Have you ever watched an actor perform a comedic role and wondered how they were able to play the role so well, when it appeared that they were just being themselves?
It happens all the time because great comedic actors make it look easy!
That’s what causes many actors to think comedy is easy and either brush it off or focus their training on something more “difficult.”
Whether or not you see yourself as a comedic actor, it is something you have to master so you can be well rounded.
After all, even dramatic projects require some kind of relief from time to time.
Given everything that has been going on over the last couple years, slates are shifting and more comedic projects are moving through the production process.
So, if you want to build a professional acting career you may not be able to ignore comedy much longer.
Here’s how to approach comedy and use it to further your acting career...
I’ve seen actors under prepare for comedic roles so many times over the years. I’ve even seen actors who audition really well, move through the casting process only to drop the ball on set.
Comedy takes a lot of preparation and approaching it cold is a huge mistake.
Comed is often written to be over the top but your character still needs to be believable and identifiable as a real person.
That’s what great comedic actors are able to do. They can keep even the most ridiculous characters real.
Will Ferrell has played some of the most over the top characters but because he strikes the right balance with his character choices, they still seem real to the audience.
You want them to feel what the character feels and identify with them, otherwise the viewer will tune out. That’s when a performance will fall flat.
Most actors tend to either go over the top, thinking that the more extreme their character is, the more laughs it will get. Some actors fall short and don’t go far enough with their characters.
EIther one causes the audience to disconnect.
To make sure that you are not making this mistake, watch yourself perform. Every character plays out differently, so whether you are preparing for an audition or preparing for your next scene, take some time to record yourself in character and watch it.
Be brutally honest about the choices you made in the scene. Then, make adjustments to your performance and record yourself again.
Do this until you feel completely confident in your performance.
If your performance just doesn’t feel right and you are having trouble identifying what it is, start by looking at your timing.
Comedy is all about timing your delivery, and being able to identify the punch line and emphasize it accordingly.
There are a few different ways you can do this.
Sometimes it will be physical. If your character leans toward slapstick, then it could be the fall or injury that is the punchline.
It could also be a verbal punchline. Usually, that would require you to put additional inflection in your voice.
Something that all the great comedic actors are able to do really well, is going from one vocal extreme to the other.
As you are working through your character choices, think outside the box. Can the punchline be delivered at the top of your lungs?
Can it be delivered in a whisper, even if it was written that way?
If it’s too far out of character, the director or CD (if you’re auditioning) will pull you back so don’t worry about making the wrong choice.
Casting directors in particular are looking for someone who gets the character. That doesn’t mean you have to make every choice perfectly.
Build a solid foundation and then worry about the rest on set or in the audition room.
I spoke with an actor that couldn’t book a job to save his life. He really had a passion for comedy and it was what he wanted to focus his career on but he just wasn’t making any progress.
He changed up just a few things in his delivery and everything changed for him. His characters were much more effective and he actually started to book jobs consistently.
The only things he worked on were what we talked about a moment ago.
He worked on his inflection and timing his delivery. That was it but the difference it made in his performance was incredible.
Before this, his characters were over the top and they didn’t connect well with an audience. He was unrecognizable as an actor afterwards.
Often, actors are really close to making huge progress and they only need to change a few things to become world class.
If you feel like you have been stuck in your career, what you need to do to get unstuck is often very simple.
The hardest part is usually just picking what to focus on.
I’ve given you some direction for comedy here but it really applies, regardless of what category you are working in.
The most important thing is to do things differently. We’re looking at March already and we’re well into 2021. If you want your career path to be different this year, than it was last year you have to change things up.
Here’s a great place to start.
Regardless of how talented you are, it will only take you so far. There’s a lot more to industry. We’ll talk more about it over the coming weeks.
For now, get started on what we went over today and make sure that you are building your career on a solid foundation.
Next week, we’ll take a step back and talk about how to get in the room.
Almost everything actors do is focused on what to do during the audition and how to deliver an effective performance on set.
All of that is great, but you also have to focus on getting in the room. You can’t just sit around and wait for your phone to ring. You have to make yourself visible to the industry. Here’s how I can help.
So, get started on this now and remember I’m always only a comment or an email away. I’ll always help however I can because I truly want to...
See you at the top,
Scott