As a fan of cinema, you likely enjoy kicking back and watching the latest Hollywood movies. There is a good chance that you’ve become a fan of some of the hottest actors and actresses in Hollywood. You notice that these actors adapt to the current role that they’re playing. They adjust their skills and attitudes depending on the role they’ll fill. Have you ever thought about actors and how they prepare for a big role?

It isn’t an easy process. Actors go above and beyond to ensure that they’re going to perform well during each appearance. Below, you’ll learn more about the ways actors prepare for a big role.

The Language

First and foremost, the actor needs to adapt to the language. Most English actors are going to star in English movies. They won’t need to learn a new language but they will need to adapt to the language. For instance, you need to understand that American English is different than Australian English. Then, you have British English. In the United States, people in the North speak differently than people in the South. Ultimately, actors need to learn the unique dialect of the character they’re playing.

If they’re going to be playing a southern moonshiner, they’ll need to develop a Southern accent. This can be a long and difficult process but it will pay off in the long run. Getting the accent and dialect right will make a huge difference. It’ll add more legitimacy to the role.

Studying a Person

There is a good chance that the actor is going to be portraying a real person. Emile Hirsch was excellent as Christopher McCandless in the movie ‘Into the Wild.’ And, many will agree that Denzel Washington’s best performance was Malcolm X. When taking on one of these roles, the actor will need to study the person in question. They need to find out how this individual acted, behaved, spoke and watched. If possible, they’ll watch videos of these people. This will allow them to mimic their actions and dialect.

This is essential since research can help them accurately replicate the individual they’re portraying. If that person was a fan of Situs IDN poker, the actor may spend day and night at the casino to learn more about the experience. They can use this to transform into the person during their on-screen performance.

Studying Other Things

When dealing with a fictional character, the actor or actress will need to study other things. You might be preparing for a movie about the prohibition in the United States. The prohibition in the United States took place from 1920 to 1933. Suffice to say, things were much different back then. This is why the actor will need to study this time period and the people who lived then. They need to learn more about the people and their attitudes back then.

If the actors cannot replicate Americans during the prohibition era, the film will not feel authentic.

The Lines

The hardest part of being an actor is learning the lines. As an actor, you need to know your lines or you’re going to create problems for yourself and everyone else. It is pertinent to sit down and memorize your lines. When you’re finished, you should be able to say your lines without assistance. If you have to stop and look at the script, you’re going to slow down production. In addition to this, the director is not going to be happy about it. Your colleagues may believe that you’re incompetent. Don’t let this happen.

A professional actor or actress will learn the lines and know them by heart.

Rehearsing

Finally, the actor will need to rehearse extensively. Learning the lines is only one step of the process. Once you’ve learned your lines, you need to learn the actions. You’ll need to enter from stage left. Or, you might need to take a drink of a beer before slamming it onto the counter. Rehearsing is the best way to prepare for filming. During rehearsals, you’ll practice your lines and actions alongside the film’s other performers. Remember that practice makes perfect.

Rehearsal may last several weeks or longer. Actors work hard but many people take them for granted.

By Karen Benardello

As a graduate of LIU Post with a B.F.A in Journalism, Print and Electronic, Karen Benardello serves as ShockYa's Senior Movies & Television Editor. Her duties include interviewing filmmakers and musicians, and scribing movie, television and music reviews and news articles. As a New York City-area based journalist, she's a member of the guilds, New York Film Critics Online and the Women Film Critics Circle.

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