If you are reading this you are most likely and actor, and if you are an actor there is one thing that you must know. Actors HAVE to act. It’s just part of our natures. If we DON’T do it we will . . . well, we’ll die. At least emotionally. It will drive us crazy. That acting bug will keep gnawing on us for the rest of our lives. Yes, it doesn’t go away. Sorry guys, that’s how it is. But that also means—and this is great news—acting will make us happy!
Yes, if we are actors just the act of doing our acting will make us happy. That is because it’s in our blood, it’s in our natures, and doing what one is meant to do brings happiness. That’s just a universal truth. This is a wonderful thing to know because it can be one of the keys to mental health for the actor.
As actor types we tend to be more sensitive, we have to be or we couldn’t play all those deep and amazing roles, but that also means sometimes life can get us down more than the average joe. We need to work on that. And good mental health is really important to acting. As actors our instruments are our whole being—our souls, our minds, our bodies, our imaginations, our emotions, our everything. If we’re living with anxiety or bouts of depression, we are just not going to have full access to our instrument, to ourselves. Yes, back in the day perhaps there were myths about artist needing to be tortured souls, living reckless lives, sleeping all day, drinking all night just so they could court the muse, but we have since proved a healthier approach to our art can bring about much more success. And it just feels better. And it makes us more able to develop and access a solid technique, which harnesses the wildfire of talent, bringing a laser focus to our instincts and abilities.
So what do we need to do? We need to start acting! It will help both our career and our mental health. If you’ve ever been down in the dumps, have you ever tried picking up a script and working on it? If not try it. You may not feel like doing it at the moment but once you do, see if it doesn’t start to lift your spirits.
This might take a little practice, depending on how much of a funk you’re in. Also having a great skill set can increase the happiness you feel when working on your acting, because if you really know what you’re doing you will be more effective about acting, which will make you feel so much better.
One of the best things you can do to get your skill set up and just to start acting is getting in a great class. Reading books by great actors and acting teachers is a good thing, but acting needs to be DONE, not just thought about. It’s like you can’t learn to dance by watching dancers, you need to do it as well.
My brother Dave and I used to joke about training for hiking Everest. We said we’d start by watching the IMAX documentary about those climbers that made it to the top and back. Needless to say, neither my brother nor I have bought our tickets to Nepal . . .
Same thing with acting.
Also being in a class gives you an automatic network of other actors. We can’t act in a vacuum, this is a herd not a solo craft.
So how do you find a great acting class?
Research, find the best one around you, or don’t shy away from online classes. Being in person is great, but if you have to choose between a mediocre class in town and something spectacular online—the choice should be obvious. Interview the teacher, ask to speak to some of the students. Read reviews. See if you can audit it first.
A great class will have a caring but firm teacher. One who doesn’t go on about themselves all the time, one who isn’t abusive, one who clearly knows what they are talking about.
The students will be booking and growing as actors.
Also there should be some sort of movement and voice training. We as American actors tend to totally skip this part. We don’t think it’s important but then we bemoan the British actors who are so brilliant, and we don’t know why . . . I’ll tell you why. They get voice and movement training. Like a TON of it.
It should have access to good scene work. Good scripts, either ones currently being cast in film and tv, or great plays. Some teachers like to pull out old chestnuts from very well-known movies and have you do them. I personally do not think that is very helpful because you’ve probably seen the film and you’ll have a vision of how it’s supposed to be played when you are doing it. Best to practice on something fresh. We actors have a hard enough time staying out of our heads.
It should have some type of emotional access work. Where you are learning to feel your feelings and letting them (not pushing) them into your work.
If it can have audition work too that is great, so you can practice weekly auditions. Learning how to apply your acting process to them, get direct feedback—something you’ll rarely get in the real world, and support about your set up, lighting etc.
So besides getting in a great class what else would be helpful?
The number one thing is to develop a daily acting practice. Getting your own routine. This is where the real magic happens. That is because not only are you practicing your craft daily and therefore getting better, but you will be fostering good mental health because you are acting every day. Like I said earlier, doing what you are meant to do is one of the best things for your mental health. And doing it consistently is super helpful.
It will also empower you not only as an actor but also a person. It will help you feel more confident, and you’ll like your life and yourself more and therefore you’ll do more acting, and you’ll be in an upward spiral. You’ll have momentum! Yay!
Also please note I am not a mental health expert, if you are having issues with depression, anxiety, or substance abuse, etc. and it is getting in the way of your life please seek professional help.
But, heck, if you’re an actor. Start acting! And more than just that once a month audition your agent sends you.