Interested in acting but suck at it, help?

Question:I really like the idea of portraying a character which is totally different than me. I like the skill that's involved there in. I am interested, but I'm really shy and an introvert opposed to an extrovert. I was wondering if someone could tell me of a technique I could use to clear my mind of the surrounding audience and stay entirely focused on the scene.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I really like the idea of portraying a character which is totally different than me. I like the skill that's involved there in. I am interested, but I'm really shy and an introvert opposed to an extrovert. I was wondering if someone could tell me of a technique I could use to clear my mind of the surrounding audience and stay entirely focused on the scene.

I would suggest two things and one more that you will find inside one of the two things.

1) get into an acting class and stay there. You won't believe how much this will help your confidence level, not to mention your skill level.
1a) Depending on the class you take, especially if for beginners, you might have to do exercises like I did when I first started that help you develop your public solitude. Ask your teacher what that is. But briefly, it will help you to do exactly what you asked; clear your mind of the surrounding audience and stay entirely focused on the scene.
2) This has to do with a way of thinking that you must have become a way of life and that has to do with how to overcome stage fright.

On this page link, http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/teen_... you will find many links that you might find helpful, but there are two in particular that explain more in detail what I mentioned above:
23 benefits to taking acting classes
How to overcome stage fright.

Good luck!

Tony

Just cause your shy won't matter, as to whether you can act or not. Get yourself involved in a local drama group who will teach you techniques to control the other emotions ,that could potentially get in the way of you being a talented actor. good luck

Some of the most brilliant actors were shy introverted people, Antony Hopkins (I think) for example! You'd never think 'Hannibal Lecter' was shy. I would recommend going to an acting class in which people are serious about acting so they're not going to mess around and lower your confidence whenever you have to do anything. OR you could use the age old trick of imagining the audience in their underwear OR do what Jim Carrey did (again I think) and before any acting completely embarress yourself by bottom-buuuuurping and completely break the tension, 'cause after that you can do anything. Of course, you probably don't want to do that, because it is an extreme but i dunno, you just got to gain experience I suppose and with it you'll gain confidence.

The best bet is to join an acting group...take acting in school/college. As currently a Performing Arts student, I can give you some pointers...

First of all, it doesn't matter if you are shy...but the first point in getting over shyness and becoming a new character is to 'walk' like someone who isn't shy. Walk tall...strut...hold your head high, just act like you own the place. Smile. At first you may feel...weird, but it helps. Trust me.

Next, think about the character you want to portray. How does he/she walk? How do they talk? How do they react with people around them. Take time to think about their personality. Then, when you are on your own, try walking and talking like that character. Put yourself in a situation and imagine what that character would do in that situation. Sometimes it even helps to write down a profile of that character you are trying to portray, so you can re-read it and add to it.

Happy characterisation! x x x Hope that helped!

You should join a local drama group and learn stagecraft.Shyness doesn't matter, you will learn to 'act' your part. Many actors I knew including myself, had to learn, and many like I were always nervous on the first night.I started with a musical comedy society, and also joined a repertory group. I spent some 20 doing stage work. One good thing you learn, when in front of an audience you play to a spot over their heads at the back.This way you don't get distracted by their faces. Good Luck!