No Break in Films? Worried? Depressed? 7 Proven Solutions

Worry and Depression is common with aspiring actors

Scientifically-Backed Terrific Ways To Stop Excessive Worrying and be a Successful Actor

Worry is something that all actors deal with, but it is one of the most dangerous emotions actors (also even non actors) experience. Worry is scientifically proven to harm us in many ways. Worry hurts, especially actors emotionally, physically, and mentally. Worry takes many different forms and we all have a different response to it.
There are some great ways to combat worry though.

Listed below are 10 scientifically backed ways to stop excessive worrying.

Worry, feeling uneasy or troubled, seems to plague multitudes of people in our world today. It's human nature to be concerned about the bad situations. In case of actors, bad situations could be 

• Continuous or frequent rejections in auditions
• Resultant long periods of inactivity leading to financial instability
• Poor performance on a set and consequently, getting replaced by another actor
• Lack of appreciation
• Lack of acceptance
• Shattered self-image of being most beautiful or handsome
• Lack of knowledge of Bollywood and TV serial world
• Sarcastic remarks by casting directors, coordinators or even by co-stars on poor acting, not memorizing lines properly, and camera acting knowledge
• Consequently, developing bad habits like alcoholism, womanizing to name a few! 
• Self-pity, negativity, brooding and depression 

In our creative world or even in our personal lives, if we not careful, the devil called �worry� which is beyond reasonable will destroy our lives.
Worry is like a rocking chair�it's always in motion, but it never gets you anywhere. So why do we struggle with it? And what good does it do? Worry is the opposite of faith, and it steals our peace, physically wears us out, and can even make us sick. When we worry, we torment ourselves.

In my long career of more than 50 years as an actor, filmmaker, an acting coach and marketing expert, I have suffered with all the above symptoms, but I resolved to win over this devil and fought out successfully with determination and patience

 

Solutions to Fight Out the Devil of �Excessive Worry�

 

 

 

  1. Exercise

Exercise helps to produce happiness, feel good group of hormones secreted within the brain and nervous system and having a number of favorable body functions (endorphins). Exercise reduces stress in so many ways. You can get your tension out through kick-boxing, yoga, running, swimming, and so much more. Exercise will give you a new path to focus on that is not worrying. Exercise lets you focus on getting better yourself. With the focus on health, you will naturally stop worrying.

2. Develop the Habit of Writing (Journaling)

Keeping a diary (journal) can be a good way to stop worrying. By writing down your thoughts, you might see that they are not anything to worry about after all. Writing can be very medicinal. It helps you get to the heart of the issue. When we write, we don�t worry about anything but the words on the page. Just write about anything that makes you happy, sad, stressed, or angry. A study published in Psychotherapy Research showed that participants who wrote daily their feelings are likely to have lower levels of anxiety than those who were not writing.

3. Speak it Out (Venting)

Talking to someone about your worries is a great way to stop them right in their beginning. Often, someone else will have advice or something to add into the conversation to make you feel a little calmer.  Don�t be afraid to ask the other person�s advice while speaking with them. Attempt to find someone who has been in a similar situation as you are in. Knowing that the worry will eventually end is beneficial, so keep that in mind.

4. Be a Volunteer

The best way to stop thinking about you is to be a volunteer of some social service or help someone else. When the focus shifts away from us, we see that our problems are small in comparison to the problems of others. Changing your perspective may change your mind about what is worth worrying about. Many experts, (for example Rodlescia Sneed,
CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY, Department of Psychology, USA) claims that volunteering is vital to stress reduction. Other studies claim that less than 100 hours a year is enough to make a big difference is how you handle worry. So get out there, find an organization that you are interested in, and see how your worry decreases.

5. Meditate

Find a calming mantra to fixate your mind on throughout the day.
Learn Yoga and Pranayam, Self-Hypnotism and Auto-Suggestion. Slowly, you will learn to relax and be worriless in just 3 to 5 minutes, lying down, sitting or even standing.

(For actors, we at (Bollywood Best Actor Academy 9920991661) are perhaps the only personalized acting coaching in the world which designs this technique based on individual requirement, teaches and ensures an actor's or a common person's success.) 

6. Be Creative

Creativity, like exercise gives a great outlet for stress relief. Put all your emotions into making something just according to your �beautiful�, maybe a nice poem, a piece of art or a recipe. Or develop a new hobby like singing, dancing, storytelling for kids, cooking etc.  Creating something is a good use of time, unlike worry. Creativity gives us the option to change anything, unlike worry.

7. Pray

Speaking to a higher power about your problems is a safe way to get relief from worry. Acknowledging that there is something or someone looking out at you, for you will give you peace. Find encouraging mantras, verses and quotes from your religious books to get peace and motivation and get rid of excessive worry. A popular prayer in English that helps a lot of people release worries is which goes-

 �God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.�

Remember, when we focus on finding creative ways to address our issues with excessive worry, we will succeed in beating it once and for all.

