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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Not getting Roles? Your Fault! Learn My 3 On-Camera Tips

The secret of success behind becoming a Bollywood star!

Is Your Dream to be a Bollywood Star is breaking into pieces?
Not Getting Roles?
How long would continue with failures? One, two, five years?
Who would financially support a failing actor and for how long?
Do you really know how to really act in front of a camera?

The solution is HERE!!

I'm sure you out there are actual human beings and not aliens from other planets that also might be actors. And most people think that the easiest thing in the world is to just be yourself when the camera comes on. Wrong! I find that most people have the toughest problem, not with techniques about the script and character building and playing emotions and different attitudes, but with-

just looking and feeling like an actual living being, once the camera is running. And, let�s face it, a good acting scene should never look like a good acting scene.

It should look like a reality show that is so natural and real that we forget it is an acting scene.

Here are my crazy 3 tips  to let my students and other hundreds of aspiring actors on Mumbai roads to feel and look like real human beings in a scene:
(Caution: With due apologies to our esteemed directors, many like to focus on �perfection� with the screenplay and does not like to experiment or look for options and especially do not encourage new actors the freedom to do what actors think natural. Of course, there are some notable exceptions (read below) who would experiment and allow actors to �Improvise� and the results are there. Therefore, understanding your director and what he/she really want is important before you read, understand and practice to be �Real You�)
Directors of Bollywood I admire who like to experiment and allow actors to be themselves and improvise:

Director: Rajkumar Hirani
Omi Vadiya in 3 idiots
Boman Irani in Munna Bhai MBBS
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Hrithik Roshan in Guzaarish
Amitabh Bachchan in Black
Director: Anurag Kashap
Nawazuddin Siddiqui in Gangs of Wasseypur
Director: Shoojit Sircar
Deepika Padukone and other new actors in in Piku
Director Prakash Jha's numerous films
(Damul, Mrityudand, Gangaajal, Apaharan,Raajneeti,Aarakshan,hakravyuh, and Satyagraha)

1. Be Lazy

Start by relaxing  and getting into your body by just �loosening and becoming lazy. It�s important to physically loosen your body and to unfreeze it so that you respond and react naturally to stimuli
(Note:
What is a stimulus? Normally we react to things which we see and feel by our 5 senses (eyes, smell, listen, taste and through touch) and then respond. The cause of our reaction is a stimulus.)

• I always teach students a simple relaxation technique of breathing in through your nose on a count of four, holding for a count of seven, and breathing out through your mouth on a count of eight. Deep-breathing is the fastest way to balance and relax. The counting helps your brain to shut down so that you can be more in the moment instead of spinning past everything.
• Then, take a deep breath (raising your shoulders up) and, as you exhale, flop down into your body like you�re a bag of potatoes. Slob out so you aren�t holding your body in a stiff acting position. It should feel like you are not in front of a camera at all. You shall begin to feel the difference between being stiff and locked in your body (fake actor) and freeing your life energy and blood to flow through your veins as though you are real (natural human being). Allow this natural flow to continue as you slide into your character. Make sure you don�t stiffen up again right before you start the scene. 
• Keep tiny movements going on (breathing, slightly shifting your weight, wiggling your toes, etc.) so that you don�t freeze up. Get the flow going and go!

2. Free Yourself

Free yourself as though you are alone and no one is watching you.Do the things you would do if you were alone. Scratch. Get the hair out of your face. Set free natural things to happen so that you are working as a real �living human being�. Allow yourself to feel ugly, imperfect, even boring. Everyone actually looks better in a relaxed mode, as your face and body get a beautiful, natural glow and flow. It will look like you are doing nothing, but tiny nuances will begin to happen that warm up the whole scene. The more you do this, the easier it gets to trust that all the good stuff happens in this zone.

3. Do something which is real

 If approved by the director or in case of an �improvised� scene, give yourself something to do! Anything that is real looks amazing on camera. So really read the book; really listen to the other person; really try to get the piece of lint off of your clothes; really trace a heart in the water spilled on the table.
Use props and bits of in a scene. Adjust your clothes. Really observe the other person in the scene. Feel the breeze on your face. Clean your finger nails. Touch someone with love. Stare so hard into their eyes that you make them tell you the truth.
Doing something also distracts you from feeling like you are acting. If you are busy doing you won�t be stuck thinking. Thus, you will get out of your head (which is making you fake and stiff) and you shall easily get lost in your body and the scene. You are in the moment and truthful!.
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6 Lies you are told on Film Acting to make you Fail

The lies and truth of acting in films

The lies 

1. You should have a close relative in the cine industry or to know the right people

This may be sort of true, but not necessary.
So, what�s the key?

Networking and public relation skills!

You can learn the skill of networking the same way you can learn anything else The saying should be, �you have to meet and make sure the right people get to know you.�

Just start visiting production houses, producers, directors and casting directors, TV channels and other important people. Yes, it�s a hard work and got to have a thick skin to face refusals. Have website, show-reel or a 2 minute monologue and promote aggressively online and on social media.

