Do You Actually Need to ‘Feel’ Emotion to Give a Good Performance?

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Photo Source: Dreamworks Pictures

You already know Backstage is the go-to for any and all information pertaining to your craft. But now, you have the chance to get in on the action with the Backstage Community Forum. Here, you can engage with others in your industry, as well as teachers, experts, and, yep, even agents and casting directors. Below are some of this week’s most interesting new topics; drop a reply or post a new thread. Either way, fire up that keyboard and get involved right here!

Do actors need to "feel" emotion to be successful?
Alright guys and gals, I’m not sure if this post belongs on this part of the forums so just let me know if I got it wrong. I am just starting out as an actor; I’ve only done a couple of theater productions and I have encountered a problem when it comes to getting into character. Just about everything I have seen about this is that to properly portray a character one needs to feel the emotions of the character using personal experiences, or feelings toward a situation, etc. The problem arises when I attempt to do that; nothing really happens and I can’t seem to find the particular emotion I’m striving for in order to properly do the scene. In short, I can’t seem to ‘get there’ by just imagining something. Is something wrong with me? Am I going about it all wrong? Is there a certain technique that will help? Any and all ideas and thoughts are much appreciated. Thank you.” —Greg1

How to get footage for my reel from a network show?
Hi guys, I’ve got a couple of network shows under my belt but have no idea how to get the footage to include on my reel. Screen recording is not an option as the quality is bad; need original material. Would love to hear how you guys have gotten yours! Thanks in advance!” —janguarman

Changing role before audition?
I got picked to audition for role A. After reading the script, I decided I am more age appropriate for role B. Should I self-tape my audition for the role I applied for, or the one I feel I can portray best?” —DLAVibes

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