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7 Acting Skills Hacked! Schools Don't Know or Teach

Many of you have gone to good acting schools, got a fancy piece of certificate which says � Certified Great Performing Actor� and come out elated thinking that now all top directors will approach and you will become a Bollywood star, soon!
In school, you played lots of lead roles, and took lots of acting, voice, and movement classes, studied Meisner, Stanislavsky etc... etc.. Wow!
Fancy certificate in hand, you move in Mumbai week after week with inappropriate headshots, a mediocre small type role in an unknown short film or in a TV serial and wonder �Where are all these high paying acting jobs I�m supposed to be getting? I was a top student in my acting school and now what�s happening?� As the time passes and you continue to fail in auditions, slowly the truth starts dawning upon you� there are certain parts of my acting craft like how to fight tension and nervousness you have not learnt and secondly, there are some aspects apart from the craft of acting you do not know.
The clock is ticking and you may or may not realize there is this whole �business� side of acting nobody had told you about. Wake up! You need to change your approach, be nice, and come up with a game plan.

Things they may not know or forget to train in an acting school:

1. You aren�t a star. 

You may have gotten a standing ovation for playing a particular �character� or an improvisation along with co-students in an acting school class, but once you have completed the course and out into this ruthless competitive world of �looking for a break�, REMEMBER- you are not yet a star. You will be in the audition room with people who don�t have any training, who have never taken an acting class, and yet have bagged roles. Some of them already have tons of big TV serials and film credits. And guess what? They are up for the same character you are auditioning for. Accept this bitter truth! Everyone is in the same boat now, trained or not!

2. Remember-the acting is a business, also. 

It�s one thing to be a good actor; it�s another thing to be a �smart� actor. An acting school is all about the �art.� They try to make you a good product. In the real world, it�s about the �business� in a highly competitive market. This market is a �buyers� market and here the buyers are influential agents and coordinators, casting directors, directors and producers. This is not a �sellers� market until you become a marketable �Star�, which at present means �you� and thousands of others like you!
Nobody is going to come knocking on your door begging you to act for them. They don�t have to. There are hundreds of aspiring actors knocking their doors who are ready to work for free, just to get a break. Firstly, you have to do the work to get noticed by these �buyers�. You have to promote yourself through your casting coordinators, agents, online and offline social networking, Email marketing, mailing, developing personal contacts, meeting production houses, casting directors and other people in the industry.
You have to combine artistry with the rules of-�How to be successful in a business�, if you want to make money doing this and support yourself. That means to begin with killer headshots, a good 2-3 minute demo reel (show reel), great audition monologues (that aren�t overused), and then add to this what I have mentioned in the previous paragraph.
Did your acting school train you on how to run this �business� of acting?
Therefore, you have to be a damn good CEO (chief executive officer) of your own �Business� apart from a being a good actor.

3. You can't live and expect based on �Your Past� right away. 

Initially you may  go for small roles, may be one liner roles, like saluting a guest and saying �Good evening sir� or if you are a female, just standing behind a doctor as a nurse. Depressing!
Yes, you were the lead in all your shows in school. Everyone told you how great you are. Now you have to go back to the bottom. The truth is, you won�t be seen in a TV serial or in films on regular roles without concrete television or film credits under your belt. The reality is that most actors, will have to start with co-star and guest star roles, and slowly build up their profile decorated with work clips before they are even considered for auditions for major serials for regular roles on television or in a film from a major production house. This might take years, and having a survival job (or three). Patience is the key.

4. You are a particular �type.� 

Not talking about dating with your girl or a boyfriend here. In an acting school, you play all types�you stretch, you play characters twice your age, play different emotions and attitudes and even switch genders! Now you are in an open cut throat market of Bollywood Mumbai or in a TV serial or commercials as a model. Remember, you now have a five-year age range (not 40), a height, a type of voice, an ethnicity, and a character �type� that defines you e.g. Villainous, chocolate boy, sexy and hot girl, village type, innocent etc..etc. There are thousands of other actors who have the same type. Accept and own it, embrace it, be the best actor in your type.
(See my previous post on Do you know your actor "type"?) 

5. You need to �be king or queen of the audition room.� 

When it comes to an actual performance on a television and film set, you can be an amazing actor, but terrible at auditioning, or a terrible actor, but wonderful, confident, and charming in auditions. You have to be �good in the room� as they say. You have to learn the fine art of as that is the gateway to your getting the job, and getting casting directors to �trust� you. Take an audition class may be with a private acting coach, see yourself on camera, and learn how to �Great� on screen. You have to understand tone, the rhythm of television, what works on camera, how to take down your performance for a medium shot, how to embrace your personality, make strong choices, and be authentic.

6. You are nervous and tense. 

It�s written all over your face. You are not comfortable and are tense in front of people, in front of  the camera, in your approach, attitude, posture, you forget your lines, and you are breathing heavily and sweating, oh my god what have done to yourself? A high degree of tenseness and nervousness is the biggest enemy of an actor and a sin. Though you might have learnt relaxation exercises under Stanislavsky techniques, but in my opinion, they are inadequate in today�s rapid paced filming environment and especially in the case of Indian actors who relatively are oversensitive. What they need is a well-planned individual exercises combing Indian and western techniques under yoga+ self-hypnosis+auto-suggestion. After a few sessions and continuing the practice, a student learns to relax his body and mind in less than 2 minutes even while sitting or even standing. Amazing, isn�t it?

