Acting : What's the best acting advice you've ever received? by Evette Henderson

"Learn your lines perfectly then forget them when you audition and BE the character instead." If you know the lines then you know the slice of the character the CD is looking for and then you can just be that character in the audition

Listen with your bone marrow.

Don't just read the words... feel the emotion.

Don't do it!

Thanks guys. Love it! If I use your quote I'll be sure to add your name and email you a copy. Please let me know if you don't wish me to do this. There's some really great advice out there. The bone marrow and winding path down a big mountain are certainly new to me. Thanks all.

You are not acting, you are listening and reacting. Be in the moment and live truthfully as that character.

Go for the essence of the character with every move.

Each camp has their favorite best actor of all time. Marlon Brando is the Poster Boy for the Method, who influenced a generation that followed,like Deniro, Pacino, Hoffman and the new breed of Damon, DiCaprio and Depp. Laurence Olivier was such a perfect technician that he once bragged that during his To Be Or Not To Be from Hamlet, while the audience was on the edge of their seats, he was thinking about what wine he was going to have for dinner later that evening. I am here to tell that Brando was the best, hands down. But not because he was a great Method actor. It is because he was the most gifted Naturalistic actor that ever lived. As are all of the greats who have followed in his foot steps. A NATURALISTIC actor is a complete performer who uses every tool available, and thus utilizes both systems to achieve the complete development of a character. My college Professor use to say: A Method actor without technique, will never be able to project their emotions past the 3rd row. And will be performing nothing more then emotional masturbation.

"never give up!" ruth gordon

You don't have to be insane to be a good actor. But it helps: Åsmund-Brede Eike

Thanks so much thespian lovers! Again, if you disagree to me using your quote along with your name in my new book, A Perfect Performance, then please let me know. Preferably by Friday. :-) In appreciation I'll send you a free e-copy when it comes out. The section your quote will be added to is "Advice From Around The World!" (or something like that). It proves no matter where you live or what language you speak acting is acting!

Acting is doing!

Hey guys, I've collated your awesome acting advice and am releasing it for you to see right now. Click on the link below: http://ozemag.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/advicefromaroundworld.pdf You can share this if you wish. And please let me know if you want to withdraw your quote. Thank you again!

Nicely done! Thank you for adding to the list....

Just an update for you all. I have this thread running on LinkedIn also and the advice is still pouring in. So here's an update for you of the collection of Great Acting Advice From Around The World: http://ozemag.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/advicefromaroundworld1.pdf

Especially with Screen Acting, it is VITAL that you listen to the other actor-the audience will learn from your reactions more than the words being spoken.

IVANNA CHUBBUCK's book The Power Of The Actor. Find a class and keep studying. I have learned more concrete technique in three months of class with Victor Love's EvolvAtlanta (www.evolvatlanta.com) class than over the decade of my entire professional career as an equity actor...and that doesn't include my years of "study" in University settings. First lesson of the book is Scene Objectives. Blows my mind how much sense it makes AND how it never NEVER fails to engage EVERYONE watching and participating. Of course! Never NEVER stop learning. When I am not working in a show I am working on my craft! Great question.

Thank you, thank you once again. The latest great quotes have been added to the collection. You can check it out here: http://ozemag.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/advicefromaroundworld2.pdf Also is anyone interested in being a "case study" for my new book by sharing a story of your best audition?

"Don't be afraid to fail." Took me a while to really hold on to but you think about all the great performances, how many different iterations of that character did the actor fail with until they got it right?

Thanks to all who contributed. Here's a free teaser from my second book A PERFECT PERFORMANCE coming out soon. http://ozemag.com/2013/12/05/a-perfect-performance/