Article for parents and working with your kids

I have been working with different groups of kids a few times a week.  And, I know what you're thinking if you're in any of my adult classes...   "How does he tame his dirty mouth?!"  My answer is easy - I am not having to deal with adults that make me cuss!
Really quickly, let me explain why I say "dirty mouth".  In an adult acting class, we have to deal with the real issues that people in almost any lifestyle may have to go through.  If an actor comes in to work on building a character that is a cop, I may tell him/her to start looking into law enforcement.  Go find a friend that is a cop to do a ride-a-long.  Take a course on how to carry a gun.  We also may talk about how it affects you killing someone?  Things that change your life.  I do not judge any walk of life, I just observe it.

Simply stated, what do you think I have to talk about with a woman who decides to build the character of...  Let's say a "HOOKIE", for G rated sake.  My niece used to want to be 2 things in life.  Either work at Walmart or be a "Hookie", because she could wear the click click shoes and dress up.  Anyway, her dreams have changed, I think.  The point is, I focus not on who you are, but the root of how you became that human being.  As adults, we "human beings" don't just grow up and decide, "I want to be a bum!"  Even a bum, at one time, had hopes and aspirations of being astronauts, fire truck drivers, hell when your a kid you even dream to be a "Hookie"!  But, what led them on their path to be who they are now?

As for children, one of my most favorite things is the imagination.  I love a kid who is still allowed to day dream a little.  I don't mean hyperactive A.D.D. action, but the ones that can hear me say what if "insert circumstances".  EX: What if you were a bird flying in the sky?   Kids do not care if they look silly or get judged, they just become and believe what we tell them.  If I tell a child to be something or someone, then they do not judge the character like an adult would.  They do not care what they will look like, or what people will think of them.
Learn to stop judging other human beings; and you can help yourself figure out why or how they became who they are.  Who knows, you may think completely different after you get to know them.  The bible says, "He who has not sinned can cast the first stone."  All of you have sinned; so shut your mouth and stop judging!
EX: If I were playing a serial killer, I would NOT think that I was doing something negative or wrong.  I would understand why I do what I do, and how I became who I am.  Assuming or making negative statements about your character, is what I call "judging a character".  EX: "He is a dumb jock."  Well, maybe he has a learning disability; so I don't think, "I am a dumb jock."  I would think, "I am really good at sports and try really hard in school."  Or "I don't do homework and answer questions because people will think I am not smart, and it's less embarrassing to let them think I am lazy."

We have to let kids keep their freedom and their independence..  If a child looses his/her confidence, they will not feel comfortable doing things out of the box.  That goes for any age of actors.  Confidence is important in this business, but delusion is not.   Just to be clear.  An ego can get in your way every day; so make sure you know the difference when it comes to confidence.

As actors, I have to re-train people everyday that they can be who they are..
We grow up hearing:
-  Ladies don't shout
-  Men don't cry
-  Kids should be seen seen but not heard
-  That's a sin don't do it
The list could go on forever....

Also, per working with kids in acting... Know that just like adult acting, there are different tones of films and tv shows.  If the tone of the show is a 30 minute comedy such as, iCarly, then the style of acting will obviously be different then the tone of a 1 hour episodic such as, TrueBlood.  However, regardless the tone, I must believe you.  If I see you acting happy, then it's bad acting.  If I see you acting angry, then it's bad acting.  If I don't see you acting like anything and all I see is the truth, then you're doing a wonderful job.  As long as you're acting always stems from the truth and not you lying to yourself about feeling a certain way, then you're on the right path.

Any questions or if you would like a blog to focus on anything specific feel free to leave a comment...