How To Develop The Skill Of Concentration For Sure Success

The art of focus and concentration for an actor

How To Succeed In Auditions And In Scene Performance

The Art Of Focus And Concentration 

You are standing before the Camera. Settings are arranged. People are moving around. The Asst cameraman is checking the light intensity with some instrument, right close to your face and calling cinematographer loudly while you are still recollecting your lines. The director is instructing loudly to the crew. Sound technician is adjusting lapel mike on your body breathing on your face.

Suddenly  there is a shout "Ready?" 
Followed by "Sound"..."Lights"...Camera"....a...n...d..."ACTION"
Tensely you start your lines...and you stop! 
There is a block. A total mental block!! You have lost your CONCENTRATION and FOCUS
The director shouts..."CUT"!  

• Everybody looks at you...director,  crew and your Co-stars!
• What a pity! The shooting is stalled because of your mess up!
• Tension builds up affecting your performance and the portrayal of your character when you notice a chaos around you on a set before a "Take". It further aggravates when you see the crowd watching you.

How to overcome this mental block?

5 Ways To Concentrate

• Select an object on the set, say a lamp. A small table, a picture on the wall or anything and keep your focus on it. Even if the shot demands you to look somewhere else, keep looking at that object mentally. You don't see anything else or hearing anything. Just keep focused on that object.
• Go on giving an auto-suggestion that you are "The Character". Go on repeating this in your mind again and again. Say to you "I will do well", "main bahut achcha karoonga"  "yes"! "It will be a great performance!"
• Don't repeat your line now. You have done enough. Repeating just before the "take" may create a mental block
• Take a deep breath and release slowly. Do this 11 times.
• The best is to create a "Wall". Think of your bedroom or any room with a blank wall. Mentally put that wall in front of you, blanking out all the chaos on the set. You are now focusing on the wall, but are not aware of it. Your mind is active and aware of what is happening around, but not seeing it. 

Have You Got It?

Good!

Finally, when you hear "ACTION", go into your "character' and shoot!

Congratulations! You have just given a great performance!

Updated Post

2 Reasons Why Learning "Method Acting" May Ruin Acting Career

Hollywood film: A method acting performance

Is "Method Acting" Technique Is The Best To Be A Good Actor?

Here Are The Analysis And Reasons For A Big NO 

Is Method Acting A Dangerous Form Of Acting Technique?

A.

Yes, because it has the actor use real life trauma's and puts it into the character which has been what a few people have mentioned, but it also can cause the person to have physical and mental breakdowns from the emotional toll it puts having to relive past experiences over and over again. This can also cause the majority of actors to feel this way even after filming because the emotions linger to the person because it's like digging up your ghouls from the basement and putting it in the life to relive it.

B.
The actor using Method also can be "extreme" and need real life weapons to get into character VS. Props. So real knives or loaded guns which can obviously turn sour very quickly by accident.
Bonus Info: From what I know all other acting techniques involve the imagination which can bring out the same quality of acting but keeps the actor safe as their training and tools can remind the actor that what they're going through is not real and the emotions don't hang onto the actor for that exact reason.

C.
The other explanation could be when you try everything to become the character you are portraying.
You put effort into experiencing what the character would actually feel and you may start making changes to your life so you can more intimately connect with the character and understand what the character would think and feel in different situations.

D.
You're not just pretending to be the character and putting on a fake act, you're attempting to assume the actual personality, thoughts, and behavior of the character not only during filming but potentially in the outside world / at home.

E.
If your character is supposed to be sad, you're not pretending to be sad, you're learning to empathize and become the character to the point where the character's sadness is your own sadness and you truly feel sad when you are 'acting' as the sad character. Sometimes you may achieve this by linking your own emotional memories (e.g. of a loved one dying) to the sadness in the character's life, in order to better appreciate what the character would be feeling.
F.
It really comes down to putting yourself in the shoes of the character. You're not just following directions and 'acting' as you're told. Instead, you're actually taking on the life of the character and you're personally identifying with that character so you can understand the character's thought processes, feelings, and then the 'acting' should, theoretically, come naturally without explicit instruction (because you implicitly know, for example, how the character would respond to and feel about certain situations etc.).

2 reasons why to be careful in learning Method Acting

1.
In our fast-moving film, television, and theater industry, we actors are continually asked for "quick results." We must be emotionally available, learn our lines rapidly, and fill our characters with the objectives and desires of a multilayered human being—all without much preparation time. Now more than ever, the deciding factor in a successful audition or performance is the actor's ability to call upon focused inspiration at a moment's notice. After all, inspiration leads to real, organic, surprising, fresh performances. How is such focused inspiration readily achieved?

2.
 A lot of press has covered Method acting over the last several decades, and they often get it wrong. A few things it is definitely not: gaining or losing weight for a role, insisting everyone call you by your character name whether you're acting or not, doing dangerous or questionable activities to be more like your character, avoiding modern stuff when you're in a period piece, etc.

My Conclusion

Every actor is a human and therefore, has his/her own essence, an archetype. The best would be to learn different acting techniques, discover the self and then create his/her own unique acting style This would be under his/her total control and would be flexible to suit the character created by him/her.

Join us to learn all top acting techniques of the world and create your own unique acting style to be a guaranteed Bollywood actor 

Updated Post

15 Types Of Laugh For Camera You Must Learn | How To

Learn The famous laughter style of Navjot Sidhu

If you are acting for the camera, there's good news and bad news. 

