Walking and talking. It’s hard!

I think this is an indisputable fact: actors need to see themselves on camera. When you watch your footage back, you start to notice things. At first, you may notice a lot. Your eyes, your timing, your body language, your pauses, your movement, your habits. But over time, the camera becomes less intimidating. It starts to feel more natural. One of the biggest things actors notice is the time it takes to respond.

Ask someone a question in real life, and they usually answer naturally. Ask that same question on camera, and suddenly there’s a pause. People start thinking. They feel like they have to perform.

But acting should feel like real life. Dialogue should sound like you are coming up with the words in the moment, not waiting for your turn to say a line. The same thing happens with body language.

Walking and talking in real life is easy. You don’t think about your steps, your hands, your timing, or when to respond. You just do it. But once the camera is on, actors sometimes start managing every little movement. That’s when things can feel forced. It’s funny but even walking and chewing gum becomes a chore in the beginning.

Good acting should feel seamless. Of course, everything is subjective. But when you’re watching a great actor, you’re usually not thinking about the acting. You’re invested in the story. That takes work. And the only way to get there is with reps.

Get on camera. Watch yourself back. Make adjustments. Do it again. And again. And again. And again.

Thanks for reading. Looking to get in those reps? Check out our actor studio in San Antonio. Click here.