We all want to be the best we can be when it comes to our craft. Acting coach Mark Westbrook gives some insight about the qualities his best students have that help them be successful on camera:
Arrogance / Confidence
Yes, believe it or not, my best students have a little arrogance. Not aggressive, nor does it present itself negatively towards others. They simply have the arrogance of self belief that they work hard, achieve results and that there is a place in this profession for them
Attendance
The best have always had the best attendance rates. They don’t have excuses, they are simply present in our classes all the time. Many of the best do more than they are asked, turning up for extra rehearsal. For instance, the successful have often rehearsed for scene study for 4-6 hours per week when their requirement has only been 2. The rest made very earnest noises about not having time and leading busy lives, having responsibilities outside of class. But while I deeply respect their reasons, it is those doing more than is required who tend to make the most progress.
Patience
At the same time as those who are willing to do more than required, the best show marvelous patience. They do not rush ahead of themselves, desperate to show off, but understand that developing craft involves time served. This cannot be rushed -- apprenticeship requires time to learn and acting is no different.
Energy and Enthusiasm
Simple enough, but the best infect others with their enthusiasm for acting, for scene work and particularly for getting better. They want to see everyone develop and learn and they bring their energy to their encounters with others.
Knowledge
The best are restless to learn, always wanting another opportunity to grow in knowledge and skill. They turn up at masterclasses; they widely read plays, scripts, books on Shakespeare, acting, film making, voice, theatre, history, etc.
Take a look at Mark’s advice, and ask yourself which of these qualities you need to work on in order to achieve greatness. Attendance, knowledge, and patience may be generally accepted, but how can you bring more energy, enthusiasm, or confidence to your craft?
From years of casting and teaching I think something that helps the energy of an actor is what he talks about in that first paragraph...confidence. One of the biggest challenges for actors is a sense of self-entitlement. "...the self belief...that there is a place for you in this profession." That's great! That can take years to develop (patience), but those are the actors booking the jobs. They know they belong here doing what they love to do. They choose this career path and then, by golly, they go about doing it.
Posted by: Holly Allen | 06/25/2012 at 01:23 PM
Great insight Holly, could you share with us how you exude confidence?
Posted by: Melinda Eisnaugle | 06/30/2012 at 12:56 PM