5 Great Ways on Learning Acting at Home and Save Money

Bollywood Star Kareena practicing at temporary home

"Practice makes perfect"

Practice is an exercise, practice is a mantra, it simply tunes both our physical and mental entities to the required frequency that helps us to lead towards perfection.

Well, why not practice Acting from the comfort of your own home?

1. Analyze: Look at and know yourself

This does not mean to just stand there and look in the mirror. Look at yourself and examine how you behave and act normally, what do you do when you are speaking? What about your facial expressions? Your gestures? Is your dialog delivery? Do you use your hands, eyes, eyebrows, mouth,  lips properly? What's your style of speaking? Is it like a good public speaker, a politician or what? Is your voice, diction and language clear and impressive? How do you walk around the house when you are joyful, upset, sad or frustrated? When you are excited, how do you answer the phone? How do you get ready for bed?
For acting in front of the camera, everything you do is captured and magnified. So, it is the little things that you do on camera to express emotions, and feelings that demonstrate the best acting abilities. Remember, the camera (viewer) loves subtle expressions and a degree of stillness. So by paying attention and understanding of how you normally do daily tasks you can improve your acting abilities
(Author and an acting coach): �Many so called acting experts in schools disapprove using a  mirror. I don't agree. As an experienced actor myself, using mirror has always helped me. The fear of becoming a typed actor by practicing in front of a mirror, in my opinion is incorrect. Everything depends on your power of imagination to transform yourself into a new life, that too instantly

From Hollywood and Broadway Stars

"It depends, but mirrors are usually more efficient to simply gauge how you look, than for helping you craft a monologue" 
~Mike DiGirolamo, actor with 15 years of experience

"Both. Mirror and recordings. Obviously, recordings are a much better way. My suggestion would be to experiment with some gestures, expressions & looks in front of the mirror, and then turning on your recording and begin your performance."
~Actor Kris Mavericko, Actor

"Sit in front of a mirror
Easier said than done, right? Regardless if you�re actually preparing for a specific audition, sit in front of a mirror and stare at that gorgeous reflection of yours. Play around with different facial expressions, run the gambit (happy, said, irked, etc). Pay particular attention to every little feature during each emotion � how the lines in your face crease, whether or not you have dimples, and how your eyes and brow react, to name a few. You may feel (and look) a little silly while doing this, but this is the quickest and most effective way to analyze your facial expressions."
~Kyle Dean Massey
http://www.castittalent.com/blog/2011/10/mastering-your-facial-expressions/

2. Use Mobile Asking a friend to Record Your Performance

TV News reporters and good public speakers spend hours if not days, in front of the mirror so they can better understand their facial muscles and expressions. If you are able to record yourself with a mobile camera,  making different facial expressions, talking, crying, or yelling you will be able to see what looks the best in front of camera. Think about it, even Jennifer Lawerence (She is a renowned  American actress) said that after watching herself in �The Hunger Games: Catching Fire� that she had a really bad crying face. If you are able to see what you look like in different angles, and expressions you will be able to act even better in front of the camera.

Or

3. Watch Yourself

More and more, it is becoming commonplace for actors to watch the playback of their scenes for performance and technical  purposes. So, being comfortable at home watching yourself on camera and understanding the technicalities of film acting are both important skills that can be practiced

Film A Monologue:

Read any monologue in English from  internet, translate in Hindi

Set-up a camera, cell phone, or webcam to capture your performance

Prepare as you would for an audition

Choose a point in the room to talk to, a chair, a speck on the wall, whatever

Imagine. Picture the other character in the room with you and play to them, observing their reactions as you act

Press Record, perform the monologue

Watch the playback and observe yourself. What worked? What didn�t?

This exercise will help you become more comfortable on camera and also help with the technical side of film acting. Do your eyes drift? Are you �over acting�? Experiment with your motivations and technique until you find what works for you. This simple and solitary exercise builds comfort and confidence in front of the camera that directly translates to the film set.

Remember that acting is an internal process (Imagination, observation, concentration and dreaming, creating a character)  that leads to an external performance. Do not focus on external results like your facial expressions or posture. Focus on the thoughts that led to them.

