Be someone else!

Not until yesterday I realised that I have found a new love of my life, acting. I did join a theatre club back in high school, or acted in a musical production in university, but I did not dig in deep this skill. So I had always thought that acting is just an acting. Let me tell you now what had been happening to me.

http://www.situsoke.com/smart-talent/acting/

Two or three months ago, by chance I decided to join a musical production of Les Miserables Jakarta. Briefly said that I jumped in only for the opportunities of singing the broadway songs I love from this play, and additionally because my favourite actor Hugh Jackman was involved in the hollywood movie of it. I had no idea about the novel, either heard of previous broadway productions.

My only preocupation since the first day of audition was, guess what, acting. I think I did quite good in singing, but when my acting was tested, I was clumsy and fake, I bet. Luckily I got in, ladies and gentlemen.

http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/C-Notes/November-2012/Review-Broadway-in-Chicagos-Les-Miserables/

After several speaking through singing and acting workshops given, and some research on the character I am playing, I gradually found my rhytm. It was started bloody difficult, noticing that everyone else was good actors. Then I found it challenging as I had been told several tricks, now I find it fun and addictive.

As I have always been told, acting is not as shallow as pretending, gesturing, representating someone else, the concept I always had back in school. 

Before you act, you have to make yourself familiar with this other self. It is a personal matter that no one can ever help you finding him or her. Understand his/her physical character, things he/she likes and hates, what are attached to him/her, his/her relations to surrounding (people and things), his/her motivation, what era does she/he lives and where, basically it is the concept of Uta Hagen's nine questions (further reading: 9 questions of Uta Hagen). This is the foundation for everthing forward. Having a complete understanding of your character would give you 50% higher step towards the ultimate becoming.

http://thepeopleproject.com/actors/actors%20quotes

What I love about this process of finding the other self is that I can make things up, regarding the existing guidlines or story. I am able to put my imagination to form the self, which is fun. This makes acting dynamic, not a one way communication where the actors are the ones to be told what to do.

Getting yourself into the other self is another difficult step to do, but somehow when you are engaged already with the self, as in understand it inside and out, it would be much easier. When I tried to act without this total engagement with the other self, I completely lost it. However, when I got the engagement firmly, it was easier becoming the other self.

This other self is a stranger. He/she may have similarities or completely different aspect from the real you. He/she has different dimension, different life, different being from who you are now. It could be very amusing to play this game, whenever you are bored with your life: be your other self. Sometimes having your life not so interesting could be interesting as you can practice this, but remember to make sure you know your way back to reality. I can also say that finding this other self may help recognising yourself better too, as you may make a comparison study.  

http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter/shadowme-be-someone-else-on-twitter_b30658

After years of burrying my distinct character of a dreamer, although for some it looks obvious still, I can channel this through acting. I don't know whether it will be a lifelong love, or simply the temporary enthusiasm. Because even until know I cannot consider it seriously, only something to complete my artistic diversion. However, there is nothing wrong to learn and practice something new that makes you happy, aye?

http://www.pjrileystudio.com/

When experiencing the other self might help you to understand your own self better, then be someone else!