How to Act Realistically 

Someone once asked James Dean how he “acted” like he was smoking a cigarette. He said “smoke the cigarette.”

The Stanislavsky method, super basic: 1. Who is the character? 2. What does the character want? 3. What does the character do to achieve the goal? These are 3 basic questions every actor should ask themself at the beginning

Act by not acting, so simple yet so effective.

I own a modeling agency and I tell my models to become actors, I love what you are doing and I am going to share your videos with all our clients, Great insight !!!

Very useful video! This and the crying on cue were awesome content. Do you guys need an editor for this RU-vid channel?

*I am a new voice actor* with a burning desire *to take my skill to the next level*. My question is: How do I act in a more realistically *resonant and compelling* way when reading -- that is, in a situation where the script isn't memorized? By the way, I really appreciated this video, it was insightful and informative. While my voice acting realism with memorized scripts is relatively good, there is a problem: *This acting realism does not happen to the same degree when I'm actually reading the script out loud*. It happens when I'm beginning to memorize or have memorized the script. These two modes of acting (memorized versus reading) feel very different in my mind. In fact, I find that when *I've realistically acted a memorized script, and I then try to act it while reading the result is not as good as if I'm not reading. *I've noticed that after I've analyzed the script and eventually memorized it* the more I let go and imaginatively live the story *without reading*, (living the character and feeling his intentions as he interacts with other character(s)), I find that I'm even beginning to feel the characters' sensations bodily (breathing, tension or relaxation etc...) which really helps me act with realistic vocal variations (in my pace, pitch, power, and emotional tone etc...). However, I find it very difficult to achieve the same level of acting while I'm reading the script out loud. So again my question is: How do I act in a realistically resonant way when reading or when the script isn't memorized? My challenge seems to be (and I could be wrong): I have difficulty being fully immersed in or connected to "the theater of my mind" (as I've heard voice actors call it) as I read. As I said, I'm a new voice actor with a burning desire to take my skill to *the next level*, and I would deeply appreciate any feedback you can give. Thanks

We tend to exaggerate some actions,but we can do it realistically how we do on our daily basis,but what if the charecter is doing something we don't do in our lives and know how much acting is realistic?...like example,he is having a panic attack,he is fearing for his life,he is nearly dying?

Thank you for making these videos, Cody!

It is my dream to become a successful actor one day. I have found your channel recently and I really hope your videos will make my dream a reality.

I love the way you teach & break down what you mean

I'm not an actor, nor do I ever plan to do anything that requires acting, other than maybe customer service jobs if I rilly have to, I just want to know

Dig these videos. Excellent dive into the work!

could you cover how to do a cold read?? i’ve always struggled with cold reads, how to keep up with where the scene is, how to read from the script and sound realistic and not get lost in the anxiety?

Trying to get into acting at 34, and being broke, is just about as close to impossible as something can be. I have no idea if I will ever get there. Honestly don't even know the best way to try.

These vids are great, glad I've found them.. 🤙🏼🔥

great video! Great lesson! Very inspiring and helpful!!!

Well put. Very clear explanation. I appreciate this video.

Please I need an answer...do famous actors needed networking to get parts? And how to develop networkig skill?

You need to ask yourself three questions: 1. What is your character literally doing 2. What's your character's essential action (essentially their objective) 3. It's As If I Am.... (Magic If)

I want to be in musical theatre (maybe get to Broadway someday) and idk how to act without acting. The professionals seem so natural but in character at the same time. This is really useful!

Thank you

Thank you sir m from india It's very helpful for me

I really wanna act..my dad got me classes but I always get nervous to act in front of other people because of what they will think..I know this is a problem because you can’t really become an actress if u can’t do it in front of people right? 😕

How do i join the team

I had a hard time with this. I remember, there was this one commercial shoot I did. They asked me to act "surprised". It was that kind of shoot where they were giving me what they wanted to see once the shot was set-up, you know. So, the camera was inches from my face and all of the sudden I needed to be surprised. For some reason I just, couldn't. I couldn't bring myself to "be" surprised. I had never felt a wall like that, not even with crying on cue.

Would it work if I’m able to use my imagination to imagine myself realistically loving something I don’t love or it must be something I genuinely love?? Would it come off as fake if I imagine myself loving football if I didn’t love it??

Thanks so much this helped

Great advice 👌🏾

I really want to be an actor😊💖

Im from Perth and was thinking of moving to LA to pursue my acting. What do you think?

The sipping from an empty cup is always so obvious it hurts

I just made the like count on this 800. I feel complete.

Does "Acting for the camera" or "Face acting" also require to act realistically?

Great video

Fire

I should've tried acting when I as in my teens and early 20s, I'm 33 a little too old, I feel like I'm pretty good at this

How to learn to cry without acting???

This guy must have been a student of Jason Alexander

this makes acting seem extremely emotionally taxing. When does a lie become the truth? When does the truth become a lie?

I'm sorry, you must get this all the time but you are a dead ringer for Will Arnett

no no no you cannot mix looking into the camera and looking at a third person next to the camera. It is the uncanny mistake usually only made by lazy youtubers who do not learn all the lines and need to switch camera to hide going to a new take. Are you even a real studio making this mistake?

Thank you