Source

4. Must Read Books!

There is a ton of books for sale that will allow you to learn from the greats such as Stanislavisky's Method Acting, the Meisner Method, Michael Chekhov and other acting techniques. Take up a book and learn unique ways to audition, to perform, and to get into character.
Where to find?
Go to the side bars of the home page of this blog, On the left sidebar find "acting classes too expensive...", Click arrow in the center, go to amazon.in and buy books. Similarly, on the right sidebar and find "Learn Acting From These Amazing Books..." Click the same as the above and buy (Credit or debit card required)

5. Final Word

To Practice Acting from Home, may not guarantee a way to success in Bollywood and landing an audition. But, it will allow you to use your time at home efficiently. Talent is in you for sure, it is the those that are willing to put in the hard work and time that are able to achieve success.
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What Bollywood Stars advise to Aspiring Actors | 18 Tips

What Bollywood stars say to beginners

If you're trying to achieve stardom, there will be roadblocks. I've had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.
~Kiran Pande, your acting coach




1. Your Life as an actor isn't about finding yourself. It's about creating yourself.

2. Your happiness is in being a successful actor. Therefore, the most important thing is to enjoy your acting life, to be happy - it's all that matters.

3. Life whether for a common man or for an actor is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.

5. As an actor, we should not remember days, but should remember the moments. Remember, a good or a bad acting is very subjective and depends on an individual  viewer's taste

6. Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough.

7. It does not matter how slowly you go towards being a great actor as long as you do not stop.

8. Actors may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.

9. The greatest weakness of an actor lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.

10. Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow.

11. Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose.

12. Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.

13. If opportunity doesn't knock, build a new door for it to knock.

14. Perfection in acting may not be within reach or  at hand, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.

15. We know what we are, but know not our potential of what we may be.

16. Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!

17. A star actor has a good soul. Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud. Help others and it will come to you with an additional bonus

18. Put your heart, mind, and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret of success.
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15-Game Plans of Bollywood Stars to Become Most Desirable

Some of the most desirable Bollywood stars

Top Bollywood Actors Intelligently Develop Game Plans to be Most Likable

Being likable has its benefits - you'll have an easier time making friends in the film / TV industry and achieving your dream to be a great actor  Recently, Some of the Bollywood stars shared some advice on how making yourself more appealing and achieve success.

Here Are Their 15 Strategies:

1. Their striking feature-a permanent smile

Seeing a smile makes other people happy, so if you're smiling when you're interacting with someone, he'll find you easy to like and friendly.

2. They ask questions about the people they are talking to

There's nothing people love more than to talk about themselves. They will find the conversation most memorable and positive if they spend time talking about themselves.

3. They pay attention

Listen more to other people than you speak, and people will feel valued. Even if you're asking questions, people won't warm up to that if it seems you're not listening to what they're saying.

4. They remember names

Names are such a core part of people's identity. Bringing their names up in the conversation will not only make them feel good, but they'll also appreciate the fact that you remember their names. For example- Mukesh Ji, Vandana Ji... and speaking frequently in a conversation.

5. They repeat and reinforce 

Repeating what someone said to you and strengthening it will help people feel recognized and approved. And that's all people want- acceptance!

6. They don't give uninvited advice

Give advice to people when they ask you for it. If you go around telling people your opinion, you can come across as being overbearing and bossy even if you're just trying to help.

7. They don't make everything in life a competition

Trying to compete with everyone and to be one-up on everything people say can quickly make you less likeable in their eyes.

8. They take responsibility

If you make a mistake, take responsibility for it. Acknowledge it, and don't point the blame at someone else.

9. They switch off their cell phones

People appreciate undivided attention, because it makes them feel like you're truly listening to them. It makes them feel that you value their presence and time.

10. They don't keep interrupting

You may get overexcited (For example, hearing: �You are short listed and have a good chance�)  and interrupt people while they are talking, which can annoy them. It makes them feel that what they have to say is not that important to you.

11. They make eye contact

Making the right amount of eye contact with someone can help them feel rapport with you. You'll also be considered as being more confident and trustworthy.

