| Question Home |
Position:Home>Theater & Acting> How can i get over this??...any suggestions?Question: How can i get over this!?!?!.!.!.any suggestions!? im a freshman at high school and i just moved there so im the new kid!.!.!.i really want to act but im too afraid to join drama club!.!.i want to join so bad but im afraid people will make fun of me (i have a thick canadian accent and i just moved to the south) how can i get over my fear!.!.!.i know i should just go do it but i need someone to push me!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I saw that you reposted your question here, so I'll repost my answer!. You can NOT have fear as an actor, period!. Fear shuts down your ability to listen to your partners, which keeps you from, well, acting!. The best way to get rid of the fear!? Remind yourself that everyone else onstage is in the same situation as you!. If you're working with good actors then they are there to *support* you, because if they don't give you energy to work with then you can't give it back, which just makes *them* look bad!. As far as your accent, don't worry about it - especially if you moved to the South!. Any smart actor is going to listen to you to try to mimic you and learn a new accent, so use it as a learning tool!. If someone makes fun of you, laugh it off!. If they have a Southern accent, zing them back about it in a friendly way!. If they don't, use it as an icebreaker and ask them why they don't or how they got rid of it!. If they're still mean about it, write them off and find new friends!. Acting is about collaboration and anyone who doesn't understand that will almost never get anywhere!. Yes, there are jerks who've become huge movie stars, but the ones who can act - and I mean *really* act, not just pose - are almost always kind and generous people!. Www@QuestionHome@Com just accept the fact that you're going to get made fun of!. that's what's so great about high school!. NO ONE IS EXEMPT!. even the really pretty totally popular kids are made fun of at some point!. what you have to figure out is how much you're going to let it effect you!. be proud of where you're from!. as a person from the DEEP south myself, i would totally approach you with questions about your accent and where you're from!. also, joining a club is the quickest way to get inundated into your new school!. yeah, it's totally going to be scarey!. but what's more important to you: that people are going to think you're different (hey guess what!.!.!.!.nothing is going to change that!. just accept it) or following an interest that you love, will keep high school from being the lamest thing you encounter, and possibly meeting some really cool people who share the same interest you do!. you can do it! break a leg!Www@QuestionHome@Com Kids in the theatre dept are usually pretty accepting of all people, considering they are usually picked onthemselves for being in the drama club!.!.!. ;) I had the same problem when I was a freshman!. I was the shy fat kid!. But I just went!. It took me a few weeks to get to know people!. Just gotta be brave!. They may comment on your awesome accent, but i doubt they'll pick on you because of it!. Not to mention that people from the south have a hum-dinger of an accent, themselves!. Good luck on deciding! But I know you'll fit right in!. dont be afraid!.Www@QuestionHome@Com I agree with pretty much everything that's been said, but one thing has been overlooked (until now): Your accent has nothing to do with your fear!. You have the same accent in math class and gym class as you would have onstage!. Your fear is rooted elsewhere!. Stop making excuses, and just go do it, already! I don't mean to sound harsh!.!.!.I just mean to give that push you were asking for!.Www@QuestionHome@Com If you don't go you'll regret it forever!. Those kids are just as afraid of you anyway!. Everyone is vulnerable when they're on stage performing!. Besides, a thick southern accent is even more odd sounding than a Canadian accent!. It's all about perspective!.Www@QuestionHome@Com I believe that accent can give a character more character!! You'll feel more relaxed when you're doing something that you love, and don't put yourself down for a silly thing like an accent! I'd love to have an interesting one! I'd call you lucky, and am very jealous!Www@QuestionHome@Com You will fidn that people in Drama classes are incredibly weird, beautifully-souled people!. You're not weird, they won't make fun of you! You'll be normal compared to them and to me =PWww@QuestionHome@Com Well if it's something you really want to do then just do it!.!.!. you know you can!.!.!. people won't make fun of you, they'll respect your uniqueness!!!Www@QuestionHome@Com |