ACTING TIPS, FOR YOUR CAREER IN BOLLYWOOD -41
(Through this I wish to share my insights as an actor/trainer with my students and other acting aspirants)

“SECRET OF AESTHETICS AND BEAUTY IS IN ASYMMETRY ……AN ARTISTE SHOULD KEEP THAT IN MIND”

On a casual stroll down the beach you see a lamp post and a slanted, curved coconut tree, which one of them catches your eyes, attracts you and demands a second look. Obviously the ‘leaning coconut tree’.

Ditto applies to the actors as well. When you are in a wide master shot or even in a mid shot. See to it that you break the symmetry through your posture, even if you are standing straight, secret is ‘KEEP MORE WEIGHT ON ONE LEG YET LOOK BALANCED AND IN CONTROL’

Most of the TV actors and hosts of TV shows are not bothered about their postures and aliveness of their legs. Reason being television is a medium of closeups. Even “lively actors are transformed into neck up actors” keep this draw back of the medium in mind, don’t let it effect your total body aliveness.

Today during the grooming of the judges of Master Chef India season 3, I noticed something very interesting. Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, who the Amitabh Bachchan of the culinary craft, who is been working on TV since last 21 years(khana Khazana started in 1991). The set of his show always had a kitchen platform, thus his legs have been hidden behind that platform, this non exposure of legs have made them absolutely still and lifeless. When this was pointed out to him, being a gentleman he is , he immediately accepted it and made the required alterations.

Another important suggestion I would like to give is never stand absolutely parallel to the camera, be little slanted that would give more depth and an illusion of dimension to your image.
This is a habit we instill in the students of the best acting school for Bollywood KREATING CHARAKTERS -we groom actors.
“KEEP MORE WEIGHT ON ONE LEG AND BE A LITTLE SLANTED TO THE CAMERA LENSE”
(Use this tip in audition situation as well)

SAMAR JAI SINGH
http://www.kreatingcharakters.in

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ACTING TIPS, FOR YOUR CAREER IN BOLLYWOOD -40
(Through this I wish to share my insights as an actor/trainer with my students and other aspirants)

NEVER LET YOUR EGO COME BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR PROFESSION

These are the words of the person who solemnized the marriage of food and television in India, Chef Sanjeev Kapoor. A legend in his own right. His journey to fame started 21 years ago in 1991, with a TV show ‘Khana Khazana’ for Zee TV. At the moment he owns 45 restaurants across the globe. Knowing him was such a humbling and enriching experience. He is one of the judges I am grooming for ‘Star Plus’ Master chef season -3.

Not many know that before he made it big, the pilots shot with him, were rejected by the channel for five times, but he never lost his heart. He was ever persistent and when his show came on air he became an ‘instant’ star. He was at the top of the hierarchy in food and beverage industry, when he was trying to make inroads in television industry. His big position and states never came in the way of his future plans, because he had kept his ‘EGO ASIDE’

This is the mind set we inculcate in our actors, at the best acting school in Mumbai ‘KREATING CHARACTER’.

Come what may your “GOALS AND PTIORITIES SHOULD BE CLEAR, NOTHING SHOULD COME BETWEEN YOU AND THEM, NOT EVEN YOUR EGO”

SAMAR JAI SINGH
http://www.kreatingcharakters.in

ACTING TIPS, FOR YOUR CAREER IN BOLLYWOOD -39
(Through this I wish to share my insights as an actor/trainer with my students and other acting aspirants)

“AN ACTOR SHOULD HAVE A FERTILE IMAGINATION, SHOULD BE EMOTIONALY RICH AND RESOURCEFUL. AND TO ACHIEVE THIS ONE SHOULD BE WELL INFORMED AND WELL READ”
‘ONE SHOULD READ ATLEAST FOR 45 MINUTES (cab a novel, a play, a short story or even news paper) BEFORE GOING TO BED’
–Nadira Zaheer Babbar
(At the best acting school in bollywood ‘kreating charakters’ June 2009)
This is a habit imbibed in our young actors right at the beginning at India’s top acting school KREATING CHARAKTERS .
Acting is “an emoting art”. The situation, circumstances, space and time the actor is relating to are all imaginary. In the whole process of ‘make belief’ only one element which is true, contributed by the actor and can never begged,borrowed or stolen are EMOTIONS. An actor has to be sensitive, vulnerable and emotionally rich . The best way to enrich yourself emotionally is by READING. Pick up plays, novels,short stories or even news paper, put your self in situation and circumstances of various characters, get affected by what is happening to them. This would contribute to your emotional depth and richness as an actor.
“ACTING IS AN EMOTING ART”

SAMAR JAI SINGH
http://www.kreatingcharakters.in

ACTING TIPS, FOR YOUR CAREER IN BOLLYWOOD- 38

“HAVE A BIG HEART IF YOU ARE A TELEVISION ACTOR”

OH MY GOSH ! WHAT AN IRONY……THE GENERAL ENTERTAINMENT CHANNELS ARE STRIVING IN CONTRADICTION….

