I keep in mind the primary time the place the ability of appearing actually moved me in methods I by no means anticipated. I used to be an adolescent watching, Good Will Searching for the primary time, and I witnessed the magnificence of Robin William’s appearing. There was one thing about it that was so charming: one thing I might by no means fairly put my finger on on the time. One thing magical. Just lately (after deciding to look at the film once more for the millionth time) I believe I discovered the key. Even throughout essentially the most intense and emotional scene, the man doesn’t transfer. Virtually by no means. He’s nonetheless even when he shouldn’t be. He simply sits there in his stillness, and but nonetheless manages to pack a punch with each phrase he says. You lean in and hear as if he have been proper there subsequent to you.

The intentional use of stillness in appearing could be a highly effective and expressive software to convey feelings, ideas, pressure, and subtext. It entails a deliberate alternative by the actor to momentarily pause or restrict motion with the intention to emphasise a selected second, emotion, thought or narrative ingredient inside a efficiency. Generally it feels counterintuitive to deploy stillness; nevertheless, correct utilization of this method is undeniably highly effective.

Whether or not you might be an appearing veteran and a recent eyed starting, studying the artwork of stillness can take your craft to new heights, and impress these round you while doing as little as humanly potential. 

The Demystifying the Thriller of Stillness

Within the realm of appearing, the place motion, emotion, and expression typically take centre stage, the idea of stillness might sound counterintuitive, but ever since I realised the potential of utilizing stillness as a software, I’ve been obsessed.

I’ve rewatched a few of my favorite exhibits, monologues, scenes and so they all have essence of this stillness. The actor barely strikes, and but I can’t look away. I can’t give attention to the rest, after which once they do transfer, there’s such energy in it. So what does stillness imply for an actor in technical phrases? After speaking to totally different actors, administrators, and coaches, the abstract I give for stillness in appearing is:

Remember nevertheless that stillness isn’t just a scarcity of motion, the place the actor shows a scarcity of vitality, laziness, or absence of craft or talent. If something it’s the reverse, stillness is a dynamic and purposeful method that attracts the viewers’s consideration to the inner world of the character, permitting for a deeper understanding of their ideas and feelings. 

Why Stillness is So Highly effective, and How one can Use it

Stillness in appearing will be likened to a pause in a musical composition; It’s a second of suspension that provides weight and significance to the encircling actions and dialogue.

Simply as a well-placed pause in a dialog can convey which means and anticipation, the strategic use of stillness in appearing permits us actors to speak advanced feelings and ideas with out uttering a phrase. In these moments, the viewers is compelled to fill within the gaps with their very own interpretations. And this, in flip, fosters a deeper engagement with the narrative.

So how do us actors obtain such a state? For an appearing software that requires you to do much less, it certain does require a lot. Listed here are eight actionable steps you may take to attain stillness while you act.

#1 Internalisation and Emotional Connection

Earlier than you may successfully use stillness to convey feelings, internalise the character’s emotional panorama. Take time to immerse your self within the character’s historical past, motivations, ideas, beliefs, and conflicts. Perceive what they need: what drives them, what holds them again, and why they do the issues they do. By establishing a powerful emotional reference to the character, you may authentically channel their feelings by stillness.

#2 Stillness as Energetic Selection

Stillness ought to by no means be mistaken for inaction. It’s a acutely aware, energetic alternative made to stress a second, an emotion, or a thought. Take into account the context of the scene and determine the factors the place stillness might serve to reinforce the narrative. Is it a second of pressure earlier than a revelation? Is it a reflective pause after a second of realisation? Possibly it’s your character placing up a barrier whereas they internalise unhealthy ideas. By recognising these alternatives, you may utilise stillness to punctuate the scene successfully.

#3 Use of Breath and Bodily Consciousness

Breath is a potent software that may assist preserve focus and authenticity throughout moments of stillness. Take note of your breath as you maintain a pose or preserve eye contact. Enable your breath to reflect the character’s emotional state. Is it shallow and speedy on account of nervousness? Maybe it’s gradual and managed in a second of calm? Or is it all over as a result of the characters emotions are in disarray?

By syncing your breath with the character’s feelings, you improve the stillness with a delicate but highly effective layer of realism. The identical goes on your bodily actions. Stillness isn’t just doing nothing along with your physique, however reasonably being intentional along with your actions. Transfer (or don’t) as your character would transfer within the scene and house. 