2. Getting trained by an acting school with a big name behind is necessary

This is not true. There are many successful actors without any formal training from a big name school. I personally know actors who are a passionate reader of this blog who practiced with their friends and now are on TV serials and films. 
However, this is not to undermine the importance of learning the acting craft professionally in a good school.
Perhaps for beginners, it would be better to engage a private acting coach who either works on one on one basis or have a small group of 2 or 3 students only. This way you may get personal attention in a COST EFFECTIVE WAY  compared to an expensive school with a large group.

3. The director is there to help you act on the set

No way. He/she is there to take care manage numerous activities of a shoot under terrible time constraints. He/she is there to supervise the story and photography. On the focused platform, directors are there to capture their vision, but the reality is that nine times out of 10 they have nothing to say that will be of any real help to your performance. They may be inclined to hold your hand or praise you, if you still have such needs, but they will not like it. They are too busy for your needs. Come to set with a polished performance ready to roll. If directors have time (or the ability) to direct actors, then that is just a bonus for you.

4. Just ignore the camera. Let it find you

Wrong. For example, you can move freely the way you want in a wide shot or use exaggerated gestures or facial expressions and look wherever you want in a close shot!
Remember, a camera has limitations of width and has a fixed path length,  especially in a mid shot or in a close up. Secondly, it can catch and will magnify most subtle movements, emotions, expressions and your look. If you ignore the camera, this could be tricky and it usually costs, additional screen time and retakes which nobody likes.
I always suggest to locate the camera the moment you are ready for a shot and play for the camera apart from moving into a character.
Therefore, learning acting for a camera is of paramount importance if want to get roles in films, TV serials or commercial ads.

5.  You should speak softly on camera 

You should speak exactly in the way that you would, so that the person in front of you can hear you correctly. This means no mumbling, proper diction, and volume. You will not need to go as far as you do in theater (loudness and clarity of voice and gestures); only speak as much as you would in an actual conversation. Do as you would in reality. Don�t be too cool or deep or project in a subtle voice. Most movie stars clearly understand this and they use their own voices and dialect unless the a particular role demands differ.

6. The theater is a strong foundation for film acting

A film actor should get on the fast track. In today�s youth-driven, highly competitive market with thousands of struggling actors, you should come to Mumbai and get into a school which has great on-camera class. Or join a good professional acting coach who had been a good film / TV actor in the past. Once you have a name in the film, you can get a good role in a play / theater.

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Why "Continuity" is No 1 Acting for Camera Learning Skill

Mira Nair directs an actor in a scene pointing a mismatch

Unlike in Theater Learning �Continuity� is Must in Acting for Camera 

When shooting on set, do you ever wonder what the editor needs to keep you in the film? Or if you are unintentionally causing problems for the director or for an editor? You�re not alone.

Who is an editor?

Film editing is part of the creative post-production process of filmmaking in which an editor selects shots and puts them in an orderly, logical, and aesthetically consistent sequence. Film editing is often referred to as the "invisible art" because when it is well-practiced by an editor, the viewer can become so engaged that he or she is not even aware of the editor's work. Thus an editor�s work becomes a key factor in a film�s success.

What�s the difference between a SHOT and a TAKE?

SHOT
The section of unedited film from the time the camera starts to the time it stops.

TAKE 
In cinematography, a take refers to each filmed "version" of a particular shot. �Takes� of each shot are generally numbered starting with "take one" and the number of each successive take is increased (with the director calling for "take two" or "take eighteen") until the filming of the shot is completed
From an editor�s viewpoint, one of the most important technical skills for an actor to master is continuity.

Irrelevant in theater, but critical to on-camera acting, continuity means performing the same physical actions identically in every take. This may happen when multiple takes are taken (filmed) of the same shot. For example: It�s which point in the dialogue you turn around to face someone, which hand you use to pass your scene partner a folder, when you lean back in your chair or touch your face.
Continuity is when you move, how you move, when you stop moving, and matching that action in every take.

If you reached for your water before saying, �Bahut pyas lagi hai� (�I�m thirsty�) in �take one�, then you have to match this movement and action in every other take for a shot. You must always do it in the same order because an editor is editing the scene together using multiple angles and takes, and the action in all of them needs to match. You can�t change the sequence of events in �take three� by reaching for the water after saying, �Bahut pyas lagi hai� That�s not going to cut together with your other "takes" or your scene partner�s "takes". The other actors are reacting to your actions, so if you move at the wrong time, their eyes will be looking in the wrong place. It�s extremely important to be consistent and doing the same and same, whether the camera is on you or on someone else. Then an editor always has the option to keep your good work in the scene.

Sometimes it�s human not to notice mismatching movements and actors are no different, so editors work hard to avoid them. The directors or editors don�t want the audience to become distracted by an actor�s wrong movement or looks. For the illusion of a film�s fictional world, you need to maintain continuity.

Here�s an example of bad continuity

Two characters are talking at a diner. The Drinker has a coffee cup in his left hand. In his coverage, he says his line and then drinks the coffee. But what if he doesn�t maintain continuity when the camera moves behind him to get coverage of the Listener?

