What are some good ways to practice acting?

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Question:

When I'm older, I am going to become an actress!. I've always wanted to be one!. I watch movies and kind of copy facial expressions and I've been in a few school plays!. I'm very good at memorizing, but I'm not sure on how to portray some emotions without looking kind of ugly (for lack of a better word)!.
What are some tips on how to keep practicing acting!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

XD!
Practice a lot of them in a mirror and change them a little bit so they do not look strange!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I used to work at John Robert Powers, its an international acting and modeling school!. And while they can be expensive (a couple courses at their schoold can reach around $1,500- and their lifetime, unlimited classes will cost around $10,000), they are a fantastic school and have so many success stories!. also- one thing JRP offers that many other acting schools don't is that once a month they have a casting call!. They bring directors from companies (like Disney, the CW, and directors who are casting for movies or commercials) right to their studio where you can audition for the parts they are looking to cast!. also, once your class is over- you can still- for the rest of your life- attend these auditions!. I think that makes the whole cost worth it!. They also help you pick a photographer to do your headshots and portfolio!. Its a LOT of fun! Www@QuestionHome@Com

you should try acting out monologues that writers have written, you can find them online very easily!.

think of emotions, and look at your emotions, take pictures and make sure that its not the same expression!.

you should also try out for plays in your school and take acting classes in your school!.!.or you can go to your local playhouse or performing arts center and see if they are holding auditions soon, or doing acting classes!Www@QuestionHome@Com

dance in front of your mirror to your favorite song when you get homeWww@QuestionHome@Com

Hi if its useful to you!.!.!.
Recommending that if you want to act:
Do short courses/audition workshops/group training
Do plays

And do some weird contemporary physical training to expand yourself and break yourself out of whatever head-space your personal history has brought you to!. Especially if you feel silly doing it!. The average teenager won't do anything they think their peers think is dumb!.
To see peoples "personal history" just sit somewhere public and watch how people hold their bodies when they move!. tells a story!. That's the kind of story your character can tell without saying a word!. Notice your own personal history and try to mess with it and shake it off sometimes by being unusual to yourself!.

Build Confidence:
Realise that any pretense that you have to be anything other than you are in your real life could affect your confidence level!.

And know that being who you are in real life is way cooler than trying to please other people all the time!.

Remember that at least half of acting is being "available" and present and aware enough of the other performers on stage with you so that you can respond to them!.

And if you can give yourself permission to be really ugly as well as glow-worm beautiful then people will find you intriguing!.
Seems like most people can perform well if they have strong focus and lots of energy!. i think this comes easier if a person is very comfortable with who they are in some part of their world (even if hidden from others)!.

Hope this is useful!.

Oh, yeah, one cool exercise that will come infinitely useful is to read certain story books, novels or whatever OUT LOUD and do all the tonal qualities to emphasise every nuance and desire of narrator and speaker!. I learned alot from doing this, especially with a pro giving feedback and advice!. Even a friend can probable push you to make your reading more juicy!. Try going over the top for laughs, whatever!. This is a really good tool for learning the full range that you can bring to speaking!.

Oh, try speaking with the sound resonating in different parts of your body!. Cheeks, belly, chest, nose (nasal) etc!.!.!.

See there's heaps you can do, but that's enough from me!. Bye!. Go for it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com