7. �Be simple� 

If you don�t learn the art of acting for the camera, you will simply look �out of everything� technically and craft wise or your acting will be deemed �theater-y.� This is the most important, and takes a pretty good time to learn, which unfortunately schools don�t have because of the number of students and need to train individually.  Most casting directors for television and film will tell you �just keep it natural,� or �don�t act, just say the lines.�
And you start thinking and arguing in your mind �But I went to best acting school where it was taught �to be in a character� and imagine �If I�m so and so�

It doesn�t matter in practicality. You are no longer playing to your teacher in an acting class. Keep in mind you are playing to an HD camera three feet away, which magnifies everything you do, and even the smallest gestures can seem too big, and trying desperately to be in a �character� is dangerous. Be economical with your gestures, subtle with your emotions, and use your eyes. Just think and feel, instead of showing.

Training from an acting school can open doors for you. It can be amazing, and can give you the tools and technique to have a long, successful career. But being a professional actor is a different ball game and requires an additional set of skills, which involves all the above I have mentioned mainly knowing the market and how you fit into it, so you can put what you have learned in a school to good use. Training from a school is an invaluable part of the equation, but it�s just that: part of the equation.

(Admin: The author of this post and this blog apart from being an International Acting Coach, An Actor and a Filmmaker is an Ex-Vice President, Marketing in Multinational Companies for more than 30 years and an authority on marketing and training.) 

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16 Good and Relatively Cheap Acting Schools India

Take care in selecting a school!

To choose a good acting school is hard. To know how to choose well is harder. And to choose correctly in this Maya Nagri called Mumbai  where you have all the shades of people-good, bad and ugly is harder still, perhaps too hard.

We understand the human instinct well because it invariably follows a name and a fame whether it's a product, a person or being an aspiring actor-an acting school. Sometimes our dream, our passion and consequent  impatience for a quick success makes us blind. We forget an age old saying that "Everything Which Glitters is not Gold!". However, later we find out that our decision was wrong and through the experiences of others,  we realize that perhaps a little known product or a person or an establishment would have been a better choice.

Most of the aspiring actors join an acting school because of its publicity, name, the man behind the school or the number of students joining a school.
In my earlier post (This one) I have mentioned top acting schools of India. There is no doubt that they have a good reputation and some are really good and can join them if you can arrange sufficient money.

The question is by charging few lacs as a fee for their courses, whether they are cost effective or not and secondly, whether or not they have upgraded their training techniques with the changing times? And what happens after you have completed a course and have come out? Do they keep their doors open to help you or the doors are closed? What is the experience of others?
All these questions point to one single fact-

Investigate, Research and Research before you make your choice!

• Because, remember when you make a choice, you change the future! 
• Great Heroes or Heroins in films are made by the paths they choose, not only by the talent or powers they have.

Many of blog readers have asked me to give a list of more schools which are likely to be good, and may not be as expensive as the famous ones.

Here is the list with availaibIe details. 

You are strongly advised to visit these schools, investigate and then decide:

1. Monttage Film And Television Academy 
Contact Information:
+(91)-22-61616875
25a/ 303, 3rd Floor, Suyog Chs, Bimbisar Nagar, Near Mahananda Diary, Western Express Highway, Goregaon East, Mumbai - 400065
www.monttage.com

2. Attraction Acting Institute
Contact Information:
+(91)-22-67625307
G H Malkani Hall, Opposite Juhu Gymkhana Club, Near Juhu Church Bus Depot, Juhu, Mumbai - 400049

3. Figa (Frost Free Institute for Grooming Actors)
Contact Information:
+(91)-22-71044456
1003, Crescent Royale, Opposite Infiniti Mall, Behind Maurya House, Link Road, Andheri West, Mumbai - 400053
www.frostfreeproductions.com/figa

4. Puppets Acting Academy 
Contact Information:
+(91)-22-61429094
Evershine Nagar, Near Movie Time And Peoples Gym, Malad West, Mumbai - 400064

5. Rang Rasia Acting School
Contact Information:
+(91)-22-45106479
RUDRAKSH BUNGALOW, Near Janki Devi School, Four Bunglow, Mhada, opp.janki devi school bus stop, Andheri West, Mumbai - 400053
www.rangrasiaactingschool.com

6. Shweta Tiwari Creative School Of Acting
Contact Information:
+(91)-22-49173878
Office No 15, 2nd Floor, Hira Panna Mall, Oshiwara, Behind Shreejees Restaurant, Andheri West, Mumbai - 400053

7. RDG Management (Acting and modeling)
Contact Information:
+(91)-22-61425902
Office No 537/538, 5th Floor, Ijmima Complex, Near New Infinity Mall, Off New Link Road, Malad West, Mumbai - 400064
www.rdg-management.com

8. S R M Film School (In central Suburbs)
Contact Information:
+(91)-22-49172130
Mini Film City , Bamandev Compound, Near Swastik Hometown, Kasarvadavli, Ghodbunder Road, Thane West, Thane - 400601
www.srmfilmschool.com

9. Make Me Filmy
Contact Information:
+(91)-22-67305133
Plot No 42/42, Opposite Janki Devi School, Near Telephone Exchange, Mhada, Svp Nagar, Four Bunglows-Andheri West, Mumbai - 400053
www.makemefilmy.com

10. Actor Studio India
Contact Information:
+(91)-22-61621361
602, C Wing, La Chappele Building, Before Ryan International School, Malad West, Mumbai - 400064

11. Expression Acting School
Contact Information:
+(91)-22-49171043
Society No 81, D-6, Near Jankidevi School, Four Bunglows, Mhada, Andheri West, Mumbai - 400053

