Teaching kids a little acting

[gi-jones]

Ok, so I've got a little gig this winter teaching schoolkids about acting. Mind you this is not acting-school in the strictest sense, but more about getting a feel for what it's like being in front of a camera. Certainly I'm no acting teacher either. I do have experience directing, both amateurs and pros, but not teaching.

So what I'm planning to do is really set up a little series of excercises, having them do bits of dialogue in groups and such.

I would however love some advice from some of you guys who have actually received training. What would be good excercises to use? These are kids of 14-16.

[egyptianboxer104]

Well a professor of mine did mask exercises in which students wore masks and they had to act out, without words, their masks personality. Just basically be born anew into the world as their mask. It may give movement a greater focus than there really is in film... but it was fun non-the-less.

[ConspiracyPenguin]

My Theatre 1 instructor relied heavily on improv games/exercises to strengthen our abilities. I can say with full confidence that upon completion of the course I built better public speaking skills, a more ecstatic personality and experienced a grand increase in confidence. If you would like me to explain some of my favorite games, let me know.

Another thing we did was get into groups and practice short two-person scenes. This was a great exercises in that respect.

[ProfessorU]

I used to AD kids in middle school. We did a lot of improv exercises. Some examples:

Hitchhiker
Four chairs arranged like car seats. Three kids in the car, they "pick up" a fourth kid, the hitchhiker. The hitchhiker is an odd character or has a unusual trait (maybe he's irish, or always hungry, or speaks gibberish, or whatever). The other three kids have to pick up the hitchhiker's actions and become that character also. Once things calm down, they repeat with another hitchhiker and one of the kids gets rotated out of the "car".

Mirror
Students in pairs pretend to be mirror images of each other. One student leads, the other follows. This is a full body exercise. After a few minutes, switch the leader and follower. After a few more minutes, let them choose who will lead and who will folow, but they aren't allowed to talk to each other, they should be in-tune enough to make it work.

No.....Please
Two students are allowed to say only one word each (one "no" and one "please"). Allow them to sit, stand, beg, but only speak their one word. With the right students, it should escalate to impressive levels and then break down. It's a good way to show kids it's ok to lose a little bit of control.

If your kids are good, maybe you can get them into some of the improv comedy games, a la Comedy Sportz.

[gi-jones]

ProfessorU: Thanks for the suggestions. I especially like the "No...Please" game.


If you would like me to explain some of my favorite games, let me know.
Please, by all means, do.

Also as I said, I was planning to have them do little scenes and record it on video, so they can watch if afterwards, but also to make sure that it doesn't feel to much like school-play. This course has emphasis on film, so I think cameras and scripts must be an essential part of it. So in other words I need to find some texts that can be used like that. Any idea where I should look for those? I can obviously write some myself, but ideally I could have a lot of different ones.

[Michele Seidman]

gi-jones

I have taught kids in that age range and I use real scripts from TV shows like Dawsons Creek and other shows with teenage characters. Most can be found on line and when used for educational purposes it is legal.

I found the kids loved learning blocking and working with real scripts. It gave them characters that they could relate too and I always asked them to avoid watching the real actors playing the parts before doing scenes. I let them know it was there chance to play the part differently and this helped them understand an actors job of interpretation.

I also worked on things like 'hitting their marks', finding their light, and cold reading techniques. Since they are teens they are very capable of going the distance. We also worked on basics regarding not upstaging and tone of voice for camera and how the camera magnifies everything and how sound equipment picks up a pin dropping.

The improv others mentioned is a great tool too but I found doing real camera techniques helped many land their first booking not long after taking the class. They had directors asking how they were so prepared for being on set.

At the teen age level I find they are great at learning the skill of playing any single character in multiple ways. I had them take home a short monologue and prepare it to read 3 different ways to encourage creativity.

Another thing was making them go to the mall and study how people walked and moved. I made them come back with 5 'walks' (only 1 in their age range, at least 1 child, at least 2 of the opposite sex and at least 1 mature/older person). I found this helped them understand how to study characters and to bring new habits to the scenes. It also helps them when they get asked to play older or younger parts because different aged people do move differently. This gets them in to some strong basics for building characters.

Hope some of that helps. I have trained from 4 years of age to 74. I have taught group classes and one on one. I have taught camera and stage on and off for over 25 years on the side.

Michele

[Michele Seidman]

ps


i also always made each of them write a monologue of their own and to commit it to memory, then be prepared to be asked to take redirection. i find it helps them work with others words better when they see how hard it is to write the lines themselves.

[gi-jones]

Actually that helps alot. I will definately take it all into consideration when planning.

[Loren Simons]

The hitchhiker is an odd character or has a unusual trait (maybe he's irish, or always hungry, or speaks gibberish, or whatever). \

Since when was being irish an unusual trait? hahaha but sounds like a very good exercise.

[ConspiracyPenguin]

As far as hitchhiker, every time I have seen it performed it was less than entertaining. But if you don't want to be entertained, it is a good exercise for the kids. :)


Please, by all means, do.

Okay. One of my favorites is "New Choice:"

You have two (or any number, really) kids act out a scene improv with only a small starter (for example: "you are in a mall looking for aliens") Then you have another kid (or you if you so choose) clap or yell "New choice" every once in a while after someone speaks. That person then has to say something different than what they just said.

