1. Be Prepared
  2. Relax
  3. Be Confident
  4. Be Subtle
  5. Learn to Get to the Point Fast
  6. Speak Clearly
  7. Look at the Camera
  8. Practice

Most people think the easiest part of acting is “being yourself” when the camera starts rolling. Well, they couldn’t be more wrong. The craft of acting naturally takes time and dedication to master. You need to have the basic technique of acting on camera. This is regardless of whether you are auditioning or performing for TV or film. Remember, good acting should never feel like acting but reality. To help you get started, here are a few easy tricks that can drastically help improve your performance.

How To Act Naturally

  1. Be Prepared
    Nothing is more annoying than going to set unprepared. Learn your lines the moment you get booked. Coming on set without learning your lines is detrimental to you and the whole team. It makes you nervous and appear unprofessional. This can also affect the production cost. It doesn’t matter how small your role is, always take it seriously. A great actor exercises before an audition or shoot. You need to find your character naturally. Your audience wants to see you as the character. Acting and thinking like your character can only be achieved through preparation. As an actor, you can solely rely on yourself to get where you need emotionally. Always stay in character before the scene begins until the director says cut. It is highly helpful for the editors when editing the scene. Remember, the camera will see all your choices through your actions.
  2. Relax
    Most people act awkward when nervous. Before going on set, you can practice whatever ritual helps you relax. This may include exercising or eating. Some actors meditate or practice yoga before going on camera. Allow yourself to breathe in and out when shooting. This simple technique will help unfreeze your mind and body. Being stiff screams fake actor to the rooftop. Set your character free by allowing them to do the things they would typically do. Don’t think, just do it.
  3. Be Confident
    Being nervous and a little scared is no biggie. A lot of professional actors and actresses can attest to once having shaky legs in front of the camera. Confidence takes a lot of work. Overcome the discomfort by getting out of your head. Don’t over judge yourself. Surely the critics will do a better job on that. Do not be discouraged. With time and practice, you will achieve it.
  4. Be Subtle
    Aim at telling the story as natural and simple as possible. Film acting is different from a theatre performance in some ways. In theatre, a performer must capture the attention of the audience to the last row. On the other hand, the slightest gestures and sounds are easily captured by cameras and microphones during film shootings. Therefore, the expressions of film actors must never reveal more than is intended. Less always looks more natural.
  5. Learn to Get to the Point Fast
    Most actors are trained for the stage. To a large extent, most acting techniques were designed for the stage, not for on-camera filming. While acting in theatre allows the performers to rehearse, the same cannot be said for film or TV actors. More often than not, TV and film actors have no time to explore their characters deeply. It is, therefore, vital for you to study your blocking and quickly adapt to different settings. You must connect with the emotions of the character and reveal what they are feeling with ease. Lack of preparation can thus significantly ruin a scene. A performer should always be ready to rise to the occasion at a moment’s notice.
  6. Speak Clearly
    You need to speak comprehensibly in a manner understandable to your audience. You don’t have to talk over loudly on set. This is something a significant number of theatre actors often forget. This behavior appears unnatural to the audience. It can also be irritating to them. The trick is to strike a balance between mumbling and shouting the text. Properly enunciate your words on camera.
  7. Look at the Camera
    It is always critical for you to know where the camera is located. A helpful tip – Never directly focus on the camera unless directed otherwise. Due to the intimacy involved, directly glaring on the camera might be disturbing to the audience. To prevent this, look slightly above or below the lens. Don’t worry. The audience will still visualize you looking into the camera. It can be tricky for a new actor to act naturally when performing with others in a scene. To ensure a perfect shoot, focus your attention on one of the other actor’s eyes when speaking to them. Try and avoid shifting your eyes from the focus. This might be difficult at first since the eyes naturally shift back and forth from the subject. It is always essential to monitor where the camera is when acting with someone. Ensure that you get closer to the lens to enable it to capture both of you properly on film. Blinking is natural, but too much of it at the set can be distracting and annoying to the audience.
  8. Practice
    We know this sounds corny. But, it also goes without saying that practice makes perfect. The best way to learn any art is by practicing. Set out time to exercise on-camera delivery. Take notes on how you look. Notice if you are properly focused on the frame. Learn from watching more experienced actors. This will help you realize what is missing. From the notes, you can emulate them. However, always be authentic in your acting. It is never easy to be in the spotlight.

Actors Takeaway:
how to act naturally

Being good behind the camera is different from being great on camera. Your audience wants to relate to your character naturally. They need to believe your words. You need to evoke the necessary emotions in them; hate, love, sympathy. It is the only way you can compel them to watch and listen to more of the content.

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