12. Little Actors Club (In South Mumbai)
Contact Information:
+(91)-9320130013
+(91)-22-22842845, 22842846, 22842847, 22842848
Hormuz Mansion, Near Cymroza Art Gallery, 72,Bhulabhai Desai Road, Breach Candy, Mumbai - 400026
www.aceproductions.biz

13. The Ita School Of Performing Arts
Contact Information:
+(91)-22-67731349+(91)-22-26347637, 61950301
Ground Floor Unit No 2, Techniplex 2, Near Goregaon MTNL, Opposite Hotel Grand Sarovar Premier, S V Road, Goregaon West, Mumbai - 400062
www.itaspa.in

14. Jehangir School Of Speech & Drama (Good for theater, speech and acting-South Mumbai)
Contact Information:
+(91)-22-23515270, 23513788, 23515604
4,Darbhanga Mansion, Near Usha Kiran, Carmichael Road, Cumballa Hill, Mumbai - 400026

15. Anahita Dastoor
Contact Information:
+(91)-22-26616339, 26614478
Ground Floor, Mazda Chaman, 13 Dattatray Road, Santacruz West, Mumbai - 400054

16. DON Bosco (Central Suburub Mumbai)
Acting and music classes
Contact Information:
+(91)-22-24145223
DON Bosco Comms, Opp Khalsa Colony, Matunga East, Mumbai - 400019

We can provide more names on request

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Dreaming to be a Bollywood Actor? Wake Up or Get Lost!

Amitabh Bachchan Past and Present- A Long Struggle Story

The Dream and Reality

I meet people all the time who say that to be an actor in Bollywood and in TV serials is their life�s dream and the No. 1 priority. They just jump into sea without knowing how to swim or whether the waters are ice cool or boiling or shallow or deep! They are so much deep into their fantasy of becoming an actor that they believe and fall prey to sharks and cheats of this industry who promises them an entry into films or serials.

Many of the aspiring actors who want to join my coaching ask, "Will you get me a role in TV serials or films after training?" And the reason they ask is due to a total ignorance of a selection process in which nobody can guarantee you a role except a casting director or a director depending upon how you perform in the front of a camera in audition and that you are the best to portray the character of the story you are auditioning for.

They just don't get the importance of getting professionally trained either by a good school or by a coach. Or selecting good coordinators or a need to promote themselves through networking and developing industry contacts.

After struggling for some time the interesting thing is that even though these folks have either postponed or completely stopped working toward their dreams, they still say that acting is their No. 1 priority�their dream. But it�s not what a person says, it�s what they do that demonstrates the truth.

• I think there are a few different reasons for this difference between A. Wanting something and B. Doing what it takes to get it. I believe most reasons are related to fear: If you never really try to succeed you can�t really fail. We all have some level of fear and if we are not aware of it we can never overcome it.
• First, you should courageously ask yourself: Do I really want to be an actor? The soul-searching honest answer may be that you are attached to the fantasy more than the reality. Because if the answer to this question is yes, the next question must be, What do I need to do to be a successful actor? The answer to this is a real reality check. 

1. Do you know each and every step to become an actor in cine and TV world, especially in India and Bollywood where there is a cut throat competition among thousands of aspiring actors?
2. Are you willing to prioritize the work that is required to become an excellent actor?
3. Are you ready to then work in every possible way to support that process; make the personal sacrifices necessary; and remove all obstacles with a fully committed spirit? Because if you are not, you might be attached only to your dream�not the reality.

I am amazed at Amitabh Bachchan He has worked for almost 50 years in Bollywood and still approaches every scene in a film or (now) on TV shows with fresh creativity and enthusiasm. And if you back to his beginning, he was rejected numerous time for bad looks and voice and immature acting. However, once he understood the game and how to win that that game, he was "committed" and worked relentlessly not only for a day or a month but for till he is alive! And the result is that his dream became a reality. He is an extraordinary actor who applies this level of commitment to everything in his life from his acting in his being a wonderful human soul.

Reading the life of Amitabh Bachchan, now do you realize what is required to be a successful actor?

Not everyone can achieve Amitabh Bachchan's level of success, but everyone can be in the process of pursuing their dreams. And if we do that�if we are doing what we love�then we are truly successful.

So, my dear aspiring actors: Is it only your dream to be an actor or are you making it your reality?

The blog you are reading now is one of the most unique online free sites to tell you what you have to do to be a successful actor. Take it as your Bible, your Ramayana or your Quran for acting. It only requests you don't remain in your dream-

Wake Up and Work to Make it a Reality 

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Guaranteed Entry! Follow These Golden Rules for Bollywood

Is it easy to get a Bollywood role?  Crowd for one of the auditions

Your Instrument in top shape

1. Make yourself look HOT!
Build up your physique and leave the competition behind. This is in your hand and determination

• Take care of your acting instrument and develop it by training regularly by-

A. How to use every part of your body e.g. Top of head, eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth, voice, neck, shoulders, hands and fingers for gestures, chest, waist, legs and walk
B. Mental faculties- sensitivity, emotions, logic, reactions, how to relieve tension by relaxation etc.

Ace Your Performance

2. About the fear of forgetting lines- Don�t worry. A retake can always be taken. The director wants just one good take. Learn new scientific and yogic memorizing techniques.

3. Be simple.

4. Don�t force a character on yourself. Find the character in you. Remember, a casting director (director) wants innovative reality and not artificiality in portraying the story�s character to bring originality and freshness.