The good news: you can create many different takes and an editor/director can choose the one that works best.
The bad news: film crews are expensive, and time equals money. The director will grow impatient if you can't come up with a right realistic la. Depending on the scene and your fellow actors, off camera interaction, can often evoke genuine laughter. Also, surprise moments between actors can work wonders -- as long as the director appreciates!

Studying Laughter

• The sounds of laughter are similar around the world. Most laughter consists of H-sounds: Ha, ho, hee. Other bursts of laughter might contain vowel sounds.
• In fact, there's an entire field of science dedicated to the study of laughter. It's called gelotology. 
• Learning about the mental and physical aspects of laughter can help actors become more adept at producing laughs on cue. 

Facts On Laughter

1. Females laugh more often than men.
2. Men are more likely to attempt to make others laugh.
3. Speakers (joke tellers) laugh almost 50% more than their audience.
4. Laughter often occurs at the end of a sentence.
5. We laugh more when in the company of others than when we are alone.

What can motivate your character's Laughter?

If you can laugh spontaneously and sound believable, you're ready for your audition.
If the laugh sounded forced it might be because you have no idea why your character is laughing. The more you emotionally "Feel" with your character, the more you can feel like her and laugh like her.

How To Laugh

For some actors laughing on *cue can be just as difficult a task as to cry on *cue. Here are a few tips on how to laugh effectively:

• First and foremost, keep your attention on the scene and on your partner. If you are truly engrossed in the moment of the scene, the laugh will come organically.
• Think of the kind of laugh required for the moment. What size or type of laugh is an appropriate reaction to the situation? Sometimes a little chuckle is far more effective than a belly laugh. Although a seemingly inappropriate laugh may work as well, particularly if you are acting in a comedy.
• Be aware of the what the mood of the scene is and decide how your character would honestly react. After that, forget about it. Let the moment carry you through.

When To Stop Laughing

• You cannot continue laughing until eternity unless of course, your character is a maniac. This would depend on the character you are playing. If the role is comedic then an abrupt end and remaining still may work.
• For example, you are playing a character of a subordinate and your boss slips while sitting or mispronounced a word or drops something, which has evoked a laughter in you (natural). You have to stop suddenly and froze realizing that your laughter may be insulting to your boss.
• In a second situation, you are sitting with friends and enjoying jokes. Here laughing belly out may be okay

Watch How Others Laugh

As an actor, you are probably a people watcher already, and if you haven't taken up the pastime of carefully watching others, it's time to begin. Spend the next five days observing different categories of people how others laugh.

• Do they giggle in a high pitched spurt?
• Do they do a courtesy laugh just to please others?
• Are they intoxicated?
• Maniacal? Childish?
• Are they laughing sarcastically? Uncontrollably?
• Are they trying (but failing) to hold it in?
• Take notes if you can.

Here are some of the contemporary laughing style for actors to learn. Few of them are never taught in any acting school and are great to surprise a casting director or a Bollywood director. You can find these laughs in the live video attached below:

Join us to learn to be one!

9 Simple Steps On How To Learn Acting At Home

FeedShark

How to Learn acting at home to be a Bollywood actor

1. Needs total devotion…and not an overnight job. It’s a performing art and learning is not like studying a subject of history or physics in a class of 20-30

2. To learn to act is simply to forget yourself, your style, gestures speech, behavior, attitude. Make yourself absolutely a "blank, a clean slate, an empty glass". Then only you can portray a new life, a character who is not "you". Leave your ego at the door.

3. To learn to act is to be accepted by others as an actor. Go to auditions. Fail. Go to more. 
To learn to act is to rehearse a part. Memorize jokes, mimic friends, and actors, a story or share-o-shaiyree,  perform it at parties.

4. Set a time table to go out to public places and Observe! 

This is something you can do no matter what level you are on. Take an interest in observing your friends' actions, recording them in a notebook, and analyzing them as characters. 

There are real-life, living, breathing characters walking around you every day; use them! Observe the way an angry customer deals with a waiter or in a shop.  What do you think lies underneath that? 

Observe the way your friend talks about someone who she is in love with. Have you heard her speak this way before? Do you pick up any patterns? Being able to analyze is a hugely important part of acting. You have to know what to communicate before you can actually communicate. 
Observe people say at a park or at a railway suburban/metro station, imagine scenes with stories and practice as one of the characters. 

5. Play at home that observed character and it's movements, gestures voice etc with imaginary dialogs.

Go to a zoo or watch on a road animals then imagine them standing on 2 legs and behaving and moving. Question why? Be that animal and practice behaving like that animal as if that animal has turned into a human character

6. You can watch other actors' performances and learn. See these movies:
Hollywood 
Bollywood

7. To learn to act is to allow yourself to be directed by others. Join a theater group. 

8. Join work as a trainee in direction or production department in a reputed production houses, watch and practice with other actors.

9. Read these acting books 

"Audition" by Michael Shurtleff
I consider this book to be the “bible” for aspiring actors. If you are just beginning your acting career, this is a great place to start! It covers everything you need to know to get the part.

"Meisner on Acting" by Sanford Meisner
Meisner gives it to you straight on how to live truthfully in the moment under imaginary circumstances. Your library is not complete without this one.

"Respect for Acting" by Uta Hagen
Simple and straightforward, Uta Hagen’s profound book has helped generations of actors hone their craft. She introduces series of exercises to help the actor connect to the moment, fellow actors, and the audience. “Who am I?” “What do I want?” and “What is my relationship?” are three of the nine questions explored to define your character’s role specifically. Hagen also includes invaluable advice about stage nerves and how to stay fresh in a long run.