#4 Subtext and Intention

Stillness can talk subtext and intention extra successfully than spoken phrases. Take into account what lies beneath the floor of the dialogue. What are the unstated ideas and wishes of the character? Use stillness to stress these hidden layers.

For instance: a personality’s smile could disguise unhappiness, and their gaze could betray longing. Maybe they’re attempting to carry again laughter, and even hiding disdain for the character they’re speaking to however for no matter purpose can’t categorical it outwardly. By using stillness, you permit the viewers to decipher these subtleties and interact within the narrative on a deeper degree.

#5 Timing and Rhythm

Like a well-composed piece of music, appearing requires a way of timing and rhythm. For me, I see stillness (and appearing on the whole) as jazz, the place stillness can play a vital position within the pacing of a efficiency.

Experiment with totally different durations of stillness to create pressure and rhythm, the identical manner a jazz musician performs round with the rhythm of the music they’re enjoying. A quick pause may construct anticipation, whereas an prolonged second of stillness might signify introspection or revelation, then no pause in any respect might mirror panic. Maybe your character simply heard terrible information, or have been given an unimaginable alternative. Would they react immediately, or would they take a beat and pause?

Various the timing of stillness retains the viewers engaged and means that you can management the emotional arc of the scene and character.  Bear in mind additionally there isn’t a “appropriate” time to make use of stillness essentially. If it feels proper then circulate with it, however remember the fact that in case you use stillness each time it might grow to be monotonous. Experiment with timing and rhythm and after some time you’re going to get a really feel for when it’s time to react, or a time to be nonetheless. 

#6 Energetic Listening, Reacting, and Distinction

Stillness isn’t restricted to solo moments. It may also be a potent software in scenes involving dialogue or interplay with two or extra characters. Observe energetic listening and reacting while maintaining nonetheless. By immersing your self within the different actor’s phrases and responding by considerate stillness, you create an intense trade of feelings and unstated communication.

Your stillness turns into a mirror for the feelings being expressed, emphasising the connection between characters. It’s as if the stillness itself turns into a dialog all by itself. Additionally the stillness of 1 actor, permits house for the physicality of their scene accomplice. This helps give the scene depth, creates energy buildings and defines relationships. Take the opening scene from Inglorious Bastards for instance:

#7 Creating Physicality and Gestures

Stillness doesn’t essentially imply full immobility. Take into account incorporating delicate bodily actions and gestures to reinforce the stillness. These actions needs to be deliberate and purposeful, contributing to the character’s emotional state, perspective, or the scene’s dynamics. A slight shift in weight, a mild contact, or a rigorously timed gesture can amplify the emotional affect of a scene.

Take this scene from No Nation for Previous Males for instance. The delicate gestures, actions and consuming of nuts (you’ll see), present the viewers how every character is feeling, and their perspective to at least one one other, with out ever saying so:

#8 Rehearsal and Experimentation

Identical to any talent that may degree up your appearing recreation, stillness could take a while to excellent. Much more-so in case you’re a loopy extrovert like me and have a pure inclination to provide or categorical an motion for each feeling, phrase and thought that I’ve.

Mastering the artwork of stillness requires apply and experimentation. So rehearse your scenes with varied ranges of stillness and discover how every alternative influences the scenes dynamics. See the way it feels utilizing subsequent to no stillness first, then experiment with totally different postures, facial expressions, and respiratory patterns to seek out essentially the most compelling and genuine method for every second. After you have had a play a spherical with it, take that stillness to a max degree. From right here, you need to discover a vary—and subsequently temperance between the 2 extremes. 

Finish Scene

It’s not about freezing since you forgot your traces, froze on account of stage fright, or felt like taking a break on stage (or display screen). Stillness is about making a deliberate and impactful alternative that enhances the emotional depth of a efficiency. Once we, as actors, are nonetheless and current, we let the scene unfold and grow to be what it’s naturally. If a scene is meant to be tense, we don’t have to act tense, we simply must be. If the scene is humorous, we don’t must be humorous, we simply must comply with the beats. It’s a highly effective method nevertheless you should not have to make use of it the entire time. How a lot stillness you incorporate will depend upon the character, scene, and story you might be telling. Some characters can endure some too little motion, the place others will thrive.

It’s human to specific your self bodily, however it is usually human to carry in and internalise your emotions too. This is the reason I imagine us people discover stillness on stage and display screen charming: it’s the closest we might get to actual life. Stillness typically lies within the realm of realism, subsequently it’s subconsciously, one thing us people recognise and may relate to. So use the software nicely, experiment, and witness the distinction stillness can to your performances.