Correct continuity:

 The correct continuity by an actor while filming. See the arrow on the right holding cup in his left hand in both the pictures (Picture courtesy http://www.backstage.com)

Incorrect continuity:

The incorrect continuity by an actor. On the left, holding  the cup in his left hand Now, see the arrow on the right where the man is holding the cup in his right hand (Picture courtesy http://www.backstage.com)

See how his coffee cup jumped his own hands? So did the audience.
The woman performed exceptionally well in this shot, but for a bungling of a mismatch by her co-star Therefore hoping that she would perform well again, the director had to go for another �take� to correct the mismatch in �continuity�. Unfortunately, the female actor in the next �take� didn�t do that well.

An editor speaks:

"I want to cut every scene for the best performances, but when there are continuity problems, I�ll have to use inferior takes just to hide the physical mismatch. So your worst performance might wind up on screen because that was the only "take" where continuity matched. Or I might have to cut away from you entirely until the mismatching action is over. That�s how you end up on the cutting room floor".

Now, is it clear to you how important is �continuity� for an actor?

Criticism

Some actors complain that continuity is a too rigid thing; that it prevents them from being in a character�s moment and thus produces an unreal performance. �I can�t be in the character if I�m worrying about whether my glass is up or down!�

My answer

It is simply that you have to learn this skill and make it part of your acting craft. If you give the most incredible performance, but your continuity is a disaster, an editor probably can�t use it. So the performance will be useless after all. Keeping your continuity consistent lets the audience focus on the important things.
The greatest actors have the ability to portray rich emotional moments on demand, but even in the midst of those moments, there�s a still a part of their brain that can focus on technical things like continuity without diminishing their emotional performance. The examples of such Bollywood actors are many. I find that truly incredible.

How to learn continuity?

1. Be aware of what you are doing in each �take�
2. Keep a small diary with you and as you sit down (If possible), note down every movement, gestures, looks etc. If there is an immediate next take with no time to sit, run in your mind what you did earlier.
3. However, remain in the character. Don�t chat with co-stars in between a take or a shot or till it�s a � pack up� or �wrap up� call
4. Practice continuously �switch on and off�� between a �character� and �yourself� becoming aware of the technical requirements of an acting for camera. 
5. Remember, it's a balance between your mind and imagination

I�m confident you can learn this too.
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Which is the best acting technique for Bollywood and TV?

Method Acting

These are the teachings and concepts developed by Constantin Stanislavski, the father of acting started around 1911.
In the dramatic arts, the objective of 'Method Acting' is how actors should create in themselves the thoughts and feelings of their characters (of the script/story), so as to develop lifelike performances. This is done by a group of specific techniques.
Among Bollywood actor who learnt Method acting techniques are Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Varun Dhawan.
�I learnt a lot working with Nawazuddin. He�s a method actor and I enjoyed working it him. It�s always great to work with such talented people,� Varun told IANS (Indianexpress.com).  Another actor is Sidharth Malhotra to name a few. Of course, there are others who periodically attend method acting workshops in USA or UK

There are 3 main versions of 'Method Acting' developed later

Strasberg, Adler, and Meisner. 

1. Strasberg 

He was an advocate of what's called affective memory and substitution. This is using past emotions or your own experiences to generate current emotions. Some famous Hollywood stars who studied this version of Method were/are James Dean, Marilynn Monroe, Al Pacino, Paul Newman.

2. Stella Adler 

She was Stanislavski disciple who studied alongside Strasberg at the Group Theatre in NY and later went to Europe to study with Stanislavski. Stella went back to the U.S. and formed her branch of American Method. Her version focuses more on imagination and doesn't use affective memory or substitution. You use your imagination to be the character and create the environment. Top Hollywood stars  Robert DeNiro and Marlon Brando were from this school.

3. Sanford Meisner 

He also studied at the Group Theatre in US and  also wasn't a fan �affective memory and substitution� so he formed his own version which focuses more on instincts and reacting to the moment based on a simple technique of �Listening�. He defined acting as "living in imaginary circumstances." Some big Hollywood celebrities who use Meisner are/were Gregory Peck, Robert Duvall, Steven McQueen, Jon Voight, Jeff Goldblum, just to name a few.
Study and get yourself coached on all three major branches and find out which one suits you.

I�m not a big fan of the popular concepts of Method Acting. I don�t believe that an actor can become a character. If you become totally the character (say Emperor Akbar), you may mess up! In fact, it will be dangerous if the actors start becoming the character. Why? Because if you struggle to be or copying a character in you with the traits which not a part of you, it may look as if you are trying to fake it and the camera will catch and so the audience

• I'm an Adler and Meisner guy with due regards to �Method Acting�. 
• You would love Adler if you are good at using your imagination and thus, feel yourself at the best for when a director wants you to offer options or to improvise a scene or a character. Please remember, 'the power of imagination' can be learnt
• I find Meisner effective for creating a scene with my partner if my partner is really a good actor. I didn't have in my memory a messed up past life from where I can recollect sadness and crying instances, intense happiness with different types of laughter, anger, distaste, different types of love, chivalry and so on. I agree with Stella Adler and Meisner that emotional memory and substitution aren't honest enough. 
• I believe and that�s the way I coach my students that  Before they were exposed to any technique, their acting programs included a limited number of generalized improvisational exercises. (Playing a scene without a written script)

