How to Act in A Horror Scene or Movie

What are horror films? Horror films are usually scary, unsettling films, used to frighten and cause panic and dread and alarm to bring up the worst hidden fears as it ends in a terrifying finale. Horror films usually tackle topics that center around the dark side of life, the forbidden, strange and alarming events. Most of the time they deal with the most primal nature of the human psyche and human fears, like nightmares, vulnerabilities, alienation, revulsions, fear of the unknown, fear of dismemberment and death, loss of identity or fear of sexuality. (Tim Dirks, 1996-2007)

There are many famous horror films that come out every year in Hollywood. Some of the most famous horror films that came out on the big screen were household names like Nightmare on Elm Street, Night of the Living Dead, Jason Goes to Hell and its predecessors, and several other teenage oriented horror films. Did you know that one of Johnny Depp's first roles was in Nightmare on Elm Street? He was the guy who was eaten by the bed. Yes, our Pirates of the Caribbean Jack Sparrow started as an extra in Horror films.

Based on the definition of what horror films are, it is then necessary for the actor to be able to exude these elements of the film to the audience. A horror film actor should be able to cause a feeling of dread and alarm to the audience by bringing up their worst fears and at the same time entertain them. Since it appeals to the fears of the audience, it should bring about a scary feeling as they watch the film.

If you want to be a successful horror film actor, it would be good to learn from the historical records on horror films. Film libraries have records on the earliest horror films , those about vampires, monsters, like the Death of Dracula, Nosferatu, A Symphony of Terror, Phantom of the opera, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dracula films, Original Frankenstein and the newer ones like The Wolfman cycle.

Sometimes horror films are combined with adventure, comedy and romance like, Van Helsing, Underworld, Constantine, Resident Evil, the Omen and others. If you are serious about acting in a horror flick, watch these and learn.

Want to be an actor? Get Instant Acting Tips from one of Hollywood's acting coach Calvin Jung. Jung, also an actor, is the coach to a number of illustrious actors like Julia Roberts, Jamie Foxx and Mel Gibson. Be an actor, click here to learn Instant Acting Tips now.

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Finding the Perfect Acting Role For You

There are many possibilities in acting and each role you find will (hopefully) be different from the past roles you've played. But if you've never acted before, how do you know what kind of acting is right for you? Here's how to find out:

Film acting
Film acting means working in front of the camera, where you play the lead, supporting actor or extra. Films, like all types of acting jobs, have genres, so expect a lot of work in drama, comedy, suspense, horror, action and documentaries, among others.

Film acting requires some very precise and specific movements; meaning that you will be working within the camera's frame and will be limited by it. Speaking and moving will also be as close to normal as possible, compared to stage acting.

TV
TV can offer different kinds of acting for you. There are sitcoms, soap operas, series, mini-series, TV movies and documentaries. TV can be steady employment, provided you find work in a successful series or get cast in different TV projects.

Theater
Theater is as hard as or harder to work in than film. Rehearsal hours are long and you have to memorize dialogues with no second takes. You'll also be playing to a live audience so be ready to improvise in case you commit mistakes. You have to train your voice to reach all of your audience.

With theater acting, you also have to audition so you better come prepared knowing what the play is about and your character's role. Theater acting may also require you to sing and dance. But just because your acting will be confined onstage doesn’t limit your possibilities. Stage plays, especially the more recent ones, have some of the most innovative and avant garde concepts.

Voice acting
With voice acting, you can work in any medium, be it feature films, TV shows, TV commercials, animated cartoons and even video games. The talent fee is considerably less, even if you are already famous, but if you become involved in a successful series, you can expect steady work. It would be wise to have a good range of voice characters so you won’t get stuck with just one characterization.

Stereotyping
One trap that most actors don’t want to get caught in is stereotyping. This happens when you play roles that are similar to one another. For example, you could play a villain successfully but never cross over as a successful hero/heroine. You could also be a success being a comedic character but may have difficulty becoming a serious dramatic actor.

Want to be an actor? Get Instant Acting Tips from one of Hollywood's acting coach Calvin Jung. Jung, also an actor, is the coach to a number of illustrious actors like Julia Roberts, Jamie Foxx and Mel Gibson. Be an actor, click here to learn Instant Acting Tips now.

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How to Snag a Role - What to do for an Audition

Auditioning for a part in a television show, stage play, or movie can be a nerve-wracking experience. You need to get all your glamour shots ready, so you need to dress your best and be in good makeup and going into the audition in character. You need to get your resume in order, your documents in order, perhaps even your SAG card in order!

With the right preparation, however, your acting audition can be a walk in the park. All you need to do is follow these tips, and you might get that role you’ve been dreaming about for a long time.

- Some producers will allow you to apply beforehand for the audition, and they will give you specific lines that you should say, or scenes that you should act out. If you are working on a well-known story or play, read as much as you can on the character that you will be acting out. Ask yourself what the characters past is, and how it affects his or her present. What motivates the character? What does the character look like? All of these should help you deliver your lines better.

- If you have no lines or scenes to base your audition on, you still have to go to an audition prepared to act up a storm. Get sample scenes from the Internet, or buy a book with acting scenes (try The Actor's Book of Scenes from New Plays: 70 Scenes for Two Actors, from Today's Hottest Playwrights) that will require you to use a wide variety of emotions.

What time will the audition be? Schedule a certain time of each day to match the audition time, plus and minus an hour before. For instance, if your audition is on a Thursday afternoon at five, do your own auditions every day starting Thursday the week before, from four to six in the afternoon. Soon, auditioning and acting will feel like a simple routine.

- Some producers will require you to send them an audition tape. All the former rules apply: practice as much as you can, and perform your scenes perfectly. Dress up as the character, act as though you were already shooting your film, and get all the aspects of the audition tape down pat, from images to sound. Show how professional you are as an actor, and the producers will treat you like a professional.

- Relax! You are the character, and your nerves aren’t playing a part in the movie, show, or stage play. As long as you know your stuff, then you can be the best actor that you can be.

Want to be an actor? Get Instant Acting Tips from one of Hollywood's acting coach Calvin Jung. Jung, also an actor, is the coach to a number of illustrious actors like Julia Roberts, Jamie Foxx and Mel Gibson. Be an actor, click here to learn Instant Acting Tips now.

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