Doug Warhit's Acting Blog

“Bad guys don’t think of themselves as bad guys. They have a good reason for what they do that make sense to them. Like my character President Logan (24 with Kiefer Sutherland) saying, “It’s for the good of the country. It’s for the good of the country”
-Gregory Itzin, Actor

Fantasize about what your character loves, fears, hates, and hopes. This will give you a stronger point of view for everything your character says and does.

When you have sufficient time to work on a script, fantasize about everything you’re character is going through. By everything I mean what the character says and does, what other characters say to and about your character, what can be inferred, and the prior circumstances. If you write a bio of your character you must also fantasize about the details, not just put them down on paper like a book report. The same way you know the details of your life, know the details of your character’s life and journey.

Is acting your career or your hobby? Time and energy are the determining factors. Take a look at where you are and what you are doing on a daily basis. Does your perspective or do your actions need to change? What do you need to do differently?

If you find yourself intimidated by the casting person, take a second to imagine them as the small child they once were. This will help you to relax and connect with them from a more open, vulnerable place.

If you are overly self-conscious, carry a notebook with you and write down your observations about people you see on your daily travels i.e. waiting on line at bank, supermarket, restaurants etc. Use your imagination: what do you think they do? married/children?, secrets? hidden desires? etc. Practice this exercise on a daily basis and it will shift your awareness so you when you’re auditioning you can make it about your fascination with whom you’re talking to and not yourself.

“I’m always amazed by Steve Carell. He has an ability to be really funny, but it’s not his focus. He’s more of an actor than just a comic because he’s much more worried about the character’s human struggles than the jokes.”
-Paul Rudd, Actor