Visualization
Why it’s so important to visualize your character…
Probably first described by Anton Chekhov, visualization is, in many ways, essential for all great acting. The character you play is usually not like you. Your character is the writer’s vision of someone else. That means the character does not have many of your characteristics. They don’t have your smile, your eye color or your nervous tick. They don’t walk like you, move like you or dress like you. Therefore, in order for an actor to perform a character believable, the actor must “see” their character’s behaviors and try to embody them.
Each and every time you get into character and prepare for acting, be sure you first see your character.
See:
What your character is wearing.
When we wear fancy clothing, we tend to feel cool, confident or even sexy.When we wear tattered clothing, we tend to feel less so. Choosing the right clothing for the character makes the actor feel more in tune with how the character is supposed to feel.
What your character is thinking at various times in the script.
What is the character thinking at various times of the script? Seeing the way he or she behaves at various moments helps piece together how the character is to react when confronted with various stimuli.
The movement of the character.
The way we move says an awful lot about who we are. Walking tall and proud with shoulders back conveys the exact opposite message from walking slow and slouched. The way a performer conducts movement for the character, so too, tells the story of who that character is and what he or she is thinking and feeling.
How the character reacts to certain stimuli.
See if the character, for example, is an introverted or extroverted person? If introverted, he or she might react to receiving some bad news by becoming more withdrawn, while the extrovert might erupt with rage.
The character’s miscellaneous movements.
Does the character rock back and forth a lot while speaking? If so, it might help portray a character who is unsure of himself. Small movements can achieve huge results.
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