學演戲

●學演戲的人說，這是一個自我發現的過程。

大多數人以為學演戲會有一套必然可行的方法，其實沒有。

自以為演得好的人，愈學愈發覺自己演得差。

提升演技，不是循序漸進的，有相同經驗的人會說是突然開了竅。

一位影帝級演員說，他開竅前接了很多戲，拍到天昏地暗，自己也不知在做甚麼，連睡覺的時間也沒有，根本沒時間多想如何做。在埋位時，他完全放鬆了自己，甚麼也不想，原來在迷糊中，他演得最放。

每個人閉塞的竅都不同，開竅的過程也因人而異。

平時想得太多，在鏡頭面前太緊張的，開的是如何令自己放開來演的竅。

開竅前，必須發現自己。

每個人都有自己的陰暗面，大多數人選擇不去面對。有些工作，的確沒必要找出自己的陰暗面。做演員不同，在鏡頭前有所保留，不能完全投入所演的角色，就算演的是自己，也令人覺得少了一份真。

演戲如創作，雖說演戲時要演活一個角色，當中一定有演員的部分真我。

完全投入，不是完全失去自己。

公認為優秀的演員，演一個角色時，大家知道他是世上唯一會這樣演的人，因為他的自我與角色合二為一，那就是常說的為角色注入了生命。

有趣的是角色中演員的「自我」，並非現實中的「自我」，那是因投入演出來的新生命，讓我們相信如世上真有這麼一個人，一定就是這樣的。

阿寬

The above was taken from June 4’s World Journal ( 世界日報).

Although most of us don’t make a living as an actor, we are acting daily.  We play different roles when facing different parts of our life: father, mother, wife, husband, son, daughter, girl friend, boy friend, friend, mentor, protege, host, guest, neighbor, colleague, client, boss, subordinate, supervisor, manager, sales, customer….  Each role we modify our “acting” to befit it and to relate to the audience.   

Life should be a process of self discovery.  When we find out our strong suit/strength and face bravely our weakness/fear/demon/shortcoming, we get better at role play.   Audience will sense genuine emotions in stead of "playing a part".

I concur the "not losing one’s self" part.  Although we must inject our essence into roles we play, we should not get lost in the roles completely.  We must know when to snap out of it.  If not, life may decent into madness and chaos because some roles are taking over others.

It takes courage and wisdom to face self.  If the priority is to please the audience than looking inward, one appears fake and/or gets lost over time.  Many times it is a life changing event that forces people to clear the fog, wipe the glasses clean, and lift the blinder to have a better idea of where they are and who they are.

Self discovery is powerful; it propels changes, aims, and focuses.  The earlier it happens, the better.   Although most people don’t come to it until they are in an advanced age, it’s better late than never.

I wish young people can focus more on self-discovery than on pleasing others and obtaining worldly goals.  The basis for a life well lived is to find self first before one can play roles freely.