"An Actor Prepares" by Constantin Stanislavsky
This book takes the actor through Stanislavsky’s self-developed "system" which helps the actor to master his craft as well as stimulate creativity and imagination. Now referred to as "method acting," "An Actor Prepares" includes a variety of exercises and some autobiographical experiences that focus on relaxation, concentration, and techniques that will help get the actor into character. Emotional memory and the “magic if” explored in his book laid the groundwork for much of the great acting today.

"Improvisation for the Theatre" by Viola Spolin
Considered the mother of improvisation, Viola Spolin developed a series of acting exercises and theater games to free the actor’s creativity.

To get the above books, go to right sidebar of this blog's home page, scroll down to Amazon.in search box and type the name of one by one book mentioned above

Remember

To learn to act is to act.

Or join our personal one on one acting coaching by 

The top acting coach

Why It's Critical For An Actor To Practice Observation

Let me come straight to the point. 

Why an actor should indulge in “observation”?

For Survival!

An actor’s observation is a very important trigger to their  imagination. It is something that will help any aspiring actor to become more aware of their surroundings and little details. It develops their sense memory data bank, the power of imagination and eventually their ability to create and transform into a script’s character convincingly.

Professional actors have become amazing observers and this is how they are able to put themselves in

other people’s shoes and gives them the opportunity to act out other roles. Actors who are just starting out will be able to do roles that fit their personality the most but this does not mean that you will be doing the same roles forever. To become a better, you must improve your observation skills and it will help you become the best actor ever. 

It is my favorite because it’s easy. You do not need a rehearsal space, special equipment, or a

dedicated time. It is called “observing,” and I’m pretty sure I’m not the first one to tell you about it.

But it is such an important tool so I think it’s worth considering.

So where can one go to practice? 

Anywhere! Park, mall, tourist spots, In a metro train while traveling,  restaurants, museums,

busy streets, stadiums, shops… You don’t even have to plan anything ahead, just use the

opportunity when it arises. When you’re on a bus in the morning, observe. When standing in

the queue for coffee, observe. When having lunch in a cozy cafe, pay attention to how people

behave, how they react to different kinds of situations, and what are they like. 

Exercise

A. 

Pick one person out of the crowd let’s say in a metro train or bus you are traveling and

focus on them. Give him/her a name. Let’s say for the purpose of this article, he’s Mohan.

How old is he? What does she look like? What kind of personality do you think he has? What

makes him stand out from the rest in the place? Why did you pick him? What do you think

he’s thinking at this very moment and why? Any specific actions on her part? 

Then the true fun begins. A journey into imagination. Try to imagine the life of this person,

who must be your hero by now." What does A do for a living? Does A have a family? Where is

A going now? What is the biggest problem A has to solve? What is A dreaming about? If you

would dramatize A's life, what type of film/ play would it be? A love story? A drama? A

comedy? Why? Imagine a scene with A. Imagine the way he/she talks. Go in your mind as

detailed as you can (depending on how many metro stops you have, of course). The secret is

not to invent random things. Everything you come up with has to have a reason reflected in

the real person in front of you. 

This is the time to do as much observation and indulge in a creative imagination as you can. 

B. 

Once you are at home, write down your thoughts, be that person and practice

C. 

Apart from a person you can observe anything you see, like animal, store, things from nature,

building etc and continue with the above exercise

Observation is an amazing tool that actors can never survive without. Things like these will

train your imagination and return fresh, new, unseen and interesting results and characters

that you can later use in your acting work. Always try your best to put them aside somewhere

in your mental closet — you might just need your Mohan someday. 

Start from now itself. Pick up something and begin the fun!

Updated Post From 2013

2 Simple Ways To Be A Great Actor With Convincing Act

 How Act To Be "Real" And Be In The Character

Sorry, Your Acting Looks Fake!

The Key Of Acting 'Real' And Look Convincing To Audience

One of the top directors I knew who visited my coaching session, stated that when he’s casting for a role, he’s looking for “someone who is not acting but a real character.” Judging from everything I know about casting and the industry, this is definitely true.

• At the same time, one of the most effective things you can do as an actor is to reject “trying hard” to be a character:

While imagining yourself “IF' you are that character, be so real that your partner, audience, casting director, director, producer, etc., can't tell whether you're acting or really talking as a character.

Cultivating such a level of “realness” in your acting craft is so awesome and staggering to casting directors in auditions, directors during a 'Take' or audience, that it creates a natural feel in them and gives the appearance that you are speaking with no trace of acting.

This is one of the greatest gifts that you can give to the entire production, as it causes the directors, writers, and producers to look at you with a sense of wonder and envy.

In my opinion, the difference between “good” and “great” acting is the actor who starts every scene lit up and is emotionally full, instead of bein flawless but with emptiness, requiring warm up and perhaps re-takes as they go. This “real” creates a strong platform from which an actor can take the film to incredible heights who acts in a way that seems so natural that everyone is pulled in the film, without any stench of acting technique or being filmic.

It doesn’t reek of the stench of acting technique or preparation. A great example of this is the opening scene of the Oscar-winning film “Birdman.” The film begins with a group of actors sitting around a table on a stage, seemingly having a discussion. As the conversation progresses and the camera moves, we realize they’re actually having a table read and acting dialogue from a play. This example so vividly demonstrates the elegance and ease that truly seamless acting can present: It can look startlingly real.

