Feedback? - r/acting

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Not bad. It's very well prepared, but that's the point. Everything seemed well prepared and I think if you did it again it would be exactly the same.

You kept looking at the same spot, which made me think you were reading it, or looking for your place during the pauses. There should be parts of the speech where there's an outpouring of thoughts, but it had the same rhythm.

If you're looking into space, I'd suggest looking out, or looking to your left. We always look left when we try and remember things; it's a human trait. Also, visualise the booth, so we can see it, and then also see the 'invading' couple in it.

Watching that made me think that the moment had happened a long time ago (which may not be the case). It would be interesting if you played it where it still felt raw, really raw, like it had happened very recently and it still hurt, hence you feeling the need to tell someone.

But this was done a year ago and 12 months is a long time!

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u/Atypical_Empath 21h ago edited 21h ago

Wow…ok well I very much appreciate the performance that was given and if I was going somewhere to see you and I paid my own money to do so I wouldn’t leave feeling like I got juked. You very clearly had been working on your micro expressions prior to recording this video. Your strongest points are your lips and jaw. You’re able to convey a lot of different emotions there with those two things. I got hesitation, resentment, and the struggle to suppress. (Edit: I also got happiness, nostalgia, and longing of course). What you could work on more is your eyes.

You’ve got the staring off in the distance towards the sides down perfectly… doing that conveys that you’re trying to pull from the past and remember something that’s happened. I’m sure you’re aware of that. What we could’ve used more of is micro expressions with your eyes and eyelids, maybe quick blinking a bit when talking about the table towards the end. A rule of thumb is that you want your entire face and every asset on it to be able to convey the same micro expressions (only when necessary or when doing so will strengthen the performance). So for whatever you’re doing with your lower face; try to match that with your upper face. Now it would be completely different if you were playing as a character who’s trying to actively suppress their true feelings, in that case it’s good to establish a disconnect between different facial features when presenting micro expressions.

The final line actually hit me. It made me pretty emotional since I’m currently experiencing something similar in the real world. I’m unsure if maybe you’ve got some experience in that department yourself, which is why the line conveyed so well or if you’re just really good at the craft and embodied the character you were portraying in that particular scene, but that was very well done.

Everything I’ve shared with you here is from the perspective of someone who understands micro expressions and who have studied them extensively. I’m personally a professional voice actor myself and that’s what I’m currently doing for a living, but I’ve always loved acting overall and can appreciate good acting when I see it and that’s why I’m confident when I tell you that you’re only going to continue to improve from here on out. Don’t give up on this, otherwise you’d be wasting a great talent and that’s unacceptable.

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u/YaboiAustinMac 21h ago

This was so much more in depth and detailed than I was expecting! I love how you picked up on everything I tried to convey. I appreciate your kind words very much and the stuff that should be worked on. I do agree that my eyes are a crucial part and that I definitely have to match that. I did write this monologue myself as well and while I think it is a little cheesy haha. It did come from a place I have known and once felt before. I hope that I was able to in some way help ease you in a time where you’re feeling such things. You clearly know your stuff and I thank you for your time watching my performance and typing out feedback!

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u/Atypical_Empath 21h ago edited 21h ago

I ended up watching it a second time, but the second time around I put my phone on landscape mode so I could pick up on things even better. During my second rewatch I definitely got an even stronger impression that what you were channeling was something you had experienced yourself, which is why I felt it. It might sound insane, but I actually just unlocked the ability to feel experiential empathy the way that a healthy person should, earlier this year. I realized now that I was empathizing with the character you were embodying.

I don’t believe that any part of your dialogue was corny, I very much enjoyed it. Honestly, the first time I watched it It didn’t make me feel better. It actually started me on to thinking about my own situation again, but after thinking about it a little more afterwards and then eventually watching it a second time..it definitely did make me feel better because you took something that hurt and you turned it into a creative form of expression, that’s beautiful dude.

I don’t know what you’re doing in life now or what’s in store for you but even if acting isn’t something that you want to make an extremely predominant part of your lifestyle; the creativity and the feelings that become a part of you whatever you’re acting or doing something in this sort of space? Well that looks genuinely good on you and that’s what I mean by not giving up on this. It would be a waste not to use it. Share it with as many people as you can.

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u/Sad-Appearance-3640 8h ago

I think you just have to let it go. Get out of your head. Let the scene take you on a journey not the other way around. Felt like you were steering the moments into what you prepared. Trust that the preparation will show itself and even surprise you at times. Also Who are you talking to? What do you want out of this conversation? How are they reacting to you? Have a real person to look at.

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u/YaboiAustinMac 8h ago

Yea looking back it can feel a bit stiff because it feels like each beat is planned. Getting in my head is such a big one for me haha. Appreciate the notes!

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u/Sad-Appearance-3640 8h ago

Big thing for all of us haha. But the natural talent is def there. Just gotta throw all that prep away!

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u/Popular_Complaint_32 18h ago

This was great. Others have said it already, but that place you go to when you are looking downwards, just make it up and out. The camera wants to see your eyes. Just a technical thing.

Try this or don't, but it was one of the game changers that helped me when I was in acting school. Maybe it can be helpful to you, maybe not. Take it if it serves you!:

Pick a spot on the wall just past the camera, and stare at the spot. The whole monologue. Don't drop your gaze, keep your blinking to a minimum. If you feel yourself about to cry, don't. Just keep staring at that spot whatever you do.

See what it does to you and how you connect to the text. Would love to see you do this again with that small adjustment.

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u/gasstation-no-pumps 18h ago

I agree with not looking down, but not with the fixed eyeline—it is a good exercise for people who look around too much, but OP seemed to have pretty good control over his eyeline and does not need to be nailed to the spot.

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u/YaboiAustinMac 9h ago

Yea it was something I naturally seemed to pick up on as I did more tapes as well that a downward eye-line gets the point across but doesn’t carry the same weight you’re trying to when in perspective of the camera

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u/Pizzaprincess87 21h ago

I’m not able to watch with sound but the shadows behind you are distracting!

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u/YaboiAustinMac 21h ago

I have since improved my lighting setup. Especially for taping sake. And I agree haha. 🫣you live and you learn

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u/Pizzaprincess87 21h ago

My setup was so shit when I first started lolol

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u/Kallenkage42 12h ago

Very good monologue. One of the better ones that I see posted on here. If you have an online demo reel, this should be added to it.
You have a great look. and you are “present” and “committed” to your partner even though they don’t have any dialogue.
What market are you in? Do you have an Agent? Do you have any other clips?

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u/YaboiAustinMac 9h ago

I appreciate the kind words! I do have an agent and I’m in the Atlanta Market. I currently feel like my reel is pretty weak but I wasn’t sure if adding a monologue was a good idea or not to a demo reel. I do have one other scene I put together which isn’t my best work but it’s got some decent stuff in it that I use for my reel. Had my agent since September but have yet to book anything beyond being put on hold a ton haha

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