5. Don�t worry about the quality of your performance. Just respond and start on �Action�

6. In front of a camera while giving a take, speak with authority, even wrong.

7. While performing, avoid uncertainty at any cost. It is a deadly sin.

8. Analyze script or lines and character carefully. Then develop your character.

9. While preparing character and performing, Take time (few seconds) to cross the bridge from-

A. Listening to responding
B. One subject to another. E.g. A shock followed by better news, a child falling, but not hurt
etc.

Winning Secrets

10. Aspiring actors! - Don�t believe everything is good and your dream will be fulfilled tomorrow. Test water before you jump to swim. Don�t trust industry people before a research and proper references.

11. Female aspiring actors! - Keep a logical closeness or distance from industry people. For girls, it is a fire. If you go too close you may burn and if too far you may freeze.

12. Develop a �Thick Skin� for living as an actor and climbing up to the top. This is absolutely necessary to bear rejections, disappointments, the bad behavior of others towards you etc.

13. Be an extrovert, shun shyness and develop a certain degree of �barge in� (just walk in attitude). This will help you in building social networking and meeting industry people. Remember, being a good actor is like a good product. People should know and use this good product or else the �product� fails. Avoid being �a diamond in the dust�!

14. Plan and arrange reasonable amount of money to fight long periods of inactivity and consequent financial instability

Final Rule

Remember 

Good networking, personal contacts, learning auditions, hard work, perseverance and all other points mentioned above are necessary, but are not a substitute to an excellent acting ability of an actor. Therefore, you MUST go on training sharpening your talent�.till you die!

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Do You Know Your Actor "Type"? 7 Ways to Avoid Rejections

Here is a challenge to conquer!

So often, as actors and performers, we have a hard time knowing how others see us. What is my type which the viewers would like to see and appreciate? We want to play the sweet innocent girl or a leading man when we would be better suited to play the hilarious comedy character or some other side kick. What we forget, is that trying desperately to get roles simply because we like to see ourselves in that �character� may be responsible for our rejections and failure as an actor, whereas accepting and celebrating the type for which we are best suited will allow us to stand out as a total rock star and hit success that might never be possible if we went against our type.
Just follow these steps and you�ll find a new sense of freedom knowing you have a more focused plan as an actor who knows his/her �actor type.�

1. Find Your Actor Type

These are the characteristics that others (casting director, directors and audience and general viewers) more easily connect to an actor upon first impression. Note this has less to do about who you are as an actual person and more about how you are perceived.  Actors like to fight this and say, but I�m so much more than what I look! I�m an actor and can portray any type!
Sure, you can explore the depth of your talents in a class or with a coach,� but it is important to make it easy for casting directors that you�ve yet to work with.
Good audition postings have breakdowns that explain the �type� they are looking for and it�s smart to know whether you fit or not, and then if you go, knowing "yes, I meet the type�, you have a brighter chance of grabbing the role.

2. Research

There are literally hundreds of �types.� They range from broad to specific. Some breakdowns will include specifics such as age, voice type and sex. Some will be a little more broad.

Examples  
HERO OR HEROIN, LEADING MAN/WOMEN, OLDER CHARACTER ACTOR,  HERO�S FRIENDS ELDERLY, DIRTY,LEADING VILLAIN,  SIDE VILLIAN, STRONG MAN, SWEET SENSITIVE ETC 
Think of all of the films and TV shows you�ve seen and start to notice how you would describe the characters in just a few words.

3. Know Yourself

This is often difficult. But, if you don�t know yourself, how can you expect casting directors to know anything about you. Especially when they only have your headshot/resume/audition to go off of. Start by answering these questions�

• What age range I can play? (Not how old you actually are)
• What is my physical type?
• When people look at you who do they see? Hero (Ye to hero lagta hai, yaar!)  Young, Old, Thin, Heavyset, Curvy, Toned, Trendy, Rich upper class (Rahis  baap ki aulad lagta hai),  Sloppy etc.
• What is my type? What personality/energy I give off? 

4. What type or attitude I show and how do I react to different situations in life?

Check and explore yourself

Aggressive (pushing type), Anxious, Arrogant, Shy, Confident, Curious, Determined, Disapproving, Jealous, Dejected, Happy, Horrified, Hurt (physically or mentally), Indifferent, Innocent, Interested, Lonely, Obstinate, Sheepish, Look Suspicious, Sympathetic, Indecisive, Ambitious, Irritating, Easy going, Imaginative, Humorous, Affectionate, Sleepy, Stiff neck, Bored etc.� etc.

5. What is my vocal type? 

Do you have a base voice like Amrish Puri, Amitabh Bachhan or Arjun Rampal? Excellent! You are suited for leading man, police or army officer, a good affectionate brother or villain.. Or do you have a thin or shrill low volume or high pitched voice? Dharmendra or Akshay Kumar?
However, let me tell you-voice quality can improve significantly with practice and scientific vocal exercises

6. Ask Your Friends, Co Workers and Your Coach  

I know it is INSANELY difficult to try and separate yourself from your craft. Because you are what you are selling in this business. So, once you have gone through the grueling task of trying to answer the questions in #2� put your answers aside and ask your friends. Here�s the most important aspect of asking your friends, co-workers and teachers. After you ask them � LISTEN!!! Don�t disagree or argue. Listen and take some time to really think about what they say. It�s true that some people might
be way off, or some might give the answers that they think you want to hear � but you are sure to get a few really great answers if you take the time to actually ask a handful of people and really sit with their answers.
If you feel shy asking for advice, I suggest you to contact me. In my case, you are approaching a neutral person. Accept yourself as told and march ahead on your path of success and t up and do it anyway.