EXAMPLE:

NICK: Wow, there are so many polar bears to choose from.

ARIAL: I think I like the spotted one best.

NICK: I don't know, he looks a little suspicious to me.

CLAPPER: New choice.

NICK: I don't know, I think I like the all white.

CLAPPER: New choice

NICK: I think I like your mom best.

ARIAL: What the hell is that supposed to mean!?

and so on. I can go on forever, I just don't feel like making this post any longer. Will continue later...

[ProfD]

First, understand that teaching children is truly an art. Actually teaching anyone is an art.

I've spent many years teaching almost all educational levels (now college) and there is a consistent theme which gets at the art of the endeavor and is a central premise in most acting schools - relaxation - or specifically, the ability of the individual to 'overcome' or 'detach from 'self-consciousness'. For as anyone with a base knowledge of the art of acting knows, a failure to do so almost always equates to an inability to even begin to 'act' or more importantly to contribute to the concept of 'suspension of disbelief' and become 'a character'. Awareness of outside perceptions of one's self-identity is truly the enemy of the actor.

It's been my direct observation that successfully working with both experienced and inexperienced kids on-set overwhemingly involves creating a relaxed, fun, creative, and even playful setting.

It is critical that kids focus on a 'task' which removes the focus from 'self consciousness'. In other words, keep them busy with something. The above mentioned improv 'games' are wonderful.

Just keep in mind that the real goal with kids is simple, keep them focused on something other than themselves. The longer this can be accomplished, the more the walls begin to come down and the critical trust environment is created.

Another dynamic which I keep in mind is the danger in having too many people talk or contribute points of view to them. It's hard enough for the mature and seasoned actor to handle barrages of critiques on set, can you imagine the mind of a child trying to sift through it all...? Obviously, this must be carefully controlled and prevented. A comfortable and relaxing relationship with the director or coach is essential, but should be limited to maybe 2 to 3 peeps at most.

There is a saying that too many cooks ruin the meal...I believe it's especially the case when dealing with this issue.

I've been surprised (shocked really) more than once at the depth of emotions a child can bring to a character when properly coached and directed. It's there...just getting them to relax and trust you enough to let it shine through is the challenge.

Hope these comments and opinions at least gives you something to think about.

Just fyi...if you ever get into a parental or controlling frame of mind or way of interacting with the child actor - it's practically assured that they will never relax around you enough to even approach becoming the character.

Another tip is to also be extremely informative with the child's parent or guardian -because they will actively promote these concepts off set as well. Let them do the parenting! You are not the child's parent. The child must view you as the ticket to having fun on set.

Now back to cleaning up the mess left by Hurricane Gustav! joy...

[gi-jones]

Well, I don't really think the whole problem of child acting comes into play here. First of all, my goal is not to make a movie, but to teach them about making them. Secondly these are hardly children - kids maybe, but they are teenagers.

Valid points about child actors though. I've worked with children on movies before, and found it different but fun.

[ConspiracyPenguin]

Well, I don't really think the whole problem of child acting comes into play here. First of all, my goal is not to make a movie, but to teach them about making them. Secondly these are hardly children - kids maybe, but they are teenagers.

Valid points about child actors though. I've worked with children on movies before, and found it different but fun.

By the way, in case you missed it, I posted one of my favotite games on the previous page. Last post. :)

[gi-jones]

Sorry :) I did see it, and it sounds like fun. I'm not sure though how to explain it. The trick is that the person has to change his standpoint completely in order to put the other out of balance and respond to something entirely suprising?

[ConspiracyPenguin]

Sorry :) I did see it, and it sounds like fun. I'm not sure though how to explain it. The trick is that the person has to change his standpoint completely in order to put the other out of balance and respond to something entirely suprising?

It doesn't have to be surprising, I just think it's funnier that way. Another example would be like this:

Nick and Arial walk into a bar.

NICK: What do you want to drink?

ARIAL: Just get me a beer.

CLAPPER: New choice.

ARIAL: I'll have a vodka.

CLAPPER: New choice.

ARIAL: Surprise me.

NICK: Alright, how about a tequila?

ARIAL: I said surprise me!

and so on...

[Loren Simons]

sounds like a program at our school. its called comedy sports and i think that is one of the games they have played=] very fun game. but can go wrong, very, very wrong.

[rsbush]

It is critical that kids focus on a 'task' which removes the focus from 'self consciousness'. In other words, keep them busy with something.
This is great advice, don't underestimate it. In Meisner's technique it's called an 'independent activity', something (polishing shoes, building a house of cards etc.) to keep your attention off of yourself and onto an outside object. It is incredibly useful and freeing, whether you're just starting out or have been acting forever. Be smart. Use it.

[ConspiracyPenguin]

sounds like a program at our school. its called comedy sports and i think that is one of the games they have played=] very fun game. but can go wrong, very, very wrong.

We have comedy sports too. Didn't do it last year. Probably will this year.

[gi-jones]

Thanks for all the advice. I will try some of it over the next weeks, and let you know how it goes.

[grinner]

It is far easier to coach youngans than old ones. They listen, respond, have no tude and very little opinion. The younger the better.
My children started when they were infants. Now, I just quickly mention what I need and it's always done in one take unless I mess it up. They fully understand the post-production process, know what it'll look like later on, and ask absolutly no questions no matter what I ask em to do.