We enjoy watching talented actors in whom we fully believe. Their performances are equally good in both comedies and thrillers. Although everything seems completely natural on the movie screen, it is far from the case. These are 10 secrets of actors that make their roles memorable.
10 secrets of actors that led to memorable roles:
1. Adapting to another reality
It is crucial for an actor to be able to transition from one emotional state to another. Some Hollywood actors use the Lee Strasberg method. The main feature of Strasberg's method is that the actor does not indicate specific emotions with facial expressions, but rather induces emotions within himself. The method is used by Angelina Jolie, Scarlett Johansson, Merly Streep, Al Pacino and others.
2. Menthol crystals for crying on command
When an actor gets into the character, he can show different emotions almost without difficulty. But tears cause a few more problems. Some actors recall sad moments before shooting a scene, others don't blink for a while, and still others use menthol crystals.
3. Warming up the facial muscles
For easier transfer of emotions to the face, it must be relaxed. Before shooting a scene, actors usually warm up their facial muscles to relax them. The same goes for the voice.
4. Meditation for a peaceful mind
In order for the character to really come to life, the actor must be calm and relaxed. One of the best methods is meditation. Benedict Cumberbatch has revealed that he himself meditates.
5. Emotional memory technique
Actors often evoke emotion for a character by thinking about their own emotional moments. It is a technique of Konstantin Stanislavsky, who advocated the point of view that the condition of an actor's plausibility and persuasiveness is that the character he represents must be built from his own experience of being 'himself' on stage. Adrien Brody sold his apartment for his role in The Pianist, broke up with his girlfriend and isolated himself from the outside world for a while.
6. Identification with the character's lifestyle
Some roles can only be played perfectly if the actors identify with the character's lifestyle. Jared Leto really made an effort to understand the Joker from The Unwritten Squad. Margot Robbie thus donated a live rat, spent some time with psychopaths and scared the crew on set.
7. Kissing technique
The actors have to kiss several times on set. The camera can be placed at a certain angle to create the illusion of kissing. The same thing happens when players place their palm on their teammate's cheek, which hides the lips while adding a little more emotional charge to the scene.
8. Movies as inspiration
Actors also watch movies, mostly for inspiration. Damien Chazelle, the director of the musical La La Land, asked the entire team to watch Sing in the Rain and Top Hat to get a sense of the mood of the time.
9. Comfort comes first
Comfort comes first, also because the actors shoot certain scenes several times. Each player has their own requirements for food, housing and schedules. For example, Tom Cruise requires thongs for action scenes. He says they provide comfort and flexibility.
10. Secrets of nude scenes
Even when you think the players are completely naked, they wear special underwear or special 'patches'. With the help of make-up, enviable muscles and especially bodies are created. For the scenes between the sheets, pillows are often placed between the actors and there is nothing romantic about it at all. The room is full of people who keep telling you how and where to kiss. Directors usually shoot these scenes last, as the actors have already gotten to know each other by then and are therefore more relaxed.
Margot Robbie found another way to relax so she could film a nude scene with Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street. She said that she was quite nervous in front of the famous actor and therefore got a little drunk before filming the scene. With this, she calmed her nerves, and the filming went on smoothly.