12. They accept that other people will disagree with them

Everyone has different opinions - learn to be OK with that. Your way may not always be the right way for others, so don't try to convince them that they're wrong. Accept your differences.

13. They don't constantly seek sympathy and attention

Likeable people don't need to constantly seek sympathy and attention to feel better about themselves.

14. They don't try too hard

Focus on making yourself happy first, and people will lean toward you. If you try too hard, people can see that and after some time may become disinterested in you.

15. They have good hygiene

Wear clean clothes, brush your teeth, and take baths.
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Good and Bad Acting | 5 Opinions of Experts

Amjad Khan as Gabbar in Sholey, Pran in Ram and Shyam and Shah Rukh Khan from Darr to Don

Deciding the Difference between a  Good Acting From Bad Acting is Bullshit!

If anyone tells you there are fixed (objective) standards for acting, they're full of crap. This is a matter of personal taste. There are trends. There are many people who loved Dilip Kumar's acting. But if you don't, you're not wrong. At worst, you're weird!
There had been directors and me as well who has been observing or working with actors for almost 30 years, and I'll give you here based on the experiences of esteemed Indian director's definition of good acting. But I really want to stress that if I say, �Hrithik Roshan is great,� and you disagree, my experience does not make me right and you wrong. It just means we have different tastes.

What's a Good Acting? Logic Behind

1

First, for me, an actor is good if he makes me  believe he's actually going through whatever his character is going through. I'm talking partly about physical stuff (�He really is getting shot!� �He really is jumping off a moving train!�) but significantly more  about mental (emotional, in reality, psychological) stuff (�He really is scared!� �He really is in love!�). If an actor seems to be faking it, he's not doing his job.

2

Second, the actor has to surprise me. This is though vague, but the needed and important. Except for really small roles like a bank cashier or a watchman or a nurse standing and helping doctors,  it's not enough for actors to just seem real. Seeming real is a requirement, but a second requirement is that I can't predict their every reaction before they show them. Think of how someone might react if his or her life partner suddenly ends the relationship! There are many, many truthful ways�ways that would seem like a normal human being reacting and not like a space alien behaving in some mad, unbelievable way.
Here I believe, an actor's job is to know the breadth of human possibility and the depths of his or her own possibilities. He or she must pull from this Kuaon (deep well} and surprise us. Otherwise, the actor becomes boring and predictable.
There are many ways and actor can surprise. There are numerous examples of such acts by many Bollywood stalwarts like Late Raj Kapoor, Mahmood, Amjad Khan (as Gabbar Singh), Amitabh Bachchan as some of the few tops. Of course, there had been many from Hollywood like Gary Oldman and Johnny Depp, who surprise us by being truthful while playing multiple, very different roles. Jack Nicholson surprises by being... Surprising.  Christopher Walken, Glenn Close, Al Pancino, and many others have a surprising danger in them.

3

Third, the actor is vulnerable that is exposed!. Great actors share the parts of themselves that most people keep hidden. They are always naked. (I'm talking about emotional nakedness.) Bad actors are guarded. They don't want to share the parts of themselves that are ugly, mean, petty, jealous, etc. On the Indian screen such actors had been Pran, Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan to name who show vulnerability without hesitation and that's the reason they excel whether a character is a hero, a villain, comedian or a mentally sick person.

4

Fourth, the actor knows how to listen. It's fascinating to watch actors when they're not speaking.
Some are too caught up in ego or memorizing problems (e.g., trying to remember the next line) and just can't totally focus on whomever it is they're acting with. Others seem to register everything they hear. You can really see whatever is being said to them physically affecting them, as if the words by their co-actors are slapping them across on their face.

5

Fifth, the actor has a well-honed �instrument,� (having acting skill or skills that are developed extremely well)  by which I mean he knows how to use his voice and body to serve whatever role he's playing. This doesn't necessarily mean he's slim and has a six-pack.
Keep in mind that many people (who are NOT themselves actors, directors, or obsessive film buffs) aren't very clear on what an actor contributes to a film. Lots of people think an actor is great if they like his or her character. But that's often a function of good writing more that good acting. Or they think the actor is good if he/she pulls off some impressive effect, such as suddenly becoming paralyzed or pretending to be handicapped. Those are impressive stunts, but they aren't the core of what makes an actor great. Similarly, some people think acting is good if they like the movie and it's a box-office hit
Inspired by

So, what should you do?

