Hey Everyone, all TV/Film actors want to know how to be prepared to be as natural as possible. I think it’s normal for anyone to warm up such as simply clearing one’s throat and practicing speaking clearly so we know our mouth and facial muscles are operating at optimal levels. The question one hacktor had was how do famous people get ready for their big moments on screen.
Hacktor Question:
Hi, guys! I have a question that I can’t seem to find an answer to. Some people stress the importance of doing warm-up exercises before performing – vocal and physical – which I do understand doing as the situation calls for it. But I never hear about nor read about successful, professional actors (say, Natalie Portman, Meryl Streep, etc) having a warm-up routine. It just seems like something people do either before a stage performance, or in an acting class. Does anyone have any examples of “big” actors doing warm-ups of any kind? Thanks!
I know that stage actors and improvisers do a lot of warming up as a rule but they have to project more and be more theatrical because their audience is further away. Film and TV is so intimate that what seems to be the most helpful is the be as relaxed as possible so that you don’t do anything fake or forced because the camera will pick up on that in a second. If you are working from a relaxed unconscious place, there’s not much else that needs to be done when performing. Of course, the research and mental and emotional preparation that you put in beforehand comes into play, but I don’t think that’s the same as a warm up routine which is to warm up specific muscles or abilities. The camera only requires you be honest. Your humanity should take care of the rest. That is not to say you shouldn’t do a warm up, but it isn’t something I’ve heard a lot of celebrities talk about. I have attended dozens of screenings and asked actors from Dustin Hoffman to Scarlett Johansen to Jason Patric what their rehearsal process was and they all said they just do the work ahead of time and show up. They have such faith in their instrument that if they’ve done their work, they trust that the performance will arise from that.
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