sure you bring enough documentation with you, id, work papers, personal info and contact information. contact them ahead of time for their requirements, eg: photo, what size, color/b&w, attached personnel info' sheet(stapled to back of photo etc). above all approach your audition in a business-like manner. you are your business. check in the theater for it's schedules, bulliten boards, postings,etc. get any info whereever you can. you can also pick things up from theater crew members, many are old hands at the workings in theater, and have plenty of stories and info. don't try to be pushy or to aggressive. just be yourself, trying to learn and be what you dream of becoming. you may also find out where performers hang out after rehersals and shows, listen/observe closely, glean all you can, names of performers you may one day work with, and anything you can. tread carefully, there are many cons and scams going on. any doubts you have, leave it go. until you have the real knowledge of what's what. remember there are egos and jealousies in the theater, do your level best to avoid or slide around them. keep your reputation clean and it will pay you back. remember- an argument or disagreement with a performer crew or staff can come back to haunt you.. if by chance, you are chosen as an understudy. stay sharp and prepared to take over  if called on. it's a step with potential to give you an opportunity to be on stage performing if the chosen performer is late, doesn't show,etc.. keep your balance, your focus on priorities you need to, to keep your career on track. don't fret over callbacks, and readings, they're part of the business. remember, shows can be rescheduled, moved, cancelled, postponed, reworked, recast, all part of the biz. don't let it throw you at all. focus on working, keeping to any agreements you make, be on time, stay in touch, dependability, reliability, being there counts. that book on stage movement, i mentioned in yahoo answers could help you feel more at ease on stage, the director will usually "block out" the way he wants each character to move, from what position to what point and so on, sometimes putting a chalk line or tape on the  floor for primary positions, be ready for script and blocking revisions, they happen frequently. know your schedules, at the theater it's an ongoing process of play developement, eg: production design, costumes, music, sound effects, lighting, scene/ prop, placements, casting, rehearsals, dress rehearsals, showtime, cast adjustments, reviews, it can get tedious, even with well known lplays, casts, producers, directors and such. i'ts an adventure. as someone once said: there's nothing like the roar of the greasepaint and the smell of the crowd ! stay in touch !   ps: your local library may have a research librarian, who can help you in your search for monologues,scripts to practice with, books,articles, trade publications, on theatre arts. try also book stores, used books, the university library and it's research staff. it's possible, they may know someone who can also help you. as well..

Answer 3

There's lots of voice warm ups you can do.

This is one of my favorites-it covers every sound the English language makes:

One Duck

Two Geese

Three french hens

Four big brown bears

Five fat females fixin for a fight

Six simple simons sitting on a stump

Seven Sicilian sailors sailing the seven seas

Eight cocky sock cutters cockily cutting socks

And nine sympathetic, diabetic old men on roller skates with a marked propensity towards the procrastination of a sloth

Answer 4

memorize a monologue.

then write down all the emotions you can think of. (happy, sad, worried, confident, fearful, brave, etc.)

then go through the monologue as if our character is in each one of those emotional states.

If you can, tape yourself, then analyze it to see what you could do better.

Answer 5

Do not memorize the words first! Get to know the role first!!! Look at and/or write down the feelings and the facts of the role. What do you connect with? Don't become an entirely different character, but put YOURSELF into the role. Don't so much highlight your words, but highlight those being said before you! LISTEN!!! And, react to what is said ... honestly ... honestly, react ... don't "act!" The words will come, because you become the role ... really! They will. So, do NOT memorize the words first ... then, it becomes sing-songy, and that's hard to break. Know the role first! Become the role ... but, it should be from you and your experiences or feelings. And, take on-camera classes!!!

Answer 6

I love some of these questions,,, no real offense.

   In some sense it might matter the PARTS you might audition for.

   In a general sense, most exercising is a good thing anyway, for an individual.

   If for example, and I'll offer,,,sigh,,, IF you wanted to audition for a part that might be very active, or even acrobatic, you might consider WHAT the part entails, even down to breathing methods. The same might be said for auditions for musicals.

   If you're auditioning for a part that involves two acts sitting in a Diner booth, you might consider the "GLUTES" that will be pressed for possibly 2 hours.

  More obviously is that MODEST exercise, not only helps cardio, but can also cause some release of stresses. Certainly you wouldn't do a full body, 90 minute workout before going to an audition. More important might be MENTAL exercises, clear your mind, focus on the task at hand.

Just my 2 "scents"