My Conclusions 

1. Finally, my suggestion would be to learn at least 3 acting techniques mentioned above. Then create your own method and style to play a character after you have done a character analysis of the script and created a new human.  
2. Don�t forget yourself. Bring to the role (You intend playing), that part of yourself that are coinciding with what is written and shelve (drop) those parts of you that are wrong for the role. Use only those parts of you which you can use comfortably without struggling too hard to make you tense or just faking it.
3. My simple logic is you are acting for the camera and not giving a live show. You have to be in a character as well as in yourself. You cannot submerge yourself totally in a character because of technical aspects of filming like various limitations of multiple shots and camera angles to name a few. A good cine actor should be like an electric switch to be instantly �On� and �Off� between a character and self. Therefore, create your acting method after taking the best of the above explained methods.

To You, the Best

COACH
Kiran Pande is the chief coach at Bollywood Best Actor Academy, Mumbai

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Didn't Know Acting for Camera and Was Kicked Out | 20 Tips

Acting for camera- a fine art

Ignorance may hurt you!

Let me give my own example when I faced the camera for the first time in 1999. It was for an episodic "AAHAT" by Mr. B.P. Singh, the great director, cinematographer and producer of "CID". I had a small role of a scientist.  I had to deliver a dialogue and leave. I didn't know nor anybody told me how to take an exit. As usual, they had taken me for granted that I knew all about acting for camera. Well, I left after my dialogue, walked straight and stopped thinking that shot must be over. What followed was a silence. And then shouts! "Aarey, why did you stop?" " You should have taken a left turn out of camera frame!" There were more shouts... "Who recruits these idiots?" "call coordinator John!"
"Kahan se aise logon ko pakad kar latey hain?" yelled assistant director!...

I was kicked out!
Hurt and broken I realized then the importance of learning acting for the camera and took immediate steps to know the art.

Film Vis Theater

• The major difference between acting for film and stage is the venue.
• A film presents your performance to viewers at closer range. There�s nothing �Deep� about the difference; it�s just like moving from outdoor Theater to a small room.
• In film, you are acting in front of a camera, and you need to speak in a normal voice with restrained body movements. And on stage, you are standing on a river bank talking to a group of people standing on the other side across the bank and trying to listen to you and understand your gestures. So you have to speak loudly with a bit of exaggerated gestures.

Acting for Camera

1. Ask if you don't know a thing...entry, position, blocking. Ask AD or ADP. Your mistake could be terribly embarrassing!
2. Always keep going until the director shouts "CUT". Continue to be in the character. There may be a retake immediately!
3. Never stop either movements or dialogues when the camera is rolling
4. Never look into camera lens directly unless asked to do so
5. Hitting mark- you may have to walk while delivering your dialogues and reach to a mark (for the camera). Know that mark. Usually it is marked with a colored tape. Unfortunately, you cannot look at it while walking. Quickly rehearse creating intermediate "points" marks such as a table, light, chair to reach to your final point. If there are tiles on the floor, count them before you reach to your mark. The best is to count your steps as you walk normally to reach the mark
6. Generally ignore the camera lens; "let it find you"
7. If you cannot see the camera from your eyes (even from the corners of your eyes), your face will be hidden from the camera. Know this before making facial gestures
8. In a multi camera studio or where there is more than one camera, ask for where to look. Otherwise a red light means that the camera is on. So keep a reaction on your face for that camera
9. If the shot is of a group or with co-stars, ask if you are in the camera frame. If not, then relax. If in then take care of your expressions and gestures
10. Manage your acting style within the camera frame as per a particular shot

• Long Shot: Large gestures (camera at a distance)
• Medium shot: Small gestures (Camera at a short distance, e.g. 10-15 feet)
• Medium close up: Normal gestures
• Real close up: Restrained gestures of facial expressions

Other important tips nobody will tell you

1. Vocal intensity and impact can be created by the increasing pace (speed) at which you speak your dialogues rather than volume.
2. When the camera is moving with you (tracking you) as you walk, talk fast BUT move slowly
3. There is a tendency to speak loudly when you're speaking with a heavy accent e.g. in a particular dialect (Bhojpuri, South Indian, Tapori..)
4. When speaking at low levels do not lose energy or reduce the pace
5. Remember carefully: When you are going to be contained in more than one shot of a scene, which often happen as the same shot is usually taken from different angles or POV (Point of view) or OTS (over the shoulder), remember what you have spoken in the first shot and do not change your dialogues for the 2nd or 3rd shot. Speak exactly the same.
6. You are acting for an audience of one-the other player/ players will be picked up by the camera
7. Learn your lines well.  While on camera your mind should not dwell on remembering lines. You have to take care of many other important things in a shot such as camera angles, movements, handling props, reacting with your co-stars etc.
8. React before you speak. For example, open your mouth before saying "A"...of a word "Aaj" of a sentence "Aj main Delhi Ja raha haun". Or intake a breath before you speak
9. React with your expressions to what is going with a shot. When another actor is talking or moving or picking up something
10. A camera loves eyes. Move your eyes when in a shot. They can be very effective. Move them up and down when listening to another character

Updated Post Since 2013

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Can't Do Comedy? Missing Chances? Learn Easily Here

Comedy in Bollywood film Grand-Masti

Tell me, who doesn't want to laugh? Especially, even more so in these depressing times! Comedic acting is tough, but if you get it right and then there are plenty of opportunities not only in Indian cinema and in serials but internationally as well for you.

