Traditional approaches to acting say that you have to be self confident when you act, audition or talk to an agent. But confidence is something that our society and conditioning taught you about how to look good and strong, but it has actually nothing to do with truth, with being in the moment and interested in your character. It has to do with faking and pretending.
However, in the work that we do, we talk about being present, but not about being confident. Presence has to do with you bringing your uniqueness to every moment, imaginary circumstance, story and character that you are embodying.
When you watch my training below you'll discover that when you act, you might feel nerves and fear. And you might have been taught to numb those emotions in traditional acting classes so you can look good and confident instead. But when you do that, you're putting a lid on your truth and repressing what you have going on in the moment, that has to do with your character and circumstances and that would make the story completely unique.
This is why children are the best actors. When they play, they’re involved in their own world and interested in what they’re doing. They’re not trying to look good or paying attention to whether it works for them or to whether it pleases their parents. They just do it because they love doing it and throwing themselves in their characters’ circumstances.
When you try to be self confident, what happens is that you try to manipulate the outcome and the way people see you; you’re trying to understand what others are expecting of you so you can be liked and book. But when you do that, you’re in the future and busy trying to sell yourself. You’re not present anymore. That is not fulfilling for you and has nothing to do with your art, which is all about being authentic, free, present and instinctive.
It's not by being self-confident that you will move an audience. It's by being truly human and okay with whatever you feel in the moment, so you can feel it and let it express itself.
Then, the work to do is to undo all the mechanisms that make you think ahead, control and manipulate how you’re gonna do a scene so that you can get back to your instinct and interest in the moment, which is infinite.
Watch the training below to hear all my thoughts on this topic.
After you watch the training, I'd love for you to join in the conversation happening in our private Facebook Group. You can get answers for your specific situation directly from me and connect with HUNDREDS of like-minded actors across the globe, so we can move things forward faster together!
If you're not already a member, be sure to request to join ASAP.
See you there!
Jo Kelly
Creator, The Reset Journey From Resistance to Freedom
P.S. Whenever you're ready, here are two ways I can help you:
Join my free Facebook Group, THE INSTINCTIVE ACTORS' SOCIETY, exclusively for actors who are ready to go from good to great and become undeniable.
REQUEST TO JOIN: facebook.com/groups/instinctiveactorssociety
Get on the waitlist for my course, The Reset Journey From Resistance to Freedom, and stop struggling to access your natural, authentic talent in the audition room or on set.You'll learn how to reset your instrument to be 100% instinctive and free in just 33 days.
GET ON WAITLIST: tobeornottoact.com/waitlist
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