How to improve acting skills?

How can I improve my acting skills?

• I recently tried out for the school play at school and I didn't get in. I asked the teacher why and he said I have a pretty good speaking voice but not very good body language. I need some advice on how to improve my body language.

• Answer:

  This is a tough question to answer since I haven't seen you act. However I think I have some guidelines that you could follow to help you out next time. Listen to all the lines being said, and when I mean listen I mean really hear what everyone (including your own character) is saying. In order to have good body language you need to engage your entire body into your emotions and reactions of lines being said. It’s very important to note that in order to give a correct corresponding emotion through your body you need to use all your body, including your shoulders, feet, eyebrows, chest, legs, everything. People in our everyday lives communicate mostly through how we hold ourselves. Also a problem I have a lot when teaching students is, they’re so use to their comfort zone their afraid to look stupid, well what ends up happening by not taking chances they look stupid. Allowing your entire entity to be consumed by the character is really the only way not to look dumb. If you want to go a step farther, go big. With every line have a movement or gesture that embodies that line and what you’re trying to tell the audience. Yes this may be too much, but director can always bring you back a little once they know you understand body movement. I hope this helps you, contact me if you need more information. Break a Leg.