The key factor to do comedy: Learn Improvisation! 

What is comedy?

Comedy is a genre of film that uses humor as a driving force. The aim of a comedy film is to provoke laughter from the audience through entertaining stories and characters.

Types

Absurd Comedy

The humor in these films tends to be nonsensical with exaggerated characters and situations. This type of sub genre often uses slapstick tendencies

Action-Comedy

It combines action with humor. Action-Comedy relies on the characters to bring out the humor, while the action scenes tend to be less intense than in the traditional action movie.

Romantic-Comedy

It attempts to catch the viewer�s heart with the combination of love and humor. This sub-genre is light-hearted and usually places the two protagonists (main male and/or female characters) in humorous situation. Romantic-Comedy film revolves around a romantic ideal, such as true love. In the end, the ideal triumphs over the situation or obstacle, thus creating a happy conclusion.

Horror-Comedy

Horror-Comedy combines comedy with traditional horror movie themes and characters. Horror-Comedy films aim to scare the audience, but also provide comical outlets that let the audience laugh at their fear.

Spoof�Comedy

These films impersonate, ridicule, or scoff at serious situations and people. These films rely heavily on satire. For example tomfoolery, to deceive, to play a hoax, to play a trick or to satirize gently

Slapstick-Comedy

Slapstick comedy is a sub-genre of film that incorporates physical comedy into the story. Slapstick uses visual action, such as harmless violence and horseplay (rough, boisterous play), to depict humor. Slapstick film often relies on comedic timing and a controlled psychical performance of a single actor.

In Bollywood films and TV serials there are only few productions based totally on the above mentioned sub-genres. Indian comedy films/serials may incorporate all of the above or some of the above genre in a single film/serial. Therefore, an actor must learn and practice all the above-mentioned types of comedy

How to be a successful comedy actor

1/ What exactly comedy is. What makes us laugh so hard?
Comedy is about suffering. That�s right � pain, sadness, tragedy, and injustices are all the perfect foundations for a funny story. The old saying, �you�ll either laugh or cry,� couldn�t be truer when it comes to comedy. The more a character is in trouble, the funnier it is to watch � hence the term �comedy of errors.� Desperation, unpredictability and deep situational entanglements force actors to solve improbable (and often crazy) situations with exaggerated (and hilarious) solutions.

2/ Stick to the script.

Comedy is all about rhythm, timing, and pace, and it's your job as a comedic actor to identify those things in each and every piece of scripted comedy you perform.
Comedy, when done right, is like a good song. Just as a musician plays the melody as composed, a comedic actor must stick to the script. That means following the words exactly as written. Don't add or drop words or attach handles to the beginnings of sentences, like "Look," "I mean," "Well," and "So." And don't change the punctuation e.g. exclamation signs, question marks, pauses etc!
3/ Improvisation
Learning the technique and excellence in Improvisation is mandatory. Note that auditions for a comedic may character require improvisation.

Mistakes committed

Unscripted movements

One of the biggest mistakes that can kill a comedic scene is unscripted movement (which are NOT in the script. This includes adjusting your clothes, scratching your nose, stretching your neck, waving your arms, tapping your thigh, rolling your eyes, and so on. Unless movement is specified in the script or by the director, you should stay still, as any extra movement will distract from the comedic rhythm.

Overacting

Do your absolute best not to over-act. Don�t try to be funny. Don�t fake it. Don�t get embarrassed. Don�t expect laughs by over-exaggerating your facial expressions. If the script is well written and funny, then the laughs will come � do not force them! One of the worst errors a comedic actor can make is to anticipate laughter.

Not understanding timing

A very important aspect of comedic timing is pausing for the audience to laugh (that is, if they are laughing). Young or novice actors often get nervous and continue with dialog without a pause, forcing the viewers to either stop laughing or left wondering what they just missed in the dialogue. The amount of time that you should pause for laughter comes with practice and experience.

Develop your own funny style

Think about the all of the successful comedians you know like Mahmood, Johny Walker, Johny Lever. Asrani and many others. They all have a distinctive personality, But how do you do this?

Watch these great comedians and ask the following questions to yourself and seek answers

1. "What makes them funny?"
2. "What does their voice do while speaking major comedic points?"
3. "How is their body language?"
4. "Are they realistically funny, or do they playing the role as a 'character' ?"
5. After watching actors perform their craft, you can then begin to study your own style and then plan to develop as a comedic actor.