1. Develop a great power of imagination, dreaming and transformation. This is a must!

2. Analyze the script-objective, changes etc.

3. Analyze your character in relation to script and other characters

4. Create your Character-objective, tempo-rhythm, physical, mental and social profile

5. Keep a minimum of 3 best options to portray your character

6. Perform with one you like the best.

7. Change it to option 2 or 3, if asked

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When Naseeruddin Shah Blasted Indian Acting Schools as Frauds

Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah

Naseeruddin Shah Cries Foul At Indian Acting Schools & Their Teachers

Naseeruddin Shah is one of the best actors in India & is known to be not politically correct when it comes to speaking out. He recently attacked acting schools in India and explained how these institutions are playing with young, enthusiastic minds who want to make it big in the world of cinema.
He explained why he hates the concept of acting schools in India and it makes sense-

�There are no acting teachers in the country, they are all shams, they are all frauds and I have no hesitation in saying this.�

�All these people running acting schools are absolute and utter frauds, they are fooling the kids who come to them and teach them nothing.�
�There is no acting teacher in this country and it is a really unfortunate thing, considering how old the film industry is.�
�I believe that anyone who is passionate about acting can learn on his own.�

�Dilip Kumar never went to an acting school, Amitabh Bachchan never went to an acting school, Kamal Haasan never did yet all of them are such fine actors.�

�An actor trains himself and that is what I believe. Being in an institution is conducive to learning.�
�I learned at the National School of Drama because I had the urge to learn. I was exposed to many things I was not exposed to before, so my horizons widened, but you can do it on your own as well. I don�t think it�s essential for an actor to go to a training school to train yourself.�

It is important to add that these acting schools charge huge sums of money from the students. We invite the experiences of those who have attended these acting schools�

Source

Author's opinion


Basically, I agree with Naseeruddin Shah's views �An actor trains himself..." with our experience with this blog where many student readers of the posts from this blog have practiced with their friends  or in the front of a full size mirror are now actors in films and TV serials
However,  there may be some good acting schools in our country to learn, but for the beginners and those actors who want an update and sharpen their talent,  in my opinion the best option would be to hire/join a senior acting coach (Click here for an example).  He / she  should be a person of wisdom  possessing superb communication skills, compassionate towards young aspiring actors and presently still working as an actor

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5 Reasons Why to Learn Improvisation or Kill Acting Career

Bollywood Improvisation in a given scene

As an actor, you are always learning and growing and challenging yourself by trying different types of acting techniques. Today, however, I would like to focus on a very crucial tool for actors � and that is improvisation, or "improv" for short!

Though an "improv" generally is required for a comedy, a reality show, commercial ads and films, it can be expected or demanded in an audition of any genre. While some casting directors may want the talent to strictly follow the script, others will encourage actors to play with the material to make it their own.

"Improv" is where you create and perform a scene without a script! You create and make up a scene as you go along. It teaches you to be quick on your feet and ready to react when called upon. In today�s audition room, "improv" has quickly gone from a useful tool to a requirement, particularly in commercial auditions. At Best Actor Academy when I'm coaching on "one on One' or in a small group of 2 or 3 aspiring actors in Mumbai, I have started strongly emphasizing the importance of solid "mprov" training and have initiated individual structured improvisation exercises.  I become an actor's partner in a scene when a trainee is alone in a session.

Simple 6 rules of improvisation

1. Quickly decide a story on a given subject with a beginning, middle and an end with interesting changes in the story
2. Start and end a scene with purpose (objective)
3. Listen to your co- actor, if present
4. Say "Yes" to what your co-actor says and then add. Keep the discussion open and lively
5. Don't ask closed questions like "what's the time?" After a reply, this could be a dead end to a scene
6. Don't deny or say "No" to a statement
7. 
   

