How can I get better and better at acting besides acting classes and joining local plays?

Question

I mean, is there a way that you could practice acting alone in your house everyday. Because unlike singing, sports or playing an instrument which you could practice and train everyday with the right tools to become the best in that certain field, acting is different. How do you train yourself in acting so you can become the best in it? And is it just subjective, meaning other factors like the roles given to you, the emotional depth of the roles given to you, natural talent and your personality affect how your being good at acting is determined? How can I have an advantage over those thousands of people who are also auditioning for roles in certain films or tv shows?

Answer 1

Ah, but you CAN practice alone in your home every day.

Go get copies of some acting textbooks.  I recommend "Respect for Acting" by Uta Hagan and anything that Robert Lewis wrote.  "An Actor Prepares" by Stanislavski is also good, tho' general and historical.  Once you get through those, you'll have a repertoire of exercises for voice, breathing, relaxation, flexibility, movement, etc. that you can pursue at home.  As Lewis said, "these are like scales for a musician, you've got to play them every day."

You also can do memory exercises to make it easier to recall lines.  Get a copy of "the Memory Book" or just start memorizing sections of the great plays.  An actor who can get lines down in a flash is considered an asset.

Acting is a combination of both objective and subjective judgments.  There are certain technical things and terms that you need to know; if the director says "exit up left" then that's not subjective.

How can you get an advantage in auditions?  The main advantage that produces a professional is persistence.  You have to be willing to get turned down a thousand times.  Before Mary Martin hit it big on Broadway, she got nicknamed "Audition Mary" because all the producers and directors got so accustomed to seeing her come into the tryouts, little attache of audition music in hand, only to get shut out again and again and again.  Take inspiration from her and never give up--those who think they might fall back on something other than show biz for a living are the 90% that don't make it.

Answer 2

I agree with TR's answer. And next time you watch TV or a film look at the characters. Do you see any that look like real tools. Loosers that make you think if he can make it as an actor so can I. That should give you hope. I know it did me until I met one and realized just how good an actor they were since in real life they were a nice intelligent alert person so unlike the role he played on TV.