My simple formula to prepare for a comedic character

Just imagine and practice-

• If I am an idiot, how will I behave?
• If I am a fool, how will I perform a role?
• If I am a fool but behave as if I am the most intelligent person on the earth
• I grasp things very slowly. People have to explain and repeat things repeatedly. Therefore, my reactions are absurd. I either make a poker face or drop my jaw or just smile or become serious. I am always unconnected 
• I am always in hurry. Many a times though I do not understand, I react as if I knew in responding or replying
• My physical responses are either too slow or abnormally fast
• I am always in incongruity which means out of keeping or place; inappropriate; unbecoming

Bollywood comedy films to be watched repeatedly for learning comedic acting

Golmaal 3 (2010), Singh is King (2008), Golmaal Return (2008), Dhamaal (2007), Welcome (2007), Kya Kool HaI Hum (2005), No Entry (2005), Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004), Munnabhai M.B.B.S. (2003), Hungama (2003), Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega (2001), Hera Pheri (2000), Chachi 420 (1997), Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983), Gol Maal (1979), Bombay To Goa (1972), **** Padosan (1968)

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Do You Know New "Method Acting" Skills for Bollywood?

Method acting redesigned for Bollywood

Creating Awesome 'Character' based on Bollywood | TV Serial Scripts

Method acting" was created by Konstantin Stanislavsky. Actors research, imagine and create the background of the character in great depth, even looking into things that will not be revealed in the script and may be, never explained by a story writer or a director. Once the actor has a complete grasp of the character, he/she either uses experiences from his own life or from his/her observations in day to day life of people, places and situations to create the character's emotions and attitude to behave the way the character would likely behave.

For Bollywood films and TV serials, there is always a danger of:

Copying or trying to mimic a character based on how a top star (e.g. Amir Khan, Shah Rukh or Deepika Padkone) has performed a similar role in a film

There is always a temptation in an actor try desperately to copy a Bollywood star to portray a character given to him/her  irrespective of whether all the attributes of a character profile like physical, mental and social matches with his/her  or not.
In the above situations, the performance of an actor may look fake. Remember, a camera is an X-Ray machine!
The solution is to embrace those attributes of a character which match to your own profile and discard the ones which are not matching with you. Start assuming if you are that person,

 how would you behave. Then practice �As If� you are that character.

Where can you learn Learn "Method Acting" Techniques Tailored for Bollywood? 

• In any good acting school in Mumbai (check before you join)
• With a good acting coach who has redesigned 'Method Acting Techniques' suited for developing characters depicted in Indian films and TV serial stories (check before you join)
• Or contact us to get trained

Bollywood following Hollywood's �method acting� technique?

Some of the Bollywood method actors

�Hollywood actors are known to go to bizarre lengths to get into character. For instance, Daniel Day-Lewis apparently disappeared for a long period to prepare for his role in the Lincoln (2012).

Now, Bollywood actors seem to be taking a leaf out of the method acting book.

Anil Kapoor has decided to go off the radar for two-three months. That means no phone calls, media interactions or public appearances. The actor wanted to focus on his film (Zoya Akhtar�s next) and the second season of his TV show, 24.
Kapoor told Hindustan Times, "It�s important for an artiste. If you really want to create something, you have to do it. Otherwise, you will be constantly distracted."
Similarly, Varun Dhawan has decided to vanish to concentrate on Sriram Raghavan�s yet-untitled film: "Abhi main gayab hone waala hoon (I�m going to vanish) to work on the character applying �Method Acting Techniques�. I haven�t done anything like this till date,� he told us last week. He also tweeted that"�I will be off twitter (sic)".
Some actors don�t even interact with families during their prep. That�s what Sushant Singh Rajput did for over three months to focus on Dibakar Banerjee�s Detective Byomkesh Bakshy. While shooting, he was mostly unreachable even to his family and girlfriend Ankita Lokhande. The young actor says he is likely to go through the same process again for Shekhar Kapur�s Paani.

"I try to isolate myself as much as I can� This is the only way I can focus, work hard on �Method Acting Techniques"and convince myself that I have the authority to be the character," he told us recently.
Of course, when it comes to prep, one of the earliest stars to have done it is Aamir Khan. In 2012, he remained disconnected to focus on his TV show, and again for Dhoom:3. Farhan Akhtar, too, did it for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013), as did Nawazuddin Siddiqui for Gangs of Wasseypur 2 (2012). "It�s my habit� (To work on Method Acting). Everyone has different ways of working on their craft," he says.
Source

Arjun Rampal is a method actor

After reportedly being signed on for the lead role opposite Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Madhur Bhandarkar�s Heroine, Arjun Rampal has now been roped in for Tigmanshu Dhulia�s next tentatively titled Jai Ramji alongside Preity Zinta, Irrfan Khan and Randeep Hooda.
A source close to the actor reveals that Arjun�s role in the film is that of a cop. �His character is based on a real life police officer from Allahabad. He has been meeting cops to get a deeper understanding of how to essay his role.�
On his recent visit to New Delhi, Arjun met police commissioner BK Gupta and a few members of his team to get a first-hand account of the job. �Arjun wanted to get the finer nuances of a cop�s life right. He plans on visiting top police officials from the North to ensure he gets the mannerisms right. He doesn�t want challenging roles to have a caricature-like feel,� adds the source. The gangster film, Jai Ramji, is set in the UP and is expected to go on the floors in July.
Source

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What Casting Directors Want? You in a Character, Not Acting

A Cardinal Question for Actors to Ponder Over if You are Failing in Auditions

Do You Know What Casting Directors are Looking in Auditions? 

