These 6 simple tools will help you to be more specific and be more connected to your text. They will make your work clearer, deeper and more effective.

Make sure you understand the meaning of every word you say.
Not just their dictionary definitions, but what those words mean to YOU PERSONALLY. If you have to say the word “brother,” you know the definition but how do you feel about it? Do you have a brother? Is he a pain in the butt? Do your parent’s like him best? Is he your best friend? If you’re religious you may think of “brother” in a spiritual sense – “we’re all brothers.” There’s no right or wrong as long as you share your personal, heartfelt point of view with us. The playwright or lyricist has written the words you speak. That’s their job. You are the artist. Your job is to fill them with what they mean to you. To just speak or sing the words the lyricist wrote is redundant (and boring).

Know who you are speaking to.
Choose one person to talk to. Know what they mean to you. Make a strong choice. Choose the person you love the most, hate the most, the man or woman of your dreams, etc. See them there in front of you. Create them in vivid Technicolor as if you were in a movie. What are they wearing? What do they smell like? Are they smiling, crying, angry with you? It’s your movie, make it rich in detail!

Where are you?
Are you indoors or outdoors? What time of day is it? Are you on a beautiful beach or a lush meadow? Perhaps you’re in a dreary bus station saying goodbye or maybe it’s a church, the place you grew up or the place you first met. Your choice of a place that means something to you will change you if you create it vividly.

What do they say to you?
What does the person you are speaking to (your scene partner) say or do to you the moment before your first line? Choose something that sparks a fire in you, something that compels you to respond. The stronger and more personal, the better it’ll be.

Know what you want!
Why are you saying these words? What do you need from the person to whom you are speaking? Think about the things in YOUR life you desperately need, want, desire, wish or long for. These are a good place to start. Try lots of different ways to get it from them.

Let your words affect your body
If I turned off the sound on your performance would I still be able to know what story you’re telling? In a good film or TV series if you turned off the sound you would still be able to understand what’s happening by the body language of the actors. Watch people in real life interact in conversation. Watch them as they receive news. The reaction always comes before the line and it’s always physical. The “Are you kidding me?” face always precedes the “Are you kidding me” line. Be brave. Be physical.

Don’t be afraid to tinker with changing your person, place, need, etc. until it feels right to you. Trust your instincts to guide you. Keep tinkering and exploring. We’re always changing as people and what worked for us six months ago might not now. Don’t get lazy and just do what you did before. It’s new each time. Use a video camera to help you see if you’re actually doing what you think you’re doing. If you’re still having trouble creating the performance you want give me a shout and I’ll help you get to the next level. I hope you found this helpful!

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All my best,

Philip

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Philip Hernandez is a respected acting teacher and singing coach in NYC. He is also the only actor in Broadway history to play both Jean Valjean and Inspector Javert in Les Miserables. He created principal roles in Broadway’s Kiss of the Spiderwoman and Paul Simon’s The Capeman. You may also know him from his many television appearances: The Blacklist, Gotham, Blue Bloods, The Path, Bull, Nurse Jackie, Elementary, Person of Interest, Law and Order, Hostages and Damages to name a few. For information about acting lessons CLICK HERE or singing lessons CLICK HERE. 

Follow him on twitter @philip24601, on Instagram @philip24601 and on Facebook at @philip24601.