Actors learn to control their blinking, often a visible habit, by practicing techniques that help them reduce the frequency of blinking, especially when they are on camera.
Techniques for Reducing Blinking
The key strategy is to be aware of the blinking issue and then actively practice to minimize it. Here’s how actors approach this:
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Practice Makes Perfect:
- Actors often film themselves regularly to identify when and how often they blink. This awareness is the first step in making a change. According to the provided reference, "practicing beforehand" is crucial for actors to reduce blinking on camera.
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Dedicated Practice Sessions:
- They can set up practice sessions specifically to work on reducing blinking. During these sessions, they focus on maintaining a steady gaze and consciously control their blink reflex.
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Utilizing Feedback:
- Inviting friends to observe and film their performances can provide valuable feedback. Having an external observer helps identify patterns of blinking the actor might be unaware of. The reference indicates "invite your friends to your practice sessions and assign one party to film you as you act".
Additional Tips
Besides consistent practice and feedback, other methods can aid actors in controlling their blinking:
- Focus Points: Focusing on a specific point or object in the scene can sometimes help reduce blinking as the mind concentrates on one task.
- Mental Reminders: Some actors may use mental cues or reminders to control blinking, especially in high-stress situations like live performances.
Why Is It Important?
Controlling blinking is significant for several reasons:
- Maintaining Emotional Focus: Excessive blinking can be distracting and can detract from the emotional delivery of a scene. It can also make the character seem less focused or nervous.
- Appearance: A steady gaze can make the actor look more confident and captivating on screen.
- Professionalism: For actors, the ability to control blinking is considered a part of their skill set.
In conclusion, actors learn to control blinking mainly through deliberate practice, self-awareness, and external feedback. The key is regular practice sessions, ideally with someone filming to provide feedback.
