Zaryo - What is Acting?

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More than two thousand five hundred years ago, in classical Greece, the choirs would tell of the legends of Greek mythology during the Dionyses festival. That was the beginning of a new profession: acting.

What is Acting?

Posted by Katriona on 01-11-2011

One day, Thespeus, the head of such a choir, decided to let one of the singers sing the words of the hero in first person singular: he sang a solo. This is how the first actor in the western world was born.

Since then, the choir has basically disappeared, but the need for the story persists, especially a story that is not just read or sung to us, but is presented to us in such a way that we are able to forget, if only for a moment, that this is just a story. The basis for each story is depicted by the actor; the actor is the heart of every play and movie.

Today actors and actresses are not required to recite their parts in loud voices as they did on Athenian stages, but they are required to feel and depict their parts with all the emotion of the character they are playing. Speaking normally, but showing and acting the role, as if we could take a peek into the life of someone else - this is quite complicated. The actor must, at the same time, be an impressive and charismatic character that can sweep us away, and also he must be real, honest and simple.

To this end, the actor must learn acting techniques in courses that may last up to several years. He must work hard at presenting each character, under the watchful eye of the director. The actor will research the character, learn "inside-out" all the emotions and thoughts so that he can build a physical character that can come alive on stage. The actor will find the emotional connection between himself and the character he is depicting.

Beginner actors may think that great actors are born that way; a combination of personal charisma and intuition - these beginners will no doubt fail at auditions because of a lack of technical study and lack of experience. In fact, although natural talent is a big plus for an actor, the ability to say text by heart in a believable way is an ability that is learned by years of study and hard work.

So what, actually, is acting? To the actors among you: if you remember one thing, make it this- remember that acting is first of all listening. You don't say your lines after a cue, you listen to your partner as if it is the first time you've heard his words, listen to the entire situation and then react with your own line. Really react.

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