Acting

“When an actor plays a scene exactly the way a director orders, it isn't acting. It's following instructions. Anyone with the physical qualifications can do that.” This is a famous quote from none other than one of the smoothest actors in the world, James Dean. He was such a great actor that he did not just act and get the job done but he actually lived in his role and that is true acting. There are many actors out there that look like they are being forced to do a certain scene and that is because they don’t understand the concept of natural acting.

James Dean says that acting is not when a person does what he is told or when he performs just another duty, because that is not significant and it does not truly show the skill of the actor nor the exposure of his role. An actor should live in that role to truly develop the same characteristics as the character he is playing. This way the actor gets to fully observe how his character is and when he performs, it’s not him that’s reading lines but it’s his actual character in the performance. And that is what touches people and inspires them; it brings out true appreciation for the actor because he made it turn to life.

In the second sentence of the quote James Dean says that anyone can do what he is told and just read lines. Anyone can do what they are told and can read lines and move a certain way but is that really acting? It is not because the actor is not anymore different than another person which can do the same thing and look the same way. Its determination and hard work which brings out natural acting and that’s what makes and actor different from another person who looks the same and can read lines but can’t add feel to his role.

            People may say acting is easy or some may say it is hard but it really depends on the performer and how he changes that. If he is in the role than all he has to do is read the lines and the rest will show because he knows his character. But if he just reads his lines and does not know his character than he is not acting but just performing a duty.