It sucks you intracting with top programming bosses of general entertainment channels. They adore and aspire to be a Hichcock, a Bergman, a Fellini, a kurosawa……curators and custodian of “world cinema” but making but making television software for a middleclass lady in a small town of Deoria or Dewas.

They converse only in English, their thought process is in English, their value system and outlook is westernized but want to empathise with the situation and feelings of a saas, bahus and betis of interior U.P, Bihar, and central India.

Something I learnt during my close intraction and commune with the channels is that no body and no body is happy or satisfied with the product they are creating. It is a constant blame game. No one is fearless enough to stand up and take up the challenge and responsibility to execute and express what he feels is right. The entire creative process is so much TRP driven that they let go their ‘artistic desire’ and ,’creative urges’.

” I DO UNDERSTAND THE AGONY AND HARASSMENT YOUNG ACOTRS GO THROUGH, WHEN THEIR TRACKS OR THE SHOWS ARE NOT FARING WELL”

“TV HERE IS RUN BY INSECURED AND CONFUSED BUNCH”

SAMAR JAI SINGH
http://www.kreatngcharakters.in

ACTING TIPS, FOR YOUR CAREER IN BOLLYWOOD- 37
(Through this I wish to share my insights as an actor/trainer with my students and other acting aspirants)

ACTOR MUST HAVE A SOUND PHYSICAL AND VOCAL HEALTH

Freequent cough and cold, headaches,bodyaches,low energy, dullness, sour throat, stiffness in body is sign of an ill prepared and unprofessional actor. Mark my words if you are going to miss out your auditions and shoots because of these reasons I am afraid, you are going to be tagged as a laid back and unprofessional actor.

However good you may be as an actor, but due to your freequent ill health and inability to keep up your commitments, the makers and television networks would avoid casting you as a result you will sit home without an acting job.

“For acting life you can’t bring in a broken body. This is something I am afraid your society can’t teach you. You live in society where its common to see people with broken bodies that turn inward, bodies that turn downward…. Do see anybody slouching in Greek sculpture or on greek vases?”

-STELLA ADLER
(Renowned Acting Teacher)

Actors body should be erect and relaxed, so that it acquires transparency and be able to express what the actor is experiencing.

The same is true for your voice. Your voice as an actor should be clear, loud and audible. An actor should have a big and well projected voice. ‘ A big voice can always be modified’.

We at the Bollywoods best acting school “KREATING CHARAKTERS” take specific care of this. Our actors go through a daily drill of physical and vocal exercises.
I myself have been doing physical exercises since 1982 on regular basis, and have been doing vocal exercises every single day for last 23 years, since I have decided to devote my entire life to “acting as a craft”.

“ACTOR HAS ONLY TWO SOURCES OF EXPRESSION PHYSICAL AND VOCAL KEEP THEM FINE TUNED”

SAMAR JAI SINGH
http://www.kreatingcharakters.in

ACTING TIPS, FOR YOUR CAREER IN BOLLYWOOD -36
(Through this I wish to share my insights as an actor/trainer with my students and other acting aspirants )
“KNOW THE PROPERTY YOU ARE HANDLING LIKE THE BACKOF YOUR HAND”
THE “GOD OF ALL ACTING GURUS” SAYS.
“An actor must know how to put on and wear his costume, manners of times, the ways of greeting people, use of fan, sword, cane, hat…. He can (only) do all this when he feels himself in the part and his part in himself.”
Constantin Stanislavski
“Collected works, vol.III”
There should be a difference in the way you have a meal on your dinning table at home and a restaurant table you happen to visit for the first time. It is a new space and the props(spoons, forks and knives) you are handling are new too.
Similarly, there should be difference in the way you deal with a gun, when you handle it as a first timer or as a seasoned gun toting cop.
The “property” you are handling during filming of a scene is a “charakter” in it’s own, as an actor you should relate and handle it as one . We see to it that this habit is inculcated in actors trained by us at the best Bollywood acting school, the one and the only “KREATING CHARAKTERS”.
When on the set ask the property supplier, whether it’s a gun, a sword or any other accessories ( a book, phone, lamp, torch or any other prop) to hand you over, well in advance, so that you relate to it appropriately and look true to the moment.
“TREAT THAT PROP YOU HANDLE AS A CHARAKTER”