Improvisation Examples

A. If we�re improvising and I say, �Freeze, I have a gun,� and you say, �That�s not a gun. It�s your finger. You�re pointing your finger at me,� our improvised scene has ground to a halt and died. But if I say, �Freeze, I have a gun!� and you say, �The gun I gave you for Dewali!�� then we have started a scene because we have agreed that my finger is in fact a Dewali gun

B. An improvising a scene is not only to say yes, but yes, and.. You are supposed to agree and then add something of your own. 

If I start a scene with �I can�t believe it�s so hot in here,� and you just say, �Yeah�� we�re at a stand-still and the scene could become lifeless . 

But if I say, �I can�t believe it�s so hot in here, � and you say, �What did you expect? We�re in hell.� Or if I say, �I can�t believe it�s so hot in here,� and you say, �Yes, this can�t be good for the wax figures like us.� Or if I say �I can�t believe it�s so hot in here,� and you say, �I told you we shouldn�t have come out into this weather,� ...now we�re getting somewhere.�

If you are wondering why Improvisation is good for actors, here are 5 great reasons!

1. Improvisation encourages you to take risks

"Improv" is all about taking risks � it�s about diving into the unknown, without a plan, and saying YES to whatever is in front of you � and building further on that by adding more.
What a  fun! Once you practice taking risks in the safe space of an improvisation session, you will find yourself taking more risks in your auditions � and in your life!

Improvisation skills make us stronger, smarter and gives us the trust we need to realize our ideas are good ideas.  Knowing we can use our improvisation skills anytime gives us the freedom to take chances. When we take risks that others are scared to take� that�s when an exciting performance occurs. We shine as actors and as humans when we step past our fears.

2. Improvisation builds terrific confidence

You likely know by now that first impressions are the most important. If you can walk in and out of a room confidently, you�re already on your way to success. By conquering our fears of jumping into the unknown � and literally creating entire stories out of nothing via "mprov" � we are sharpening our communication skills and our ability to connect and relate to other human beings in a variety of environments. We are becoming more confident. We are able to think and speak on our feet. Did you know that one of the number one fear among people is public speaking?  "Improv" training will definitely enhance and expand your communication skills � both as an actor and as a professional in your industry.

3. Improvisation helps you sharpen your thinking, mental faculty fast

To say YES and be open


One of the key rules of "mprov" is the �Yes, and.. (adding)!� rule. Here�s the thing: human beings are genetically set up to say no. It�s a protective instinct. We often default to "at a loss of what to do", avoiding eye contact, and responding to questions with �Let me think about that,� or �maybe,� or �I�ll get back to you.� 
There is no time to hide in improvisation or in an audition.
In order to move quickly on our feet, we must be open and ready to say yes to whatever is being called on us. Your scene partner says �So good to see you, my sister.� You must say YES � and become  the sister in order to move the scene forward. If you said NO, the scene would stop right there. "Improv" will teach you to be both physically and mentally open and accepting to whatever is coming your way. Ask any football coach, and they�ll agree: you can�t catch the ball and score a touchdown if you aren�t open.

4. Improvisation helps you to make strong choices

Now, let�s talk about the �and� element of �Yes, and...!� So many young actors worry about being �right� for the part. So often they (and everyone else) spend most of their time trying to fit into a mold of what they think others want.
The reality is, people (and producers) often don�t know what they want! 
They want you to show them what they want. "Improv" teaches us to quickly make big, strong choices. When you say yes to whatever is presented to you, whether it be a scene partner or a script, and then build upon that with strong choices, you will inspire excitement and ideas in others.

5. Improvisation coaxes you to  learn to relax instantly

Surprised? Yes, it can because you just can't improvise if you are tense, your quick thinking process will be paralyzed. So, you have no option but to learn instant  relaxation techniques. (Contact us to learn)

Have fun!

Lastly, and most importantly, improvisation is a whole lot of fun.  Enjoy auditions, enacting scenes or bonding with your co-actors through "improv" training.
Give yourself permission to be silly and have a blast! After all, improvisation acting is famous for its hilarity, so go for it!
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Remember- It's being increasingly required by auditions for Bollywood films and also demanded by directors while rehearsals and enacting scenes
In Mumbai
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