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Daniel Roach
Expert Guru
A working actor for the last seven years Daniel Roach has played a wide variety of roles on both stage and screen. Daniel has won numerous awards for his acting including Best Newcomer and Best Actor from the Milton Studio Theatre and the Warren Award for excellence in acting. Growth obsessed and always eager to learn more about his craft Daniel has spent his career avidly seeking out the people and information who could help with that growth. In 2006 Daniel took his constant flow of information and ideas on the art of acting and channeled them into a blog and podcast called "The Alchemist" (www.alchemyofacting.com) He is thrilled to be able to expand his informational circle to the LifeTips family.
To the Actors: I am delighted to be able to share with you everything I have learned about the world of acting. I want every actor, no matter what your age or experience, to remember that you are the current branch of a marvelous family tree. Remember those who have come before you and that this is a craft at which you must work. This is not a means merely for fame, it is your art and it is a profession begun thousands of years ago by Thespis of Icaria. Remember where you come from. You are a noble breed.
Philosophy
"Whatever the mind of a man can conceive, it can achieve." Said W. Clement Stone and believe me it's true. I am a great proponent that humans are marvelous creatures of boundless potential and endless creativity.
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Scripts are great to have your nose in when you’re sitting around before rehearsal, or waiting for your turn, but get rid of it before you hit the stage. Many actors have become so accustomed to have an off-book date set for them that they will cling to every available second of script they can get during rehearsals until that date arrives. Trust me, don’t wait, ditch the script fast. Learn your lines for a given scene in a given day. If you’re blocking Act I, Scene 1 then memorize that and nothing else for that day. It’s hard to do if you’re unaccustomed to it, but I swear by this method. It lets you learn your lines sooner, lets you become accustomed to moving in character without something in your hands and it lets you look your partners in the eye from day one. And if you can’t remember all those lines? Well, that’s why there are those wonderful Assistant Directors. “LINE!”
Build Your Vocabulary
This seems a bit strange to be included in acting tips, but it ties in with script analysis. Building your vocabulary as an actor will help you immensely because let’s face it, if you don’t understand the words in a script you don’t understand what you’re saying and when that happens, you’re out of the play and into your head trying to put meaning where you have none. Building your vocabulary also helps you clarify your choices. How many times have you said, or heard someone say, “Well, I know what I want to say, I just can’t think of the words.” If you can’t think of the words, then you don’t know what to say. How can you have a coherent thought or decision without possessing the words to express it?
Being Specific
As an actor, you’re required to make choices for every second you are on a stage. Those choices are going to steer you through every performance and you should never be without them. Because of the importance that your choices hold, would you like to work off a vague decision? No. Every actor wants to be the best and you can’t be with vague or simple choices. When you consider a role and you ask yourself the questions that develop that character, you must be specific! I mentioned earlier that it is important to build your vocabulary and this is why: There is a huge difference between MAD and LIVID. To say that your character is MAD is vague. To say that your character is LIVID is much more specific because now you’ve nailed down exactly how mad they are. Never generalize in your choices, be specific and be decisive.
