Becoming a better actor can help reduce retakes.
Acting is a form of art, much like poetry, dance and painting are. It's a type of storytelling, the oldest form of communication known to mankind, which dates back to prehistoric times in the form of petroglyphs (rock carvings) on cliff walls. An actor studies a particular character in a story and then, through his own interpretation, expresses that character in a way that he hopes excites, interests and convinces the audience of the character's authenticity. Believability depends on many factors, some obvious and some very subtle, and the more an actor practices and hones these techniques, the more likely he will succeed.
Instructions
1. Commit yourself to studying your trade. Enroll in classes or attend a local acting school. Find a teacher or mentor you connect with on an emotional and intellectual level who has a proven track record of success. Keep an open mind, listen and learn.
2. Watching actors in movies can help you hone skills.
Watch a variety of movies. Start with the classics, and work your way up to current movies. Find actors you identify with and who fit your style, and then study the voice intonations, facial expressions, body movements and timing of the actor.
3. Listen to others. Pay attention to what more experienced actors are saying when they offer advice, encouragement, observations and even (especially) criticisms. On stage, listen to your scene partners to hear what they are saying. Much of acting is reacting to other characters, and listening to them makes your performance more believable.
4. Strive to shrug off negative comments, rejections and failed auditions. Attempt to keep centered, and refuse to allow yourself to lose focus on why you wanted to become an actor in the first place.
5. Work on facial expressions.
Concentrate on your facial expressions. Convincing acting depends heavily on what the audience sees in your face. Practice combining the proper facial expression with the vocal tone you are using in front of a mirror. For example, exclaim "Oh!" with a look of surprise, and then work on an entire array of emotions, such as anger, frustration, happiness, elation, pensiveness, shyness and awe.
6. Know your lines, regardless of your experience level.
Practice your lines until you really know them. Practice them in the morning, noon and evening. Practice while driving, in the shower, when taking a walk or working out, when you wake up and before you fall asleep at night. When you know your lines, your confidence increases dramatically and frees your mind to concentrate on the more creative aspects of portraying your character.
7. Use whatever technique relaxes you the most.
Learn to relax. Great actors constantly work on learning relax the muscles in their faces and bodies at will. Tension is obvious when on stage or in front of a camera; your body seems stiff and jerky, and your voice becomes tight and higher than normal. Strive to relax using any technique that works for you.