SAMAR JAI SINGH
http://www.kreatingcharakters.in

ACTING TIPS, FOR YOUR CAREER IN BOLLYWOOD – 35
(Through this I wish to share my insights as an actor/trainer with my students and other acting aspirants)
‘BE WHAT YOU ARE DON’T TRY TO BE SOME ONE ELSE’
Young aspiring actors when land up in Mumbai from small towns of up country, states like Punjab, Haryana, U.P, Bihar, M.P, Rajasthan. They come here with a mindset of proving a point, unknowingly they put on a lots of pressure on themselves. That is harmful to their own individuality and to the person they are.
The effect of this is they strive to be some one else. They force them selves to be a personality which they are not. They land up in the trap of superficial makeovers. They would change their looks, wear attire which they can’t carry, use language and words they are not comfortable with. Unfortunately end up being a laughing stock. While going through this unwanted transition they over look the values, sensibilities and ethos they had brought with them.
Recently I read this in an interview with Ashwin Dhir (Dir. SON OF SARDAR,ATHITHI TUM KAB JAOGE ) When I came from Kanpur, I use to feel that I have come from a small town. Could not speak English and lacked big city up bringing. Then I realized what I got from Kanpur. I could not have got from Mumbai – be it my small town thinking, my values, my middle class upbringing or my passion. Which is what our films are based
(Bombay Times Nov 14 2012)
“ACCEPT YOURSELF AND BE COMFORTABLE WITH WHO YOU ARE.”

SAMAR JAI SINGH
http://www.kreatingcharakters.in

ACTING TIPS FOR YOUR CAREER IN BOLLYWOOD – 34
(Through this I wish to share my insights as an actor/trainer with my students and other acting aspirants)
JUST STICK TO THE BASICS
When the industry is taking a toll on you, constant running around, meetings, auditions, rejections are making you doubt your ability. One tends to become susceptible to all those suggestions and opinion the people around you are giving you. “Yahan gyan batne wale log bahot milenge”.
Most of the auditioners are failed actors. And, that failure and frustration shows up in the way they handle young aspiring actors. Guys on the other side of the camera are concerned only with expression which the actor is giving. An aspirant actor being vulnerable, follows those suggestion and instructions very seriously, hence they end up giving expression directly. Without actually travelling through the feelings and inner motive forces. Thus, LOOKING FAKE, we at the KREATING CHARAKTERS the best acting school in Mumbai always suggest to stick to the basics come what may.
THOUGHT , FEELING AND EXPRESSION……
SAMAR JAI SINGH
http://www.kreatingcharakters.in

