Creating Characters

C

ConspiracyPenguin

Nosey Penguin
How do you go about creating characters? Do you actually develop a character for your role or do you read it like it is you. For me, I enjoy very defined characters. Someone who is not "normal" and has a unique way of behaving. This way, I can really turn into that person and provide a solid performance - plus it is a hell of a lot more fun. On the other hand, if you want me to play John Smith, sometimes it is hard to develop a set in stone character and I find myself performing like it is me. This works fine once I get into it, but it is not as good or enjoyable as the other way.

Thoughts? Techniques? Discussion? Go!
 
I played Stu Noonan in "Talk Radio" a few years ago and I really developed the character based on Michael J. Fox... After the show, one of the other actor's mom came up to me and said, "Wow, that was great! You reminded me of Michael J. Fox!" :laugh:
 
Personally, I try to take myself away from all that I know to get into character. No matter what it is. The character I'm playing doesn't know what I've done that day, nor does it know any of my friends, or relatives. It's a different person.

So I will use time to convince myself that the world my character lives in, is my world. Based on how the script is written, I'll find the right voice, tone and mannerisms, and then flesh out my character in the mirror.

Then I teach myself to turn it off after they yell, "Cut!"
 
ConspiracyPenguin said:
Ah, herin lies my problem. When doing improv I get so carried away sometimes that for weeks on end I will be in a constant state of acting. Sometimes it annoys my acting friends and sometimes they love it.
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i don't know, that could be good. daniel day lewis apparently becomes a character and stays in character during an entire shoot. and he doesn't exactly suck.
 
slimchrisp said:
i don't know, that could be good. daniel day lewis apparently becomes a character and stays in character during an entire shoot. and he doesn't exactly suck.
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He is a fantastic actor. I didn't mean it was a bad thing - I have a good time - I guess the negative is that people get tired of me. But, then again, you are ALL probably tired of me by now. :grin:
 
I pretend!

Actually, that's only half true. I read a script and I just read it for content and story. I read it again and explore what emotions are pouring from the text. Then I pretend.

Playing pretend is one of the hardest things to do, at least at the level we used to do it as children. When I was younger, I could easily pretend a toilet paper roll was a flashlight. I can pretend to do that now, but I feel an audience would sooner believe the younger me than the current me.

It's important for me to really hammer down that script. Everything else comes together after that. Not to say that I couldn't improv my way out of a brown bag.
 
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seunosewa said:
I've read that actors who just "pretend" can't deliver truly great performances.
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Not true. I good friend owns a large theater in LA, acts and directs there, and is a private coach for stage, TV, and film. He personally coaches people for major feature film roles and he is VERY good at what he does, but he thinks all the method poo is malarky. He teaches whatever he needs to for the person to perform well, but for himself, he just turns a switch and goes out and pretends.

He also holds a pretty low opinion of people that need to BECOME the character for months on end in oder to perform it.

It's just different ways for different people. His PERSONAL theory is that it is called ACTING, not BECOMING. But he easily acknowledges that his way is not for everyone. (Mostly because most actors are brainwashed goofballs like Tommy and Penguin.
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Maybe it doesn't apply to stage acting because stage acting is less naturalistic? (no close-ups, you have to project your voice, you have an audience, etc)?

Maybe it applies to screen acting because it's easier for the audience to spot a phony performance in a close-up? Just thinking out loud.
 
There are a host of wonderful Pretend Actors, Laurence Olivier being one of them. I do strive to find the emotion, though.

As for stage being less naturalistic...that's tough to say, the spotlight is the same as a closeup. Audiences are in a situation where they want to believe the performances are real, so if they're in a live performance theatre then they can still spot OVER acting because they are understand that they are witnessing live theatre.

As for film, well, if you're overacting, you're over acting...then it's the director's job to pull you back.

IMO, if you can get the job done, it doesn't matter what your process is.

Think...David Blaine versus David Copperfield. Both deal with magic, both have different approaches, yet both have found an audience and an they both deliver.
 
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