14/05/2021
TICS AND MANNERISMS
HEY ACTORS, most of the greatest characters in film have specific tics, quirks, habits and mannerisms that really set them apart, but which of them are the actors own specific mannerisms and which of them are the characters’?
A mannerism is a gesture, speech pattern, or way of behaving which repeats often and is characteristic of that person. These behaviors might vary from an everyday movement (clearing the throat, flipping your hair) to a very specific tic (twitching or biting nails when nervous). Quirks can be anything that makes your character unique, interesting and stand out.
Did you ever observe your own specific ways, mannerisms and tics?
If you are unaware of them, you will probably bring them unintentionally to ALL the characters you play. Self-study is essential for actors, getting to know your own instrument (body/voice) so you can have control over what part of YOU to bring to a character and what parts of YOU to leave out.
Now try this:
Step 1: Ask your closest friends, colleagues or family members if they can share with you kindly, what they see as your habits, tics and mannerisms. Write them down, what is it, how often does it occur? Do you have the tic more often in a certain state of mind? Let’s always assume their observations are true until proven otherwise.
Step 2: observe yourself, become aware and study yourself as you were the character, can you observe the tics/mannerisms they described to you? Write down your own observations.
Step 3: One tic/mannerism at a time, if you are aware of that specific tic, see if you can work against it, leave it away for first an hour, then extend it to even a whole day. See if you can relax yourself each time you feel slipping back in to that tic or mannerism. Practice, practice, practice.
Step 4: Let us know what tics or mannerisms you came across and how did it go getting rid of them even for a little bit?
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