How to Begin

1. Be A Blank Canvas

After all preparation and seeds of “character” have been planted inside the actor, the bravest “act” an actor can do is to be a “blank canvas” and exist moment-by-moment, just like life!
When an actor gets a confidence of “can be the character instantly”, he should forget everything and be a true self. Just a blank slate, an empty glass.
In life, you truly don’t know what the person you’re talking to is going to say or do. You can achieve this dynamic on stage or on screen as well. Some actors protest and say that the script prevents that sense of wonder and spontaneity, but I disagree. If you really are in the moment (in a story, scene, with changing rhythm and emotions) but allowing yourself to be a blank canvas which responds truthfully to what’s happening before you, you really will respond in a natural manner as if you don’t know what you’re partner is going to say or do.
The great actors learn by practicing mind exercises and has a “switch on-off" mind and feel so real (and presumably uncertain), that they feel like life. You can create a combined sense of fear, uncertainty, and the unknown—all of which are so captivating to watch.

2. Simple Exercise of Keeping It Real

Phone a friend, family member, or acquaintance and let them know you’re going to play a little game as you have the phone conversation. The game is that you’re going to interject lines of your dialogue into the conversation but you’re not going to tell them when you’re doing it. The challenge is to see if the person on the other line can tell when you’re speaking from the script and when you’re really speaking to them. Apart from adding your script lines in the conversation, the conversation engaging the other person could be anything bullshit. I guarantee this session will make you more aware of when you’re being real and fully engaged with emotional fullness and when you’re not.
Based on

Simply Hugging 10 Truths Of 'Life' Can Make You A Top Actor

Join hand with 'life' to be great

Are You A Struggling Actor? Not Yet made It As A Star?  Has A Hard Life?

Read below and embrace these facts on 'Life'. I guarantee, your embracing life truths will transform you to a relaxed but a  rejuvenated fighter in pursuing your ultimate goal to stardom, sooner than expected.

Life in general, more so of an actor is a beautiful experience, but sometimes it is hard. During those hard times, we often forget how awesome it is to experience this thing called 'life'.

Here are 10 amazing truths about life that will change your life as an actor and as a human being  for good.

1. Life is cyclic with up and down

Everything under the sun rises and falls. In fact, even the sun itself rises and falls every single day. After every fall there is a rise. When you accept this truth you don’t have to be discouraged when you inevitably experience a fall. You just have to wait for the tide to turn- and it will.

2. Life doesn’t judge you

Life is not judging you. It does not judge who you are. It does not judge what you’ve done. Life sees no faults. It loves you just as you are. Life only cares that you live it to its fullest and take advantage of all that it has to offer.

3. Life forgives you.

Sometimes we curse life. “F***K MY LIFE” may be a common slang, but life doesn’t hold a grudge. Whatever you’ve done or said against life isn’t held against you. Life is standing by waiting for you to change your mind. When you are ready to love your life again, life is ready to help you create a life you can love.

4. Life doesn’t believe in failure (or success for that matter).

We tend to think of life in terms of successes and failures. If I make a lot of money, marry an attractive spouse, and raise intelligent kids I am successful. If my house is in foreclosure, I get a divorce or raise a wayward child I have failed. Life doesn’t see events and circumstances in terms of successes and failures. Life believes in lessons learned and experiences that strengthen you. Life accepts that stuff happens, and no matter what happens, life is prepared to help you rebuild, change directions, and find fulfillment once again.

5. Life will give you things you never knew you wanted.

In my personal experience as an actor, life gave me the gift of traveling the world – from Asia to Europe to South America. I never knew how important it was for an actor experiencing new places was until I was gifted with the opportunity to do so. Then I realized a Life’s imagination is much bigger than my own (Actor's) imagination. Be ready to receive things you never knew you wanted but can’t live without. Life loves to give good gifts.

6. Life will make sure it is good in every evil.

When something bad is done to you, life will make sure you are repaid with good. When things go wrong there’s always something amazing that comes out of it. There’s always a silver lining whether it is a lesson from an audition failure, a new perspective, new direction or even a new friend.

7. Life rewards the apologetic.

I’ve heard it said that apologizing is one of the most difficult things for people to do. That is so unfortunate because saying “I’m sorry” can breathe new life into your relationships. It can offer a fresh start and a new slate. Life will help you start again, repair what’s been damaged and regain what’s been lost when you are brave enough to admit your faults and apologize.

8. Life honors the courageous.

When you take a chance on life, life takes a chance on you. When you’re brave enough to conquer life in ways that scare you, life shows you things you never knew existed. Life honors your courage with higher self-esteem, more confidence, better opportunities, increased joy and higher purpose.

9. Life believes in you.

Life believes that you are capable of so much. Life believes you are stronger than you know and can handle more than you think. Life wants to see you triumph. Life literally adores you.

10. Life is always a friend.

You can laugh with life, cry with life, and explore with life. You can tell life your deepest secrets, your wildest dreams, and your biggest fears. Life will listen. Life supports you. As long as you are breathing, life is by your side. Even when you’re not breathing, life is still on your side and life will remember you always.
Based on

Should You Go For Theater Or Films? Differences And Rewards

Theater  or films? 

What is the difference between acting in Theater plays and in a film?

• Understanding the difference from an actor's point of view

What can an actor achieve in terms of fulfillment of objectives?

• Theater: Talent, Moderate Name, and Fame
• Film: Money, Name, and Fame

Performance Wise

A.
The main difference between stage all over the world and film acting can be summed up in one word:
SIZE.
The voice and body are generally used much more fully on stage, whereas in the film (in relatively close-up shots) it is more as if actors are under a microscope, so smaller voice projection and physicality are appropriate.
B.
Film acting is almost always performed out-of-sequence. Often, all the scenes with a particular actor will be shot on one day (or in a sequence of days) so that, once done, the producers can let him go and stop paying him. If that actor is only in two scenes, say the first and last scenes of the movie, those scenes will be shot together, maybe on the same day.

