I'm taking an acting class. Help?

[tvrgvryen]

I've been trying to leave my comfort zone... and so I decided to take Improv this semester. It's completely new to and difficult for me because naturally I'm taciturn and awkward. I can't speak loudly without lots of effort. Also, I'm immensely shy in front of an audience. It's my senior year of high school though, and I figured that since this course is only for four months or so, why not give it a shot? I won't see these people again... and these will just be memories to laugh at in the future. Today we did a drill in which two students at a time improvised and performed a few lines. I was not the only one who had difficulty with this activity, coming up with entertaining or clever things to say on the spot. But I felt so much anxiety induced by my introverted nature that I am now seeking tips from fellow INTPs, not that you guys are social experts yourselves I don't intend on leaving this class because I already have 2-3 free periods.

 

[Ex-User (9086)]

This may be bad advice but I usually picture:

-that either I am not there and I am doing what I decided I want to do, this is relying on autosuggestion, simply I make myself believe that I am not there and I watch and control a performance of someone else

-or that I am alone, I just need to perform and do what is expected of me at that moment, also I want to do it, or I like to act it out, so I put my powers to use and play my role, there is no shame as I believe I am alone in the room. Again, autosuggestion and shifting focus.

-or that I already have made the most shameful mistakes I could. I make myself believe that they already don't care what I am doing, or they are laughing. So how can I be ashamed when I have already lost, I relax and act things that I should as I have prepared them and as I want them. This is the most powerful form, because I know from my experience, that even after someone actually starts laughing or distracting me I no longer care as I consider the entire situation as "do as you wish moment".

-or the last one, when I picture myself as a victor. When I actually am certain that I have enough power and preparation to give the best and that this is my situation. I make myself believe that there is no other way and do as I see fit.

 

[kaelum]

randomish thought that might help

watch some "who's line is it anyway" (improv comedy TV show that was on prime time 10-15 years ago). You can probably find clips on youtube.

Or any improv comedian (pandora or slacker radio have comedy channels)

Have some fun watching or listening to comedy and get familiar with it at the same time.

 

[paradoxparadigm7]

First of all, kudos to you to step out of your comfort zone! You're probably aware that some anxiety facilitates performance (weather it's a test, job interview or whatever) so the trick is to relax just a bit. Deep breathing, talking to yourself in a calm manor and making a conscious effort to reduce anxiety all can help. If you have a friend there (if not, make a friend), try to use each other as support...laugh about the class, joke around and get reassurance from each other. Have fun!

 

[Lot]

I loved my improv class in high school. Games like bus stop, or dinner party. Just remember that even the most extroverted of people get nervous making things up on the spot. Most people are too nervous to even care if you make a mistake.

What helps me when I get all nervous, is pretending I'm the best ever. I usually do this before hand. Comedic improv if is similar to jazz improv. Just practice the routines in your bed room by your self. If you don't know all the notes in a chord, you can't play good jazz. Same with acting.

Sometimes just opening your mouth and letting words come out is all you can do. I get the most laughs when I just the comedy flow without even giving my words much thought. If all else fails, just be goofy. If you consistently act like a goof in class, you aren't going to get judged if you flop. Also laughing at your self when you say something stupid is good too.

 

[tvrgvryen]

thank you everyone very much

 

[The Gopher]

I want to get better an improv, may have to host an improv chat sometime. One of the many ideas that will never happen.

 

[Goku]

plan B: you can always pretend to be a mentally challenged person, wobbling around and making oddly timed loud noises.

 

[TBerg]

You can try solitary monologues in order to build your ability in an asocial context.

 

[tvrgvryen]

I want to get better an improv, may have to host an improv chat sometime. One of the many ideas that will never happen.

do it!!! =D

 

[Cherry Cola]

sip some vodka pre class, use some mouthwash after that and chug some beta blockers prblm slvd

 

[Late2theParty]

oo ooo ooo... well a lot of improv stems from not thinking... and having faith that your intuition will come up with something. You really have to let your guard down and be totally in the moment.

The best way I have learned to develop this is to go up to people and say the first thing that pops into my head. No matter how stupid it is. Same thing goes in class. It's the fear and thoughts of your rational mind that act like brakes on your subconscious / intuition. The unconscious / intuition part of your brain has been evolving for billions of years... but the rational mind is very new and underdeveloped. It can't act quickly enough or synthesize answers like your intuition can. You must not think or use your rational mind at all. Right tool for the right job.

At first your responses and ideas will be clunky because you don't have that much experience. But as you go, your intuition will calibrate itself and you will have "the right answer" more times than you won't.

To warm yourself up, you must do things that make you let go with your rational thought processes. (weird for an INTP I know, but you also have Ne which is very good at improvising. So the potential is there) Saying the first thing that comes into your head... word association games, the more random and silly you can make them the better. There are loads of improv games out there. Also if you do music, you can improv vocals over a beat or instruments or improvise on your respective instrument.

There is a series of books called "the Inner Game" series that talks a lot about what I mentioned above.

Meditation also helps will being in the moment.

And, this guy has a particular brand of PUA which is based off of being totally in the moment which advocates doing things that make you "unstifled". The idea is that your rational mind is always establishing and re-establishing who you are as a person and your identity. It wants consistency. So if you do something that's really out of character and potentially embarassing it's like "whoah wtf" and disrupts that circuit and frees up your intuition. It's a state that he calls being "unstifled". Here's a video on it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpf1RTn_s5k

 

[Trebuchet]

Good for you. Actually INTPs can make fine actors, and plenty of actors are introverts. Don't even worry about that.

The anxiety is hard to overcome, that is for sure. Remember, however hard it gets, it won't last forever. Assuming you have a reasonably supportive class, or at least teacher, rely on them. They want it to work well for you. It will be okay, no matter how you do.

And you might just discover you like it. If you can actually get into character at all, you might find that being someone else frees you from the anxiety. And most people I know with stage fright find that it fades once they are in front of an audience, myself included. Maybe you will have the same experience.

I have been where you are, and did what you did, and it turned out to be a really great idea. I respect your courage and your problem-solving approach.

 

[Steven Gerrard]

Have you ever broken through into that place? That place where all the time you have spent being self-conscious is practice for you knowing exactly what you are doing and feeling every molecule I your body?

Everyone who has probably know's what I'm talking about and should take this opportunity to blush with pride over the fact that I am articulating that they are 'performers'.

If you're not a performer you could just crash and burn.

Tell us how it goes.