The 5 Biggest Mistakes Actors Make On Set


Being on set is always exciting. But for young actors and stage actors who are new to working on camera, expectations and ideas about how to work on a television set can collide with reality in a bad way.

Here are five biggest mistakes actors make on set that youll want to avoid on your next shoot…

The 5 Biggest Mistakes Actors Make On Set

.

Acting like you’re “one of the guys.”

Theres a hierarchy. In most cases, everyone else will have been working together for awhile and youre the new kid in town. If its your first day, youre not near the top of the food chain. Be yourself, but fly under the radar and dont spend your energy trying to be liked. It seems obvious, but everyone on set is a working professional.Theyre trying to do their best work in the short time they have. Dont try to make friends with everyone. Its a distraction for everyone.Its more important that you do your job. Time is expensive. Theyll love you if you nail every take and dont waste anyones time. Thats how youll earn respect and, hopefully, create another work opportunity for yourself.

.

Not knowing your lines cold.  

Writers are very good at choosing the words that tell the story and propel the action forward. They will likely not appreciate your paraphrasing or struggling to remember your lines. Its the most basic part of an actors job. Its what youre paid to do! Not knowing your lines cold is like the camera operator showing up not knowing how the camera works.

Not knowing your lines cold is like the camera operator showing up not knowing how the camera works.

.

Showing up without a performance.

If you show up expecting to have a rehearsal, run your lines with your scene partner, and an opportunity discuss your role with the director, youre making a big mistake. There just isnt time. Actors are expected to show up with a great performance. Its expected that youve read the script, made choices about your role in advance, and are ready to perform when actionis called. Do your homework and be ready.

.

Not understanding continuity.

When editing, directors assemble clips lasting a few seconds each from multiple takes. A sure way to limit their editing options is to hire an actor whos continuity is all over the place. An actors larger physical choices like posture, hand gestures, and movements must be consistent from take to take so the director can choose clips from different takes when editing. Smaller gestures like eye movements, changes in facial expressions, head nodding, etc., dont matter. If you take a drink in your scene, drink in the same place every take. If they want to use the first line from one take and another take for your second, they wont be able to cut between takes if your movements dont match. Your emotional continuity must also match. Its difficult to get a useable edit when youre trying to piece together an angry take with a remorseful one.

.

Forgetting that youre wearing a mic.

Its easy to do and the consequences can be disastrous. Once your body mic is on, everyone with a headset can hear every frustration or complaint you utter. Stay positive and be kind, patient, and respectful to everyone. Remember, youre in a professional setting. Dont risk alienating someone by thoughtlessly blurting out something that is better left unsaid.

 .

Bonus Mistake: Not knowing how to budget your time.

My first shoot I arrived on set and warmed up in my dressing room. I was called to makeup, returned to my dressing room, got into costume and waited. Not knowing exactly when my scene would be shot, I stayed ready, warmed up, focused, and in costume all day which was completely unnecessary and exhausting. Had I not been too afraid to ask, I wouldve learned that my scene was re-scheduled to be shot later in the day to accommodate another actor (the star). By the time they called me to set, I had been working all day! The moral of the story is, if youre not sure, ask, because you could end up waiting much longer or shooting much sooner than you expect. 

.

actor mistakes

 .

If you have a big mistake of your own that youd like to share, please leave it in the comments below.

Sign up HERE to have my acting & audition tips sent directly to your inbox! To say thanks I'll send you my ebook "The 6 Secrets of a Working Actor"

.

All my best, 

.

Philip

.

*Article originally published in Backstage*

.

Philip Hernandez is a respected acting teacher and singing coach in NYC. He is also the only actor in Broadway history to play both Jean Valjean and Inspector Javert in Les Miserables. He created principal roles in Broadway’s Kiss of the Spiderwoman and Paul Simon’s The Capeman. You may also know him from his many television appearances: The Blacklist, Gotham, Blue Bloods, The Path, Bull, Nurse Jackie, Elementary, Person of Interest, Law and Order, Hostages and Damages to name a few. For information about acting lessons CLICK HERE or singing lessons CLICK HERE

Follow him on twitter @philip24601, on Instagram @philip24601 and on Facebook at @philip24601.


2 thoughts on “The 5 Biggest Mistakes Actors Make On Set

Comments are closed.