The shooting order can also get jumbled due to locations. If a character travels back-and-forth from New York to Paris, the New York scenes will generally be filmed all at once. Then the Paris scenes will be shot. (Or the other way around.)

Many films are unrehearsed or just slightly rehearsed. It's simply too expensive to pay an actor for a month of rehearsal. In the film, the "rehearsal" generally takes place on camera. If the actors aren't ready yet, those shots just don't get used.

C.
In theater acting, stage actors generally have a minimum of two-weeks rehearsal before stepping in front of an audience.

On stage (in most plays), an actor can simply remain and go through in his character's experiences in proper  chronological order. So it's relatively easy. Stage actors generally have much more freedom of movement, improvising their movements, at least to some extent.

In films, this is rarely possible for film actors due to filming requirements. For example. a shot must be precisely lit and the cameras must be focused on a particular angle. So actors have to stand in very specific places or they'll be out of camera range or out of focus. This one one of the major reason why film actors sometimes either fail to maintain being in a character or make mistakes in movements causing retakes

Every time you see a cut in a movie, that means there had to be a new setup. Most of the time, it's much more complex than just pointing the camera in a new direction. The whole scene has to be re-lit.

Flow Wise

On stage, acting is live storytelling. The flow of the story is shaped by the audience and the actors in real-time. It is never exactly the same story two nights running. If the audience is slow to respond, the actors can modify the performance to match. And they can watch in the wings to see how other parts of the play are progressing. The play is the thing!

In Films, there is a flow, but this is completely outside the actor's control. An actor is a much more passive participant in a movie than the final result would suggest. Usually, the only thing an actor can focus on is the individual performance.

Preparation Wise

The Film seems to have a greater emphasis on spontaneous performances. You learn your lines, you get told where to stand - and someone yells "action".

On stage, you learn your lines, you get told where to stand - and then you spend several weeks rehearsing to understand the story and the character's place in it.
On a stage, you must be heard, so you have to adequately project your voice.  People aren't going to see subtle facial expressions, so you must instead express yourself with body language.
Stage actors have to rehearse to perfection.  They don't have a chance to attempt something more than once.  They're in front of the audience, delivering their performance to them right there and then.  Stage actors have to repeat their performance over multiple days, often multiple weeks.  Maybe even months or years.

Film acting is in some ways, closer to reality as if they were the character they were portraying.  This character should be completely believable as if it were a real person. Their self-preparation (without rehearsals)
What they do, down to the minor responses, facial twitches, habits, etc should be along the lines of what you would expect from them if they actually the character.  A film actor gets to "try again until they get it right".  It could be  a retake 10 times before the take is approved.

Performance Wise

For the film, a talented editor can create a stunning performance out of several average or bad ones.
For live theater, everything is right there, warts and all, for audiences to see. There is no 'change or re-performing unless it's improvisation (improv). If an actor forgets a line, bungles a line, steps on another actor's line (cue), or falls off the stage, nothing can be done. Just called as a terrible mess-up and continue  with the play.

In my view acting on stage is far more demanding. Filming a scene can be undertaken in small scenes allowing retakes. Once you are on stage and the show is underway it's down to you, your knowledge of lines and character and of course talent.
Apart from the differences mentioned above, for an aspiring actor's success, it's the “business angle”. The career planning and promotion required for to be a star actor in films is staggering and phenomenal! This is primarily due to size of world's Cine/TV industry and a frightening  competition among actors
Source

My final views

• In the larger interest of aspiring actors, I would recommend going for both, Theater and Film
• Looking at the intricacies of acting for theater and films, and whether you have an inborn talent or not, a top level training in acting craft is absolutely essential and remember, you to go on learning till you die 

Winning Auditions Is Easy As Masturbating | 16 Hand Gestures

Hand gestures used by top Indian actors

Using hand gestures to sparkle acting performance

This Is A Science of Actors

• Be the most memorable person in the audition room or on filming your scene
• 18 Hand Gestures You Should Be Using

Crazy Facts About Hand Gestures:

• You’re born to speak with your hands. Researchers have found that infants who use more hand gestures at 18-months old have greater language abilities later on. Hand gestures speak to great intelligence and definitely spice your performance whether you are an actor, singer, public speaker, candidate appearing for an interview or with clients or with bosses in your job. 

• Hand gestures make people listen to you. Spencer Kelly, associate professor of Psychology and co-director of the Center for Language and Brain at Colgate University found that gestures make people pay attention to the acoustics of speech. Kelly said, “Gestures are not merely add-ons to language – they may actually be a fundamental part of it.”
• We can’t help it. With most of us, hand gestures come to us naturally. Spencer even found that blind people use hand gestures when speaking with other blind people.
• Gesturing helps you access memories. Using hand gestures while you speak not only helps others remember what you say, it also helps you speak more quickly and effectively!
• Nonverbal explanations help you understand more. One study found that forcing children to gesture while they explained how to solve math problems actually helped them learn new problem-solving strategies.

How to Speak With Your Hands:

Before we get into a great hand gesture you can use, let’s talk about using your hands appropriately:
Use your hand gestures responsively getting created with lines as your normal reaction. No wild exaggerated gesturing, especially on the camera, please!

