Started acting classes, need advice?

Question:So, I started acting classes today, and found myself doing a bunch of improv games which I was horrible at. Will this effect my aspirations of becoming an actor? Does this skill get better?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: So, I started acting classes today, and found myself doing a bunch of improv games which I was horrible at. Will this effect my aspirations of becoming an actor? Does this skill get better?

Yes, you will get better at it! Improv is (in my opinion) a very specific skill, and there are many pieces to the learning-your-craft process of acting. You don't have to be great at improv to end up being an excellent actor.

Give the improv stuff a chance, as it does a lot to break down inhibitions and helps build "group suffering" empathy among the students in the class. Learning to release your feelings of "is this right?" and just jumping into a scene will come with time. (Note: Some acting students take to improv like ducks to water, particularly those with a comic gifting. That doesn't always indicate a lot of talent as versatile actors; it just means they're good natural improvisers.)

The importance of improv in the long run is that it teaches you to think on your feet, and to be prepared to cover mistakes, dropped lines, distractions and missing props.....acting is never entirely predictable, and being able to improvise is a wonderful help on the stage.

Don't be hard on yourself, and remember that while improv is tough for you, other elements of the craft -- perhaps vocal interpretation of lines, or body language/non-verbals, or projection -- will come easier to you than they do to some of the "improv kings" in your class!

I do acting and know for a fact that improve definitely effects you as an actor. You learn to look at things in a new way, to express your thoughts to the audience, to "roll with the punches". Isn't that what acting is all about? The more you do it the better you get. Good luck!

no Catalina, that is not what acting is all about. don't worry about the improv games, they are usually done to loosen the class up, there are some simple things to learn to do improv well, and if your teacher does not tell you what they are, read my profile and write to me at my aol address and I will tell you some of them. Let's hope the improv junk stops and you start doing some scenes. If you want to learn to act, go get into a play, that is how it is done, you do not learn to act in a classs, you only learn about acting and practice some things that you might choose to use when you do act. The purpose of professional acting classes are to network within the profession and to build your resume.

Sure improv is a big part in theater - as if something were to go wrong on stage (which often does) you would have to be able to cover than have an aqward silence and not know what to do! It will deffinetly improve along the way through yuor career!!! Just try - make sure to stay in chracter and try to do your best!!! Everything will get better....been there, done that!

Yes, it gets better. I was always horrible at it too. But you learn from everything. The point of an acting class is to be a good student while you're there. You have to be willing to be a fool. This is the actor's first job. You begin to understand what works for you and what doesn't, and you discard that which doesn't work. Get used to getting up there, no matter what the assignment. (Nothing that you feel deep inside is wrong, of course.) Perservance is one of the secrets. Everyone is frightened, and feels insecure, and there are some people who will be better than you are, and many who will be worse. Do your best. Exercise your imagination. It is the tool of the actor. The more you flex your muscles, the stronger you get. Don't give up after just beginning! Having fun is probably the most important thing. There isn't any right or wrong. Only not trying is unforgivable.