Emotional Scenes

(An article from Achtung! member and actor Allyson Carranza):

For many actors learning to 'cry on cue' is one of the most difficult skills to learn.  There are many exercises one can practice to reach the emotional level where tears can come freely.  Perhaps the best method is simply not to try.  In other words, the more we attempt to use a technique, the it less it may work for us.  This is because we remove ourselves from the scene, and therefore the character and her emotion, by focusing on the technicalities of our acting.

Imagine, your best friend tells you she never really liked you.  Would you stop and say to yourself, "Okay, I have to cry now.  How can I make that happen?"  Of course not.  The emotion of the scene would naturally take over.  You have to trust that same organic wave of emotion when playing out a fictional scene as well.

Honest emotion is not foolproof.  Who knows?  Maybe you get into a scene and your organic response to the situation doesn't involve tears at all, but another reaction all together.  That's okay.  That's honest.  And in scenarios where your character must cry sometimes the best method is to...well, act.  The next time your cry in real life, try to recall how you do it.  What does it feel like?  Sound like?  Learn to recreate this so you can cry in a realistic manner...even if no tears come.

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