Stay in the box and  gesture within the box (in the context, with the lines you are speaking). Appropriate hand speaking space is (Especially while acting for the camera) from the top of your chest to the bottom of your waist. If you go outside this box, it’s seen as distracting and out of control. Here’s the difference:

There is a spectrum. Hand gestures are great up to a certain point.
Make your gestures purposeful. Just like a public speaker or an acting class teacher, 'bullet point' out a presentation, do the same with gestures. The best Talkers/ Actors use their hands purposefully to explain important points. Use the list below to guide you-

• Study your script/lines carefully and know what you want to say. If you have a big dialog coming up, prepare your words, and rehearse with associated gestures . If you have to express without any lines, speak your emotions in your mind and just use your hands, silently. That would enlighten your performance. The more smooth the better. The audience loves fluid hand gestures. No jerky and robotic prepared moves. They are distracting. Practice speaking with your hands until it feels and looks natural.

• Film yourself on your mobile and analyze your performance. Film yourself chatting with someone on the phone. Watch others talking on the phone. You might be surprised what kinds of gestures people use and how many you use during the conversation. Have a friend give you feedback on your gestures.

18 Hand Gestures You Should Be Using As An Actor:

After observing some of the best speakers and speeches in the world, we have collected our favorites for you to try. We put together some GIFs of the most popular ones. Remember, think about your verbal content and match your hand gestures to what you are saying:

1. Listing

The easiest and most basic hand gesture is numerical. ANY TIME you say a number while delivering a line, do the corresponding gesture–this makes for your viewers your dialog a true attention drawer creating a sudden interest. it also adds movement and warmth to your body language and serves as a nonverbal anchor in the conversation in a scene wit your co-actor.

2. A Tiny Bit

Anytime you want to emphasize a small point like something that they shouldn’t take too seriously or a small addition–show it! This is my favorite tiny trick with hand or just a finger/ fingers.

3. Listen Up!

This is a very strong gesture, so use it with caution. It is a “bottom line” hand gesture or “listen here” movement. The sound and motion draws attention and lets people know:  For example-“What I am about to say is important!”. In Hindi- ("Ab Jera Dhyan Se Suno")

4. I’m Determined!

Anytime you have a solid fist–shaking it at someone or punching it in the air, you are showing intensity. Use it alongside your delivery strengthens it as  a VERY important point. Be careful when using this gesture with an irritated voice, because it can come off as anger!

5. Everything

Want to make a big grand gesture? Then, the ‘everything’ gesture is your go to. It is as if you are sweeping across all of the ideas to be inclusive.
Alternate: This can also be used to say you are "pushing something out of the way". In Hindi (Ya To Abhi Paise Dai, Par Agar Kiraya Nahin Diya, To...(show gesture only which means Ghar Sai Bahar!)

6. Small, Medium, Large

This is a really easy one and can be used to literally show someone what level something is. You can use this to indicate how big or small something is or where someone stands. For example, you can use the high version along with “Look, Mom, how much money I have brought for you....look...look! ( Dekh Maa, Main Teray Liye Kitne Sare Paise Kama Ke Laya Haun...Dekh...Dekh Maa!)
It’s a pretty big deal” or the low version with “The light was entering from a small hole" or in Hindi "Bahut Chota Aadmi Hai Sala!"
.

Alternate: You can also use this as you talk about different stages as an alternate to the listing. For example, you could say, “We start with your vision” (low level), “then move on to your structure,” (medium level) and “we end most importantly on your finished product.”

7. Showing Dilemma

When in confusion or when indecisive

Rolling your hand around mouth or face or bring down your hand from the forehead down to the mouth, looking perplexed. Note: In the past when I used this gesture as an actor, additionally it always to calm while performing a tense scene

8. Let Me Tell You

Pointing should be used with caution. Viewers if at them, don’t like to be pointed at because it can be seen as accusatory or invasive. However, you can point to get someone’s attention or to literally make a point. For example, this gesture goes along well with: “You know, I just remembered something important.” or in Hindi-(Suno, Muzhe Kuch Bahut Jaruri Baat Yad Aaa Gayee)
“This one’s important.”
“Let me tell you something.”

9. Just a Part

This gesture can be used to demonstrate a very specific part of an idea. When you are talking about an aspect of something, this gesture can indicate that it is separate

10. I Am Great 

"I'm the Boss here"

In Hindi-("Main Yahan Sub-Kuch Hoon! Samzhe?" or "Main Yahan Ka Bhagwan Hoon!")

When you have both of your hands apart and palms facing towards the camera ( audience), it is a very "God-Like" pose. Use it when making a grand gesture.

11. Growth

Whenever you move your hand or gesture upwards, you indicate some kind of growth or increase. This can be used to indicate the expected growth, excitement or direction where something is headed.

12. Me

Anytime we bring our hands in towards our heart or chest, we usually want to indicate to ourselves. I have heard some top actors or sharp acting or speaking coaches (abroad) tell candidates to point towards themselves when talking about a fact or statement or anything positive and "be sure to be…".

13. This and That

Whenever you want to separate two different ideas or things, you can use your hands to symbolically represent them. For example, I might say we are totally different from them, using my left hand when I say “we” and my right hand when I say “them.” This is a great way to put distance between two things. in Hindi for example "Hum Alag Hain or Wo Alag"

14. Come Together

When you bring both of your hands together, it is a gesture of combining and is a great way to symbolically show two forces coming together as one. You can even mesh or fold your hands together to show complete togetherness.