7. Conclusion: Compare

Personally, I consider it�s bad to compare yourself to others as it may lead to �copying� and �(mimicking�� but in this case (finding your type) you have to start somewhere. Find a successful actor who has a type similar to yours. Then go for the roles they have played and become familiar with them.

•  If you are a kid/teenager start by looking for actors who are your current age, and then also do this for actors who are a bit older than you. In children�s films or theatre you�ll sometimes play parts that you aren�t right for yet� but that you will be right for eventually. 

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Grab Roles! Learn Hidden Secret of How to "Cheat" on Camera

A classical example of how "cheating out" done on camera-Arjun Rampal and Esha Gupta in �Chakravyuh.

Cheating Out

Sometimes while shooting under the camera, to show a scene with conflict, an adjustment in position, look, or movement of the actor for the sake of the camera's perspective or movement grips the viewers for a better outcome.
You�re engrossed in an intense on camera dialogue with another actor. You want the scene to play as realistically as possible, so you face each other as you speak, staring intently into each other�s eyes. On the other hand, you know there�s an audience watching. How do you make sure the audience in a cinema hall or watching TV serial get to see your face instead of having to watch your profile for the whole scene?
This is an example of when cheating out comes in handy. It�s a performance technique that helps maintain the illusion that the characters are totally committed to the on-camera action, but at the same time giving their performance looking and playing out towards the audience.

Look at the above picture carefully. In an intense scene, instead of looking directly into the eyes of co-actor, Arjun Rampal is gazing in front towards viewers (camera).

A skilled actor can cheat out so subtly that you may not even notice. Each time a male or a female actor begins to speak, you might see her looking directly at their interlocutor (another actor who takes part in a dialogue or conversation). Then the first actor pivots slightly out towards the audience, only to turn back again just as his/her line of dialogue comes to an end.
In some situations the actors perform �full out,� meaning that they turn to speak most of their lines directly to the audience. Sometimes called �presentational� style, this often works for comedy. Mostly applied for theater

To make it absolutely simple-

Cheat out- To 'cheat' is to turn your face or entire body either out towards camera to be seen better without completely turning (so it still looks natural, but you are not completely in profile) or to face into camera to conceal something.

Learn and practice this video with your own script in Hindi with a co-actor

  

Or join our �camera mini course 2� at Mumbai for a practical with suitable script

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Poor Voice? Build Fast to Win Auditions | 16 Easy Steps

Great Bollywood Actors Amitabh Bachchan and Arjun Rampal who developed their voice beyond imagination

"What an impressive personality! Great acting techniques! But, unfortunately the moment he opened his mouth� I�m sorry Kiran, well� he has a weak voice which clouded all his other strong points. The character in the story required a strong voice as well..� And the casting director looked at me with his raised eyebrows!

This happened long back at the beginning of my career as an acting coach. The day taught me a lesson which I don�t think I will ever forget. I now make a point in my training lessons to devote sufficient time to voice development

Voice is God Gifted, yes, it's true and a fact, but it can be trained, this also a fact. Nobody is a born singer or narrator or voice artiste, yes, he/she may have a sweet, melodious voice of birth, but still his/her voice needs to be trained enough to modulate, varied and able to perform professionally for required time

Speech is a very powerful tool and it can assist an actor in achieving objectives in a scene or the whole production. Think about some of the great actors of the time like Late Raj Kumar, Late Murad and his son Raza Rurad, Nana Patekar, Late Amrish Puri to name few of Indian Actors blessed with a golden voice.

Today, a Bollywood or a TV serial casting director is an extremely busy and  tired guy on a typical audition day where he has to audition hundreds of actors for a character. Obviously, he/she further may get put off with many of the poor performances. Actors can get stuck with emotions and actions, but they forget that our voice is so important. A good voice is one of the dominant factor, plays a significant role in getting yourself registered in a casting director�s mind and may keep you ahead in getting the dream role.

Do you have a thin, shrill, faint, low or muffled voice? Do you mix words or speak too fast?
Here are exercises which will do wonders to your voice.

Like what a singer does every morning called "Riyaaz" (practice) you should do these exercises every morning or evening before dinner.

1. Keep your thumbs on your chin. Open mouth. Stretch your tongue out and massage your tongue with both index fingers making loud sound (3 minutes)

2. Keep your index fingers in front and close to your ears and open and close your mouth, making a loud sound (3 minutes)

3. Make loud funny sounds shaking your head

4. Yawn repeatedly making a sound

5. Say �HUM� from a lower to highest pitch. Try 8 different pitches

6. Make "Burr" sound repeatedly at different sound levels

7. You can take "Sa" only of Sa Re Ga Ma and then take a deep breath by mouth, not the nose, and start reciting "Sa" with your full bass voice (the lowest vocal range of all voice types.) till your quality breath comes to a decline level. Stop deliberately. There is no use of unnecessary stretching of breath. Keep in mind you have to inhale from mouth, fully and should go on saying "Sa" till the end of your breath in a continuous pitch without any breaks, variation or modulation of your voice. This will not only help you in having a good base voice, but also increase your voicing stamina. Also, while speaking,  stretch the word �OM� into 2 parts �O� and �M� spreading the word �OM� till your breath ends.

