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ARCHIVE ARTICLE 4
- Raise Your Energy
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YOUR ENERGY LEVEL ON CAMERA!
Always remember that the camera lens accentuates various aspects of performance - especially the perceived energy you radiate onscreen.
This is most evident when you are delivering a piece to camera at an energy level you perceive as being light, entertaining and upbeat, yet watching playback on television it is surprising lacklustre. You must always compensate for the loss of energy onscreen. Always add energy to your performance to ensure that you come across as friendly and personable. The reason for this is the way WE perceive ourselves - no one sees us, like we see us!
As a result we are often fooled into thinking our energylevels and personalities are engaging enough to be consideredappropriate.
There are various ways to lift energy in your performance:
a. Smile through your delivery – this doesn’t mean grimace through your dialogue – but it is a good technique to 'lighten' your expression and add energy to your voice. Listen to how you sound when you smile through your words. Your face becomes animated, it flexes your facial muscles, it generates more life in your personality and un-creases your
forehead;
b. Laugh quietly to yourself just before you start
delivering. Based on the same ‘smile’ philosophy, it gives you a lift in terms of body language and facial expression if you are finishing off a laugh when it is time to talk. Sometimes the best performances are generated through mistakes – you will laugh at something funny, or an error in dialogue, which makes you relax and adds that energy. Having a good belly laugh moments before delivering will
help;
ARCHIVE ARTICLE 4
- Raise Your Energy
*********************************************************
YOUR ENERGY LEVEL ON CAMERA!
Always remember that the camera lens accentuates various aspects of performance - especially the perceived energy you radiate onscreen.
This is most evident when you are delivering a piece to camera at an energy level you perceive as being light, entertaining and upbeat, yet watching playback on television it is surprising lacklustre. You must always compensate for the loss of energy onscreen. Always add energy to your performance to ensure that you come across as friendly and personable. The reason for this is the way WE perceive ourselves - no one sees us, like we see us!
As a result we are often fooled into thinking our energylevels and personalities are engaging enough to be consideredappropriate.
There are various ways to lift energy in your performance:
a. Smile through your delivery – this doesn’t mean grimace through your dialogue – but it is a good technique to 'lighten' your expression and add energy to your voice. Listen to how you sound when you smile through your words. Your face becomes animated, it flexes your facial muscles, it generates more life in your personality and un-creases your
forehead;
b. Laugh quietly to yourself just before you start
delivering. Based on the same ‘smile’ philosophy, it gives you a lift in terms of body language and facial expression if you are finishing off a laugh when it is time to talk. Sometimes the best performances are generated through mistakes – you will laugh at something funny, or an error in dialogue, which makes you relax and adds that energy. Having a good belly laugh moments before delivering will
help;
c.Relax your shoulders. Most people carry great tension in their shoulder frame and neck. By simply relaxing your shoulders you will open your diaphragm and become less tense. Have a full body stretch before you start;
d. Rehearse as many times as you can so that the words become automatic. This reduces the likelihood of dealing with memory loss, and you can concentrate on your performance. Most teachers will encourage you NOT to memorise but to understand the words. That is true – but you need to strike a careful balance between the two. Memorising means you have the time to add your personality to performance;
e. Steady your breathing. Taking long deep breaths will encourage your heart rate to slow, metabolism to calm and prevent the tightening of the chest.
More advice and tips can be found in the 12 Week Advanced Training Program, Audition Secrets Revealed Manual and DVD and Audio programs - All part of the How To Be A TV Star Home Study Program out now!
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