The process of auditioning is often neglected by actors and unfortunately seen as the poor uncreative cousin to acting; a necessary evil, the thing you have to learn so that you can get the role and enter into Bollywood or in TV serial industry.

This negative attitude towards audition is just plain wrong.
Auditioning is a dynamic creative process that can shine a light on your soul and test your skills and bravery like few other artistic disciplines can. It is an art form unto itself.

From my experience, here are just a few of the many qualities that make an audition a highly creative art.
Preparing an audition is an exciting, hopeful and sometimes lonely process.
Many a times we don�t know ourselves

1. Knowing your own self is its cornerstone 

A film/TV casting director while auditioning an actor is seeking an answer to a question, �Who are you and what do you have to add to the role?� It�s not about acting choices, but what you (your essence) personally have to add to the role. It requires a way of working that allows you to go deeply into your own personality and explore what qualities you have in physical, mental, cultural, behavioral and emotional peculiarities to make you a different and unique individual and how to select some of them to make your character you intend playing at an audition more colorful and dynamic.
You start analyzing and probing your own self.  �What are the most interesting and compelling qualities I have to offer this role?� �Which parts of me will bring in a character an interesting new unique dynamism to increase heartbeat and thrill viewers?
Self-exploration is an elating and necessary work for the actor and the fundamental requirement for the art of auditioning. Greatness can be achieved by the knowledge gained through these self-probing, identifying, selecting and then applying your relevant attributes to the character.

For example, who you are? What is your profile (Physical? Mental? Social? Cultural?) - Confident, happy, particular voice and accent or diction, with unique gesture, indecisive aggressive, rare mental and emotional makeup, religious or not, extrovert or introvert, of positive or doubtful, from lower or middle or upper class of background� well, there could be many attributes of your personalities which makes you a different human being.
Please remember, the art of the film/TV audition is discovering NOT how you can act the role, but who you are in the role.

2. It requires individual technique. 

The art of performance requires a method that allows you to disappear into a character. The art of audition requires a technique that allows you to create and define that character with the unique qualities that are yours and yours alone.
The audition technique you use, needs to increase your focus and concentration. If an audition requires listening to a co-actor or a reader, it needs you to really listen and react (as if you are listening for the first time) with more energy than you may normally listen within your real life. It needs to make the stillness of listening required in a film/TV audition look natural even if it�s an action scene!
Your own technique with your most compelling qualities that you have should be targeted towards the role. The greatest advantage of this technique is that you can be present in the room with confidence and ease, and be the actor directors want to work with and have to hire

3. It demands a true courage

Any art form that asks you to stand up in front of people and express yourself requires courage. Auditioning though, tests your courage, not just at the end, but every step of the way. It starts with the way you enter, greet, stand, your eyes and facial expressions, gestures all through audition. Also, it continues in the need for complete trust in yourself and your instincts, as well as the courage to commit to your decisions of portraying a character, having no idea how they will be received.
Yes, �auditioning� in itself is a distinct art form like singing, dancing, acting, painting to name a few having the courage to explore your heart and soul and to not stop until you find the your unique parts of yourself to incorporate into the role. Now, you have to stand in the room and let everybody see a particular and rare character as you! Just you.
And then you have to accept the responses to your audition. If you�re performing as an actor or singer on a stage, you can always assign some of the reaction to your performance to things outside of yourself: �they didn�t like the play, not their type of music, etc.� But in auditioning, it�s once again just you, and if you don�t the role, the �no� can have a much sharper sting. But, you must celebrate. Because you have done, perhaps very few actors can do- transformed into a rare character. A true and honest TV/film audition, demands complete exposure and full-frontal emotional nudity.
Audition is the art of telling the truth, naked, in extreme close-up.
Based on source

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5 Cheapest Ways to Enter Bollywood Viewing Top Hindi Films

Who says you can't be a Bollywood actor by watching and learning from All Time Best Bollywood Films?

You Can for Sure!

How to Learn From Great Hindi Movies and Enter Bollywood

It�s not that without watching Hollywood Classics and their great Actors, you can�t learn and enter our Bollywood. The cine world of Bollywood has also produced some great movies from which actors can learn the fine craft of acting.

5 Cheapest Ways

Watch and take the following steps:

• Analyze:

1. What is the objective of the film? What the film wants to show to the audience and how the film achieves it?
2. Who are the characters in the film and what is individual�s objective and how he/she archives it?
3. Identify a character which suits best to your physical and mental profile.
4. Try to bring that character into you rather than mimicking him/her. Leave that part of a character which is not congruent (matching) to you.
5. Practice and practice in front of a full size mirror or with friends. Do not make a mistake of copying an actor from a film, for example, do not mimic Veeru or Thakur from �Sholey�. You remain what you are and try to be Veeru or Thakur.