ACTING AS A CAREER IN BOLLYWOOD -12 : SAMAR JAI SINGH
Every time I work with young actors (kids) I realize “IT IS PARENTS AND SOCIETY WHICH ENCOURAGES THEM TO REMAIN KIDS LONG AFTER THEY SHOULD. IF TRAINED WELL THEY WOULD GIVE ADULTS A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY”
MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH A CHILD ACTOR – ANAPPEAL
In November 1996 I was shooting for national award winning film “SUNDARI” at the Simplipal National Park about 300 kms away from Bhubaneshwar. The film was produced by NFDC and directed by National award winner Gulbahar Singh.
There was this 5years old kid named Amay, He was a Maharastrian fellow, who could barely speak Hindi. What amazed me was the adaptability he had. The way he was functioning would make any seasoned actor ponder and contemplate. The assistant (AD) would brief the scene to Amays mom, who would explain him the scene.The A.D would tell him the words to speak, and that amazing little chap without a blink of eyes or a drop of thought, feeling those words from the core or his heart would deliver them. There were no reasons to doubt that this little one was a prodigy.
March 2004, I doing a Balaji Show called “Kayamat” for sony. I met Amay on the sets, on my first day of shoot. I asked his mother where was Amay for so long. She told he was busy doing lots of shows and T.V Commercials. I could sense that the parent was taking a lot of pride in the number of days the boy is shooting for and the amount of money he is getting home. I was little concerned about the talented boy.
When I shot with him, I was shocked to see that Amay had transformed. He became absolutely mechanical, was just uttering his lines was coming across as a very tiered and hamm clone to of Shah Rukh Khan. My heart sank for the gifted youngster, whose talent was ruined by parental greed.
Many a times, when I see parents on the sets with these little kids putting a lot of pressure on them to mug the lines, it hurts. This is not the way to handle these delicate minds, they are sensitive, they are vulnerable, they are fragile. They possess a tremendous range of expressions. ‘PLEASE DON’T USE THESE LITTLE ACTORS AS SOURCE OF EXTRA INCOME”.
My First Experience in Training Children.
In January 2010 I got a call from Contiloe pictures, they were co-producing a show named “Shobha Somnath Ki” for Zee TV. It was a historical based on the invasions of Mohamad Ghaznavi. Mr.Vikas Kapoor was the other co-producer. I was asked by the executive producer to come to their office, first thought I had was, that the show being a historical, they must have considered me for some part., which I was not interested in. To my surprise I was given this offer to groom eight little kids aged 4 to 12 years for the show. I was taken a back, was very hesitant, but then accepted it as a challenge. What I got into was an experience of life time. To begin with, they addressed me “Uncle”, it took me few hours and some simple observation exercises to get them to call me “sir” and by the time the workshop got over they were calling me by my name “Samar”.
Best part about these little actors is that they never get bored, though their attention span is short, they might divert from the task, but what ever they do, there is a lots of enthusiasm in it.
A child’s second nature is being playful, and when you are playing you are enjoying , and you are never bored. So obviously you are doing what you are doing with lots of interest. That’s a secret for “engrossing performance”, “ TAKE INTEREST IN WHAT YOU DO AN THE AUDIENCE WILL TAKE INTEREST IN YOU”.
A remarkable quality I noticed in kids is the range of expressions they have. They are so expressive with their voice, effortlessly they change their pitch and modulate their voice so naturally. Just orient them correctly and they would deliver their dialogues as if those words were their own.
After “Shobha Somnath Ki”, I was hired to groom child actor Ali for Star Plus Show “Gulaal”. Ali was 11 years old when he came to me. He had already done film “Partner” with Salman Khan and Govinda. When he came to me he had a tendency to mug up line by rote and speak them. It just took me a little explaining and he understood “to think and feel before delivering”.
Master Chef Junior Australia was very well received by the audience there. Star Plus planned Master Chef junior India, I was on board, and it was an eye opener to see those little fellows cook so well and communicate brilliantly.
Honestly speaking, when I sit back and think about my interaction with kids as a trainer, I realize it is me who has been enriched and benefited with their association.
It is “we adults who want them to be kids for long after they should or else we want them to become mature sooner, my request just let them BE” .
NOTE FOR PARENTS :
Please don’t try to fulfill your ambitions and your Shortcomings through your kids. Don’t burden their fragile being with your desires. Don’t compare them with others, make them comfortable with, who they are, so that they accept themselves and do not live in denial.

SAMAR JAI SINGH.
http://www.kreatingcharakters.in

ACTING TIPS, FOR YOUR CAREER IN BOLLYWOOD- 33
(Through this I wish to share my insights as an actor/trainer with my students and other acting aspirants)

“YOU WHO HAVE DECIDED TO BE AN ACTOR …..AND IT COMES WITH THE WHOLE PACKAGE OF STRUGGLE, STRIVE, SLEEPLESS NIGHTS AND JOBLESS DAYS”
– Dr Chandraprakash Dwivedi
(Writer/Director/Actor- Chanakya, Mritunjay, Pinjar)

Dr Chandraprakash Dwivedi for me is Guru, Mentor, Well lwisher and Guide. He is a qualified MBBS, a doctor from Bombay University.
He became part of the entertainment industry because of his deep love and interest for theatre, litrature, history and socio-economic issues. A thorough gentleman and a very well read and refind humanbeing.
He has touched my life in many ways. I first met him in August 1994. He was than planning a TV series on Shivaji Sawants “MRITUNJAYA”. “Mahabharat” from ‘karns’ perspective.
There was a time in 1996-97, I was going through a lot of professional turmoil. I was playing the ‘main lead’ in two TV shows simultaneously “OM NAMAH SHIVAY” and Dr Saheb’s (that’s what he is fondly called) “MRITUNJAYA”.
Believe me in June 1997, I shot day and night non stop for 22 days at a strech. In day 9am to 6pm I use to shoot MRITUNJAYA at Film city Goregaon, and at night 9pm to 6am was shooting for OM NAMAH SHIVAY at Swati studios. Once during this hectic schedule , I felt unconscious. I was cursing my self for this chaos in my life. Dr saheb stepped in when he came to know and told me” IT WAS YOUR CHOICE TO BE AN ACTOR …YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT THE WHOLE PACKAGE OF STRUGGLE, STRIVE, SLEEPLESS NIGHTS AND JOBLESS DAYS”

I would like to pass on the same lesson to my students and young actors-
TUMHE JO SHAUK THA USSE PURA KARO, FACE THE ADVERSITIES; THEY DO COME WITH SUCCESS”

I am a blessed acting trainer who has gone through the grind and turmoil which a bollywood actor is bound to face.

SAMAR JAI SINGH
http://www.kreatingcharakters.in