Acting Secrets

It is a known fact that actors cannot be made, but they are born. However, if you think you are fortunate to be born with this skill, then you must start off with the right acting exercises, as soon as possible. These exercises help in polishing your skills.

The exercises can be broadly classified into Dramatic Exercises, Dramatic Warm up Exercises and Voice Training. Whereas, the first two categories are directly required by those interested in acting, the third one is more relevant to one aspiring to be a singer. However, sometimes, singing could be an added advantage for a particular role you could be auditioning for. Hence, if you have this skill also, then you would be better off developing it.

The Dramatic Exercises include breathing exercises, ear training and pitching, posture exercises and relaxation techniques. The breathing exercises can be further classified into basic breathing exercises, breath control and exercises to breathe correctly. Breathing exercises help in deepening one's breath and in developing a powerful voice.

In basic breathing exercise, you have to sing any number, between one and ten, one at a time, in one single breath. Gradually, as your breath deepens, you can slowly proceed to the more complex numbers like, 25.

Breath control is all about strengthening the diaphragm. We have to consciously develop the habit of breathing horizontally, rather than vertically. Horizontal breathing is when the stomach and the lower back flatten out while breathing in. Vertical breathing happens when we breathe through the upper lungs, and the shoulders go up while breathing in.

The exercises to breath correctly train us in breathing through the abdomen first and then by the lungs. We have to consciously feel how our belly button expands first as we inhale, and how the chest comes later.

The ear training and pitching exercises help in developing a keen sense of hearing. It prepares you to identify the various notes involved in a chord and sing any of these notes, randomly.

The posture exercises help in developing the right posture to walk, to stand in your natural stance and sit in Seiza and in cross-legged positions. These exercises are very important while modeling and for remaining in a comfortable stance while on stage or in front of a camera.

The relaxation techniques help in coming back to focus while requiring hard work during practices and during performances. The techniques mainly involve looking at each portion of your body in sequence, while indulging in deep long breaths.

Similarly, the dramatic warm up exercises are also performed to focus one's mind and body into the present. This helps the actor to understand the character he has to play and, hence, he is able to give a better performance.

There are other acting exercises as well, which can be picked up as per your own convenience and liking. These exercises certainly do bring out the best in you.