I categorize most of the Bollywood movies broadly as �Masala� movies and the �Others�. I�m sure you know what �Masala� ones are and you hardly learn any acting craft through them.

Examples

• Boy meets Girl, at some point they fall in love. The society or families are against them, but at the end they either overcome all obstacles to be together forever or they fail and die together.
• A common man rises against a fierce evil force - be it the corrupt government, a deadly gangster, or plotting friends or family - he fights them and emerges victorious to live happily forever.

All these "Masala" movies almost invariably contain - drama, suspense, action, comedy, romance, tragedy, satire, social message - all combined into a fun filled 3 hours. 

Films For Our Learning  Purpose 

Get Them NOW!

Get a copy of these films and watch these films carefully. And if you want to observe the quality of acting and learn, put off the sound and then watch actors performing. This will help you to observe �acting� as a critic rather than just a viewer who gets emotionally involved in the happening with the film.
These �Good� films fall under different genre and here are my picks for actors to learn:

However, there is more to Bollywood than just "Masala" movies. Bollywood has also given all time masterpieces in both mainstream cinema and independent movies. If you really want to get a taste of Bollywood, you should pick at least one movie from each genre.
This would be my list:

Genre and Films

Drama:
  1. Pyaasa
  2. Mother India
  3. Mera Naam Joker

Epic / History:
  1. Mughal-e-Azam
  2. Gandhi (film)
  3. Earth (1998 film)

Romance:
 1.  Silsila (film)
 2. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
  3. Barfi

Thriller / Suspense;
  1. Woh Kaun Thi??
  2. Hundred Days
  3. Johnny Gaddaar

Biopics:
  1. Bandit Queen
  2. Paan Singh Tomar (film)
  3. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

Comedy:
  1. Gol Maal
  2. Hera Pheri (2000 film)
  3. Bheja Fry (film)

Action:
 There aren't great action movies in Bollywood in real sense. However, these are some recent movies I appreciate which have decent action in them.

• Agent Vinod (2012 film)
• Gangs of Wasseypur � Part 1 & Gangs of Wasseypur � Part 2
• Madras Caf�

All time Bollywood Classics �A Must� for actors

1. Mughal-E-Azam 
2. Mother India
3. Sholay
4. Anand
5. Andaaz Apna Apna
6. Border
7. Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge
8. Nayak 
9. Lagaan
10. Swades 

Some other learning films from relatively recent times

3 idiots (2009)
Black (2005)
Ghajini (2008)

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No Acting School Can Teach You 9 Success Steps Acting Coach Can

1. To Learn how run the business of being an actor

To make you understand that to be an actor is not just a wild dream and a wishful thinking, but a it's a business and like in any other business, you must make profits which means you must make money for your decent living and worldly comforts. 80% of actors fail in life because they do not apply the principles of business management in their acting career

2. To analyze and target your strengths and weaknesses to be a successful actor

To learn what are success requirements to be a Bollywood or a TV serial actor. Then to meet these success requirements, identify- A. Your strength; B. Your weaknesses; C. Opportunities for you and finally- D. What are the threats for you (Called as SWOT analysis)

3. Based on the above, to make a goal and action plan

4. To get advice on artist coordinators, casting directors, and whether you need to them in the first place!

5. To learn how to overcome the obstacles to achieving your goals based on-

• To put the Pareto Principle to work for you

(It's a vital 80-20 rule which says that only 20% of your efforts bring  80% of results and NOT vice versa, which unfortunately is currently practiced by  actors)

6. To identify your long term career goals 

To create a 12-month plan, based on the above analysis and your financial resources

7. To research industry related information

• Production houses-films, TV serials, commercial ad makers
• Producers
• Directors

8. To tackle issues of self-confidence

• Identifying confidence level in you 
• To know how to boost your confidence
• Exercises

9. To help you smash obstacles to your goals

Author's note: 

There had been some questions (Objections?) on the title of this post. I'm giving below both, questions and my answers for the benefit of readers:

Question: Have you given this title because you are an acting coach and it benefits you? 

Answer: No, The acting schools in India has their own benefits for aspiring actors. This post is to make actors understand that apart from developing your acting craft by learning techniques, which is successfully done by schools as well, to be an actor is a business and it needs career planning and strategy. An acting school, though good may have time constraint to go into actor's business management or may not have an acting business management consultant.

Question: How aspiring actors can trust you that acting coaches in India and especially you, can train them on all what you have mentioned in your post?

Answer: Apart from an acting coach, short film maker and an actor, for the last 40 years I had been in business management and marketing, working with Multicrores Indian and International Pharma companies. I was also the head of Training Department and I know how vital it is for actors to plan their career and learn to accept acting as a business. Therefore, I had to learn and practice this science and art of Business Management for my survival
Aspiring actors can contact me for free details; +919920991661

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