8. Breathing: Inhale deeply, hold the breath and exhale very slowly (10 times). If possible, try to do this lying on a bed before sleep, keeping a book on your belly.

Volume improvement exercises

9. Breathing: Inhale deeply, hold the breath and exhale very slowly (10 times) making a �hissing� sound. If possible, try to do this lying on a bed before sleep, keeping a book on your belly.

10. Say or sing-
�Sa  Re  Ga Ma  Pa  Dha  Nee  Sa�
�Sa  Re  Ga  Ma  Pa  Dha  Nee  Sa�,  each word randomly with different pitch as shown above. Repeat different sound level for different words in the next. Continue (10 times).

11. Make Cracky door opening sound. Pitch differently

12. You should everyday practice at least one full length script with proper Hindi diction, pronunciation, modulation (as & when).  If you do not have the stamina you may lose your voice in a long script. Your voice may be bold, enthusiastic, and fresh in the first quarter of the script and may get tired or becomes low in the end. This is called the stamina of Voice, and it must remain uniform in quality (one) till the end.

13. Watch and listen carefully Hindi news with high volume on TV channels. Speak along with news anchor. Practice at least for 30 minutes, with different anchors.

14. Listen to carefully voice artists (background voices) in different commercial ads on TV. Speak along with them follow their spoken lines, overall quality.

15. Watch and listen carefully Hindi news with high volume on TV channels. Speak along with news anchor. Practice at least for 30 minutes, with different anchors.

15. Listen to carefully voice artists (background voices) in different commercial ads on TV. Speak along with them follow their spoken lines, overall quality

Yoga plays a very important role in improving voice quality

16. One Yoga asana which is the most effective is �Ujjayi Pranayama�

Ujjayi Pranayama for voice improvements

It's very simple to practice:

1. Sir in a comfortable position on a mat on a floor, preferably legs crossed
2. Breath in and out in while contracting your throat, which will produce a sort of hissing sound in a rhythmic fashion
3. However, while breathing do not extra strain to contract your throat
4. Continue for 15 minutes

. A very effective way to exercise your throat.

Don�ts

1. Stay away from alcohol and smoking, very cold ice creams, beverages, aerated waters, chocolates or pickles, chilies and anything very sour. 
2. If you eat occasionally do try to clear your throat and brush your teeth before sleeping.  
3. Gargle your throat with salted warm water. This is a must for an actor
4. Do not shout that make your vocal chords vibrate so harshly that can be damaged.

Partly based on

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Top 3 Casting Directors You Can Contact For Bollywood Entry

Though there are hundreds of casting directors in India, most of them, in Mumbai, here are the three TOP ONES who are selecting and recommending actors to leading production houses of Bollywood.
Whatever information I could gather about them, I have given below. More, you have to find out yourself through social networking sites and from other casting directors or actors.
However, one of the ways to contact them is to send your details and portfolio as a "message" through their Facebook Page, on the link given below under their names.
(You must have your own Facebook account)

Nandini Shrikent

Facebook page (You can send your portfolio as a "message")
https://www.facebook.com/nandini.shrikent?fref=ts
Advice for aspiring actors
"Watch films, watch plays, watch people, keep it real and be positive. The rest is up to Dionysus".

Vicky Sidana

Facebook page (You can send your portfolio as a "message")
https://www.facebook.com/VickySidanaCastingDirector
Twitter page (You can tweet your website or request for his contact Email/Number)
https://twitter.com/vickysidana_

Mukesh Chhabra

Interested are requested to send in your latest pictures (Max. upto 4 pictures not exceeding 2Mb) with the following Email Id-
mukeshchhabra27@gmail.com
Mukesh Chhabra casting co. on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mukesh-Chhabras-Casting-Co/508627739217032
Mukesh Chhabra's website (Note: The site opens late)
http://www.mccc.in/

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Do You know 7 Best Acting Techniques of World to Be A Star?

Acting techniques by legendary coaches

These are great techniques learnt and practiced by international actors who are legendary cinema superstar celebrities

The Objective

The objective of learning these techniques is to enrich and refine your craft of acting to stay ahead of fierce Bollywood competition

Konstantin Stanislavski

The Father of Acting Techniques 

Konstantin Stanislavski (1863-1963) was a Russian director and actor. To this day, he is one of the most influential figures in world theater and has influenced dozens upon dozens of actors and teachers. The umbrella term for his series of techniques is called Stanislavski's system, and the most common chunk of the system is "The method Acting." This technique asks of the actor, "What would I do if I were in the character's situation?" Basically, if whatever circumstances of the scene were happening to YOU, how would you react? This question led to the analysis of motivation and objective, both of which have become so commonplace in the theater that they are no longer a style; they are theater basics. What would you do? Why would you do it?

Sandy Meisner 

Emphasis being placed on an actor's response to other people and circumstances, resulting in a specific behavior to produce an emotional, truthful performance without 'faking it'

Exercises designed by Meisner:
Repetition- "In this exercise, two actors sit across from each other and respond to each other through a repeated phrase. The phrase is about each other's behavior, and reflects what is going on between them at the moment, such as "You look unhappy with me right now." The way this phrase is said as it is repeated changes in meaning, tone and intensity to correspond with the behavior that each actor produces towards the other. Through this device, the actor stops thinking of what to say and do, and responds more freely and spontaneously, both physically and vocally. The exercise also eliminates line readings, since the way the actor speaks becomes coordinated with his behavioral response."