15. It’s Just So

You can use your palms vertically with a rigid but quick slicing motion to demonstrate the need for precise measurement or to separate two things.
Alternate: This can also be used to demonstrate a tough stance on a point. For Example "that's it!'

16. I’m Not Hiding Anything

When your hands are at a 45-degree angle with the palms facing up, you are showing openness and honesty. It’s like you are saying you are laying all the facts in front of them or on the table.
Alternate: When your palms face up also lifting your shoulders and eyebrow up, it means you are seeking " I'm right, isn't it?". In Hindi "Sahi Hai Ne?.

17. You Listen to Me

Hands with finger pointing should be facing up, out or vertical when speaking. It is commanding. If you have a very strong directive or order you can use it. Be careful not to use this gesture by default!

18 Stop! 

When you flash your palm at someone, you want them to pause or stop. You can do this while anyone is speaking and they will almost instantly be quiet. I was with an actor who was portraying a character of a CEO once, and he practiced the habit of doing it to his employees in a scene when he was done listening. It was a powerful though horribly offensive gesture.
Milder but effective alternative: You can also do this when asking a question–it’s a universal attention grabber.

19. We

The last one can be the most powerful. This gesture can be used whenever you are speaking to a group or to an audience. You open up your arms as if you are wrapping them in a hug, making the ‘we’ gesture. You can also do this when standing next to someone and actually and your hands behind him as if to indicate you are in my inner circle. It is a lovely ‘come together’ gesture when used correctly.

QUICK FINAL TIP:

Here are a few ways to implement these gestures:

• First, try one or two out at a time. Too many at once is overcrowding and too dramatic (not recommended for the camera unless director approves it).
• Second, I would use them first on the phone–where no one can see you or with close friends, so you can practice and try without being worried about how you look.

Based on

5 Great Ways on Learning Acting at Home and Save Money

Bollywood Star Kareena practicing at temporary home

"Practice makes perfect"

Practice is an exercise, practice is a mantra, it simply tunes both our physical and mental entities to the required frequency that helps us to lead towards perfection.

Well, why not practice Acting from the comfort of your own home?

1. Analyze: Look at and know yourself

This does not mean to just stand there and look in the mirror. Look at yourself and examine how you behave and act normally, what do you do when you are speaking? What about your facial expressions? Your gestures? Is your dialog delivery? Do you use your hands, eyes, eyebrows, mouth,  lips properly? What's your style of speaking? Is it like a good public speaker, a politician or what? Is your voice, diction and language clear and impressive? How do you walk around the house when you are joyful, upset, sad or frustrated? When you are excited, how do you answer the phone? How do you get ready for bed?
For acting in front of the camera, everything you do is captured and magnified. So, it is the little things that you do on camera to express emotions, and feelings that demonstrate the best acting abilities. Remember, the camera (viewer) loves subtle expressions and a degree of stillness. So by paying attention and understanding of how you normally do daily tasks you can improve your acting abilities
(Author and an acting coach): “Many so called acting experts in schools disapprove using a  mirror. I don't agree. As an experienced actor myself, using mirror has always helped me. The fear of becoming a typed actor by practicing in front of a mirror, in my opinion is incorrect. Everything depends on your power of imagination to transform yourself into a new life, that too instantly

From Hollywood and Broadway Stars

"It depends, but mirrors are usually more efficient to simply gauge how you look, than for helping you craft a monologue" 
~Mike DiGirolamo, actor with 15 years of experience

"Both. Mirror and recordings. Obviously, recordings are a much better way. My suggestion would be to experiment with some gestures, expressions & looks in front of the mirror, and then turning on your recording and begin your performance."
~Actor Kris Mavericko, Actor

"Sit in front of a mirror
Easier said than done, right? Regardless if you’re actually preparing for a specific audition, sit in front of a mirror and stare at that gorgeous reflection of yours. Play around with different facial expressions, run the gambit (happy, said, irked, etc). Pay particular attention to every little feature during each emotion – how the lines in your face crease, whether or not you have dimples, and how your eyes and brow react, to name a few. You may feel (and look) a little silly while doing this, but this is the quickest and most effective way to analyze your facial expressions."
~Kyle Dean Massey
http://www.castittalent.com/blog/2011/10/mastering-your-facial-expressions/

2. Use Mobile Asking a friend to Record Your Performance

TV News reporters and good public speakers spend hours if not days, in front of the mirror so they can better understand their facial muscles and expressions. If you are able to record yourself with a mobile camera,  making different facial expressions, talking, crying, or yelling you will be able to see what looks the best in front of camera. Think about it, even Jennifer Lawerence (She is a renowned  American actress) said that after watching herself in ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ that she had a really bad crying face. If you are able to see what you look like in different angles, and expressions you will be able to act even better in front of the camera.

Or

3. Watch Yourself

More and more, it is becoming commonplace for actors to watch the playback of their scenes for performance and technical  purposes. So, being comfortable at home watching yourself on camera and understanding the technicalities of film acting are both important skills that can be practiced

Film A Monologue:

Read any monologue in English from  internet, translate in Hindi

Set-up a camera, cell phone, or webcam to capture your performance

Prepare as you would for an audition

Choose a point in the room to talk to, a chair, a speck on the wall, whatever

Imagine. Picture the other character in the room with you and play to them, observing their reactions as you act

Press Record, perform the monologue

Watch the playback and observe yourself. What worked? What didn’t?

This exercise will help you become more comfortable on camera and also help with the technical side of film acting. Do your eyes drift? Are you “over acting”? Experiment with your motivations and technique until you find what works for you. This simple and solitary exercise builds comfort and confidence in front of the camera that directly translates to the film set.

