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Question: Crying scenes in movies!?
I know many actors can cry on cue either just by the ability or by some method of drawing the emotion from another place to apply it to the scene or by submerging themselves in the character!.
My question is, when take after take go by, how can the actor bring themselves to repeatedly dredge up intense emotion!? When do they get "all cried out" for lack of a better term!?
As a reference, look at Natalie Portman's performance in Closer, Cold Mountain, or V for Vendetta or look at Rachel McAdams in The Notebook!.
Thanks for any input! Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Hey Sarah,

What's proven very effective for me is to get alone at home and think of something that makes you more upset than anything else!. For me it's my brother dying (which thankfully hasn't happened yet) or the thought of ceasing to exist after death (which frightens me more than anything)!.

Immerse yourself in the thought and let the emotions roll over you!. Don't hold back at all, just let it flow!. Take note of how those emotions feel and store them in your memory!.

Whenever you need to access those emotions, just remember what it feels like to cry uncontrollably, and if that isn't proving effective enough, think about the thing that makes you sadder than anything else in the world, and just let that emotion flow over you again!.

It may take some practice to perform it on cue, but you should be able to do it effectively a lot easier than you'd expect!.

Btw, you should note that crying in a movie does not make your performance great!. You should put much more stock into creating a remarkable, unforgettable, lovable (and perhaps quirky) character that will draw people's attention (or if you're already like that, be yourself as much as possible)!.

That will keep the jobs rolling in, may get you some offers, and may even garner you some critical acclaim!.

As far as performing emotions go in movies, you might want to check this out: http://www!.celebsystem!.com/cgi-bin/artic!.!.!.

And as for creating characters and becoming a beloved actor, check this out: http://www!.celebsystem!.com/cgi-bin/artic!.!.!.

Good luck!
-KWww@QuestionHome@Com

If an actor does not act, but reacts to the stimuli of the scene, the actor will cry when it is appropriate!. Read Acting for the Camera by Tony Barr and How to Stop Acting by Harold Guskin!. Both move beyond the agony of The Method and Stanislavsky acting into honest reaction!. Expressing deep emotion can be an enjoyable experience, if you know how to do it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com