This isn't a cookie-cutter topic. Character development and backstory are always different for each role I've taken on. While there may be slight similarities, they vary depending on the character. For some, early childhood memories and experiences play a more significant role in shaping their current story. For others, certain relationships or situations from childhood influence behaviors in their adult life. Character development has always been a bit tricky for me. I'm starting to accept that it's okay to draw inspiration from other actors' performances and adapt those ideas into my own approach. For example, I'm currently working on a character where I'm taking cues from Sam Rockwell's role in The Green Mile—little nuances and behavioral ticks, so to speak. Like how Jake Gyllenhaal gave his character a hard blink in Prisoners, or Brad Pitt's laugh in Fight Club, and Marlon Brando's confidence and swagger in On The Waterfront. The most important thing for me is understanding what my character wants throughout the entire film and how that desire ties into each scene. One common mistake I notice among amateur actors is making a scene about themselves. It's NEVER about us; it's always about the other person. We never approach real-life situations thinking, "I want to look cool." Instead, it's more like, "I want THEM/HER/HIM to think I'm cool." It’s a subtle but crucial difference. Another thing that helps me stay in character is finding a little quirk. Maybe it's a limp, being an avid smoker, or a subtle expression they always have. It's these small details that keep me grounded. In Ocean’s 11, Eddie Jemison’s character stabs his foot with a tack during a lie detector test to keep his heart rate steady while telling the truth. That "tack" serves as a reminder for me to stay in character. The hard blink, the expression, the tobacco chew, the lean in my walk—whatever that little inspiration is, it keeps me connected to the role. The rest follows suit. It's always fun and interesting to do the work—building your backstory, your inner dialogue, your overall and scene objectives. Then, when you're on set, mixing all that with the other actors—who have hopefully done their own work—you see how it all affects your character. You might be the garlic, and they're the pepper, blending into the movie, which is the soup. It all mixes beautifully. I had a rough childhood, which has been both a blessing and a curse in my acting. I’ve got a lot of pain to draw from, and that’s been a real asset as an actor. I often use my father in some way to motivate my characters. It's always about love. It's always about trying to fill that hole that's been left open in my life. Not that it’s healthy to dump all my emotions out on set, but it’s the small nuances that help. I ask myself: What did my old bedroom smell like? What color was the living room in my father’s house? How did I feel when he first came home from work? I use those memories to create depth in my character. I'm always learning, always exploring. There's really no wrong way to approach character development as long as your performance tells the truth. The audience can always sense when something is fake; it screams on camera. There was a study where two actors were filmed. The first was told to look at a table and imagine someone they loved dead on it. The second actor was told to just focus on the patterns and imperfections of the table. When the audience was asked which gave them more feeling, they all said the second actor. The first actor was pretending—trying to imagine something they hadn’t experienced. The second actor was simply being real. That’s the essence of acting. Find the truth in the moment. Let the audience fill in the rest. Robert De Niro is a big advocate of this philosophy, which is why the phrase "be in the moment" is so popular among actors. It’s often misunderstood, but it means exactly that—just be in the moment. That's what I would tell future actors: Don’t make it about you. Be in the moment and find ways to tell the truth. Be honest and portray the character through your own lens, in a real and authentic way. Love God, Love Life, Love the Journey. Steven Sutherland |
1 Comment
Spex
10/24/2024 11:42:45 am
Spot on man
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My Career
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