Remember that acting is an internal process (Imagination, observation, concentration and dreaming, creating a character)  that leads to an external performance. Do not focus on external results like your facial expressions or posture. Focus on the thoughts that led to them.

Source

4. Must Read Books!

There is a ton of books for sale that will allow you to learn from the greats such as Stanislavisky's Method Acting, the Meisner Method, Michael Chekhov and other acting techniques. Take up a book and learn unique ways to audition, to perform, and to get into character.
Where to find?
Go to the side bars of the home page of this blog, On the left sidebar find "acting classes too expensive...", Click arrow in the center, go to amazon.in and buy books. Similarly, on the right sidebar and find "Learn Acting From These Amazing Books..." Click the same as the above and buy (Credit or debit card required)

5. Final Word

To Practice Acting from Home, may not guarantee a way to success in Bollywood and landing an audition. But, it will allow you to use your time at home efficiently. Talent is in you for sure, it is the those that are willing to put in the hard work and time that are able to achieve success.
Partly based on 

Not getting Roles? Your Fault! Learn My 3 On-Camera Tips

The secret of success behind becoming a Bollywood star!

Is Your Dream to be a Bollywood Star is breaking into pieces?
Not Getting Roles?
How long would continue with failures? One, two, five years?
Who would financially support a failing actor and for how long?
Do you really know how to really act in front of a camera?

The solution is HERE!!

I'm sure you out there are actual human beings and not aliens from other planets that also might be actors. And most people think that the easiest thing in the world is to just be yourself when the camera comes on. Wrong! I find that most people have the toughest problem, not with techniques about the script and character building and playing emotions and different attitudes, but with-

just looking and feeling like an actual living being, once the camera is running. And, let’s face it, a good acting scene should never look like a good acting scene.

It should look like a reality show that is so natural and real that we forget it is an acting scene.

Here are my crazy 3 tips  to let my students and other hundreds of aspiring actors on Mumbai roads to feel and look like real human beings in a scene:
(Caution: With due apologies to our esteemed directors, many like to focus on “perfection” with the screenplay and does not like to experiment or look for options and especially do not encourage new actors the freedom to do what actors think natural. Of course, there are some notable exceptions (read below) who would experiment and allow actors to “Improvise” and the results are there. Therefore, understanding your director and what he/she really want is important before you read, understand and practice to be “Real You”)
Directors of Bollywood I admire who like to experiment and allow actors to be themselves and improvise:

Director: Rajkumar Hirani
Omi Vadiya in 3 idiots
Boman Irani in Munna Bhai MBBS
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Hrithik Roshan in Guzaarish
Amitabh Bachchan in Black
Director: Anurag Kashap
Nawazuddin Siddiqui in Gangs of Wasseypur
Director: Shoojit Sircar
Deepika Padukone and other new actors in in Piku
Director Prakash Jha's numerous films
(Damul, Mrityudand, Gangaajal, Apaharan,Raajneeti,Aarakshan,hakravyuh, and Satyagraha)

1. Be Lazy

Start by relaxing  and getting into your body by just “loosening and becoming lazy. It’s important to physically loosen your body and to unfreeze it so that you respond and react naturally to stimuli
(Note:
What is a stimulus? Normally we react to things which we see and feel by our 5 senses (eyes, smell, listen, taste and through touch) and then respond. The cause of our reaction is a stimulus.)

• I always teach students a simple relaxation technique of breathing in through your nose on a count of four, holding for a count of seven, and breathing out through your mouth on a count of eight. Deep-breathing is the fastest way to balance and relax. The counting helps your brain to shut down so that you can be more in the moment instead of spinning past everything.
• Then, take a deep breath (raising your shoulders up) and, as you exhale, flop down into your body like you’re a bag of potatoes. Slob out so you aren’t holding your body in a stiff acting position. It should feel like you are not in front of a camera at all. You shall begin to feel the difference between being stiff and locked in your body (fake actor) and freeing your life energy and blood to flow through your veins as though you are real (natural human being). Allow this natural flow to continue as you slide into your character. Make sure you don’t stiffen up again right before you start the scene. 
• Keep tiny movements going on (breathing, slightly shifting your weight, wiggling your toes, etc.) so that you don’t freeze up. Get the flow going and go!

2. Free Yourself

Free yourself as though you are alone and no one is watching you.Do the things you would do if you were alone. Scratch. Get the hair out of your face. Set free natural things to happen so that you are working as a real “living human being”. Allow yourself to feel ugly, imperfect, even boring. Everyone actually looks better in a relaxed mode, as your face and body get a beautiful, natural glow and flow. It will look like you are doing nothing, but tiny nuances will begin to happen that warm up the whole scene. The more you do this, the easier it gets to trust that all the good stuff happens in this zone.

3. Do something which is real

 If approved by the director or in case of an “improvised” scene, give yourself something to do! Anything that is real looks amazing on camera. So really read the book; really listen to the other person; really try to get the piece of lint off of your clothes; really trace a heart in the water spilled on the table.
Use props and bits of in a scene. Adjust your clothes. Really observe the other person in the scene. Feel the breeze on your face. Clean your finger nails. Touch someone with love. Stare so hard into their eyes that you make them tell you the truth.
Doing something also distracts you from feeling like you are acting. If you are busy doing you won’t be stuck thinking. Thus, you will get out of your head (which is making you fake and stiff) and you shall easily get lost in your body and the scene. You are in the moment and truthful!.
Partly besed on