Alexander

The Alexander Technique is a method that works to change (movement) habits in our everyday activities. It is a simple and practical method for improving ease and freedom of movement, balance, support and coordination. The technique teaches the use of the appropriate amount of effort for a particular activity, giving you more energy for all your activities. It is not a series of treatments or exercises, but rather a reeducation of the mind and body. The Alexander Technique is a method which helps a person discover a new balance in the body by releasing unnecessary tension. It can be applied to sitting, lying down, standing, walking, lifting, and other daily activities

Lee Strasberg

The techniques consist of recalling the circumstances, physical and personal, surrounding an intense emotional experience in the actor�s past and then prepare the character in a story.
Strasberg required that an actor, when preparing for a role, studies (or creates) not only into the character's life in the script, but also, far more importantly, into the character's life before the situation existed at the beginning of the story (which is not mentioned in the script).
Personally, I do not consider Strassberg technique is relevant in contemporary acting for films, TV or commercials

Uta Hagen

Uta Hagen (1919-2004) was an American Broadway actress and drama teacher, born in Germany.
Hagen advised actors to learn as much as possible about the character, to research everything related to the character's world. She also devised a series of exercises designed to make the actor more aware of his or her surroundings and wrote lists of questions for actors to answer ("Who am I? Where am I? What do I want? What is in my way of getting what I want?" and others).
Hagen also stressed the importance of doing rather than just standing around. People don't just stand and wait, she said in an example- They fiddle with things. They talk to themselves. They study their environments. They watch people.
In a camera setting for a film, no one should just "wait" without some type of corresponding action. For example, if you are listening to what your Co-actor is talking to you, be curious, observe, understand and respond truthfully with your emotions and physical gestures (such as with your eyes only if you cannot move your other body parts)
Above all, Hagen spoke about honesty, making choices and actions not to "show" any acting but to truly be in the moment.

Stella Adler

Stella Adler (Stanislavski disciple who studied alongside Strasberg at the Group Theatre in NY) went to Europe to study with Stanislavski, herself. Stanislavski was originally an advocate of depending on an actor's own memory experiences and substituting it to create a "character", but he realized that it was flawed.
Why? Over time, a memory can change. For example a memory that was once traumatized as a kid is now a silly memory. Stella said Strasberg was wrong and formed her branch of American Method. Her version focuses more on imagination and doesn't use past memory in actor's own past life and substitution in creating a "character". You use your imagination to be the character and create the environment. Robert DeNiro, and Marlon Brando were from this school.

Michael Chekhov approach

Michael Chekhov was a student of Stanislavsky�s; his teaching focused on opening the subconscious through external, physical practice. As opposed to �substituting� one�s own father for the father in a scene, or using �affective memory� to personalize the relationship, he advocated creating a fictional father through the use of �archetype� and imagination. He developed the �Psychological Gesture��a rehearsed confluence of the character�s thoughts, feelings, and desires into a single expressive, physical gesture�to align the senses quickly and with great potency.

If nobody teaches you, I will. 

Come to me and I will train you to be a star in Bollywood!

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Not in a "Character" on Camera? Causes, Result and Solution

Symptoms

1. Forgetting your lines after the director says "Action"
2. Not being in a "character" in a particular shot or in the entire scene
3. The camera catches your gaze, wandering while your Co actor is talking to you
4. Lack of necessary expressions while delivering your dialog
5. Lack of required energy level in your performance
6. Wrong movements (not hitting the mark while walking)
7. Not using the props properly
8. Getting stuck with speech, a word or speed

Causes

• Lack of preparation (The reason could also be getting script/lines on the set)
• Getting distracted with the activities on a set, which is always chaotic before a loud "quite" or "silence"
• Gossiping with Co actors or crew before or after your shot when you may be having more shots remaining
• Using your cell phone often

Consequences

1. Wandering mind leading to lack of concentration and focus
2. Poor performance
3. Multiple retakes of a shot annoying director, producer, DP and crew members
4. Earning a bad name of a "poor actor" 
5. Bad publicity and losing opportunities
6. Shattered dreams of becoming a "Star"

Treatment (Solution)

• Practice meditation 
• You have to give yourself strong auto suggestions, repeatedly
• Practice concentration regularly by focusing your attention on a single object for as long as you can (lamp, table, pan etc.)

When distractions occur:

• Take a deep breath, hold for 5 seconds and release it very slowly. Repeat this at least 5 times
• Order your mind by saying "stop" or "stop wondering", Shake your head vigorously for a second and say again "back into", when you notice your mind wandering
• Pinch your arm or thigh hard
• Immediately shift your posture to an awkward one 
• Say to yourself repeatedly "I'm so and so" (Character)
• Say to yourself positive things like "I can do it", "I will do it" or "I'm good, yes I'm good" to bring back your concentration
• While on set avoid as far as possible what I have mentioned under "Causes". After all, your career is more important than gossiping, phoning or flirt around. 
• Speak  only what is relevant and required as a courtesy, on the set. 

(However, this does not mean you do not clarify your doubts with a director or cameraman. For your flawless performance, you must ASK)
If you practice the above regularly, you will tune your mental instrument so well that over a period of time, you will learn to be in a character instantly, irrespective of distractions

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