Actor Thoughts vs Character Thoughts

Author

Acting Mastery
13 Jun

THE CAMERA DOESN’T LIE

The camera can read your mind, your thoughts, and your feelings.
It can tell when you’re having ‘actor thoughts.’

So, what do I mean by ‘actor thoughts’?

How do I look?
How do I sound?
I need to get this right.
What does everyone think?
How should I say that line?
I screwed that up.
What a terrible take.
Is my eyeline right?
Did I say that line how I rehearsed it?
What does the Casting Director think?

Ben Mathews

I don’t know about you guys, but I don’t go through my day-to-day life having conversations with my friends and family, asking myself any of the above questions.

Notice and catch when you’re having ‘actor thoughts’, and return your attention to your character and scene partner.

LOOK AT, AND LISTEN TO THE OTHER PERSON AND THE CONVERSATION THROUGH THE FILTER OF THE CHARACTER.

YOU ARE THE CHARACTER.

So instead of worrying about how you look and sound as an actor, let yourself think like the character. Come back to this:


What is my opinion on what’s being said right now?

Do I like it? Love it? Hate it? Am I upset by it?

How do I feel about the conversation or situation?

How am I going to get what I want?

Ben Mathews
❝

Actors get too concerned with how they’re being seen, and not concerned enough with what they’re seeing.

Ben Mathews

Come back to what’s in front of you.
Get interested in that. Not in how you’re being perceived.

I’ll leave you with this clip from class talking about character thoughts in class:

Till next time!
Ben Mathews & The Acting Mastery Team

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