Photoplayer Hater

Original image by Apu Kapadia

There's a school of thought that each time an actor performs they should be nervous. These actors say it's in the nervousness that they gain energy and from that springs great performances. I disagree. If your character isn't nervous, neither should you. Nervousness can be a hindrance to performance and much of it will be allayed by simple repetition, just as in life. What is familiar doesn't make us nervous.

Repetition will help make sure you know the material backwards and forwards. If you want to portray life like it is in real life, you need to know it well. You can only do that with repetition.

Things Characters Do Are Rote To Them

People walk the same way they always walk. If you're working on a character with a unique walk, you need to know it so well that you don't think about it. The way a character reaches for car keys is very similar to the way he or she always does it and no thought would be required. If you have a character doing something unfamiliar to you but everyday normal to your character, you need to get to know it well.

They Speak From A Limited Vocabulary

The words in your script are new to you but not to your character. Like people in real life, even words that are supposed to be extemporaneous are not really new. They may have said these exact phrases to someone else in a similar situation before and they have certainly used all the words before. Most people have a certain number of words and phrases they use over and over. You need to know these words as well as they do.

Nobody Acts Normal In Unfamiliar Places

Wherever you are performing your scene you need to know it intimately and for as long a period as possible. Your character would know this place well, so should you. Spend time in a normal capacity just hanging out, go through your scene in your head with your eyes on the set. Go through your scene ad nauseum until you know it well and are beginning to get sick of it. It's natural for people to act weird in new places, which is what you're doing. You have to work hard to get past that and bring some reality to your performance.

People Act Awkward Around Strangers

You have to know your scene partner as well as your character would know the character your scene partner plays. People have a a way about them. If it's something your character is comfortable with, you must also. Sometimes we are paired with an attractive person our character is not interested in. The more time you spend with them the easier it is to find those flaws and concentrate on them. People have body and breath odors, if you aren't used to it you can have an auto-reaction that could take you out of character. Get as close a relationship to the fictional one and it will serve you.

Repetition is boring. That's its nature. That doesn't mean there is no value in it. It may not be exciting rehearsing at home over and over, but it will pay off when you perform. Once immersed in the world of your character, you will be free to pay attention to your scene partner rather than concentrating on remembering your lines. Give extreme repetition a try and you'll see it will pay off for your performance and the audience.