How do u get connected to a character while acting when u have nothing in common

Question: How do u get connected to a character while acting when u have nothing in common with the character!?

I have a show coming up at the end of October, and I really need help!.!Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Well, I usually do the five images!.

* Color - if your character was a color, what color would they be!? Not skin color or their favorite color!. But blue might mean calm and creative, brown might mean down-to-earth and smart, etc
* Animal - if you character was an animal, what animal would they be!? Not their favorite animal!. A lioness might mean protective or a golden retriever might mean loyal!. Remember for dogs and cats to chose specific breeds, as each one has a different personality!.
* Bird - If your character was a bird, what type of bird would they be!? Remember there is more to birds then sparrows and chickens - there is also hawks, swans, turkies (sp) etc!. A humming bird might mean zippy and hyper, while an own might mean wise!.
* Music - If your character was a music, what would they be!? This can include genres (jazz might mean laid-back), artists (Blondie might mean feminite), songs (We Are Family might mean loyal) or anything else (marching band might mean exciting)!.
* Fabric/material - if your character was a fabric or material, what would they be!? Don't limit yourself to velvet or felt, the material part means plastic, tin foil, glass, pencil eraser, or anything else!. For example, bullet-proof glass might mean strong and protective, while polyester might mean fake and snooty!.

Please keep in mind that chose the image that works for you - if you think German Shepherds are vicious, do that!. Don't say smart if that is not how you perceive them!.

I also think of their physical center, which is how they walk!. The physical center is where all their energy goes - the president might walk with all their energy in their chest, or a teenage girl with her hips!. Experiment with this! This is always key for me, but it varies with people!.

Finally, go over in your head what the person or creature does each day!. What do they eat for breakfest!? Do they go to school!? If so, what classes do they like!? Do they work!? What are they good at!? Who are their best friends, not mentioned in the play!? What do they like to eat!? Drink!? Are they rich!? What does their house look like!?

I typed all this up and it took me like ten minutes, so please vote me for best answer, hahahaha!. =D But please use all my suggestions, they work so well! With these, I have been a Queen, a valley girl, and Rumplestiltskin!. =]

Good luck in your play!

Oh, and also if there is a key part they go through, like a divorce, death, or something else and the have really deep key emotions they do this:
- What emotion are they feeling!?
- Chose a really important event your life where you experience the same emotion!. It doesn't have to be the same situation, but something similar!.
- Think of what you smelt, touched, saw, heard and tasted!. Go over it in your head exactly in detail!. Sometimes this makes me cry, so don't mess around with it!. When you are on stage, briefly go through it in your head!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

You ACT!. That's what acting IS!. Pretending to be someone you're not!.

There's a famous story about Laurence Olivier and Dustin Hoffman in a movie together!. Dustin Hoffman's character was supposed to be sleep-deprived and so Hoffman deprived himself of sleep!. Olivier asked him why he was doing that, and Hoffman replied that he was trying to "feel" the character!. "Why do you need to do that!?" asked Olivier!. "How else can I know what it feels to be the character!?" said Hoffman!.
"My dear boy!.!.!." said Olivier!. "It's called 'acting'!."Www@QuestionHome@Com

you need to dig a little deeper into that character!. What does he want from the other characters!. What would your character be willing to do!? Dig deep into this and you will find common threads, and if there arent any right now dig into your past and find something that happen to you, that closely resembles what is going on in your characters role!.

That's why they call it acting, Health Ledger surely was nothing like the Joker but he dug in deep and found something and owned that roleWww@QuestionHome@Com

Write a biography of the character!. Ask yourself what does he want and what is he willing to do to get it!. Use the magic 'as if'!. This moment is 'as if' I were !. !. !. !. Create your theatrical reality for him!. It's true to him, not you!. Believe!.Www@QuestionHome@Com