Quick Answer

Actors can become better at their craft and improve their skills through dedicated practice using targeted self-tests. Evaluating voice, movement, emotional availability, listening, memorization, imagination, confidence, professionalism and overall growth allows actors to identify strengths to leverage and specific areas needing development. Regularly performing assessments like tongue twisters, improv exercises, personal block analysis, reacting to unexpected changes, cold reading, coping mechanism identification, and documenting progress provides concrete data to inform training. By courageously leanring about current abilities through these game changing self-examinations, actors gain clarity on smart steps to consciously hone talents and reach excellence. Implementing the top 20 self-tests enables continuous skills expansion to thrive in auditions, rehearsals and riveting performances across mediums.

Introduction

Acting is a highly competitive field that requires continuous skill development and improvement. As an actor, it's critical to regularly assess your abilities in order to identify strengths to leverage and weaknesses to address. Self-tests allow actors to evaluate their talents in a low-stakes environment, providing valuable insights into areas for growth.

This article covers the top 20 game changing self-tests that actors can use to hone their craft across a range of key acting skills. Implementing these self-assessments will help actors refine their talents and achieve excellence in auditions, rehearsals and performances.

Voice and Speech Skills

An actor's voice is one of their most important instruments. Effective use of vocal elements like projection, articulation, tone and cadence is essential for connecting with audiences. Use these self-tests to evaluate and improve vocal skills:

Tongue Twisters

Reciting tongue twisters out loud tests articulation and enunciation. Notice any words or sounds that trip you up and practice those specifically. Increase speed once they can be said smoothly.

Vocal Projection

Record yourself speaking at different volumes to evaluate projection. Aim for clear audibility without straining. Practice projecting to reach the back of an imaginary room.

Vocal Expression

Choose a one minute monologue and record yourself performing it with different vocal inflections to convey various emotions. Analyze if your tone, pace and emphasis successfully expresses the desired feeling.

Accent Work

Select a short paragraph and record yourself reading it in several accents. Critically listen to the accuracy of your vowel and consonant sounds for each. Consider working with a dialect coach to improve.

Physicality and Movement Skills

An actor's physical presence and movement choices greatly impact their performance. Use these tests to determine strengths and identify areas needing increased bodily awareness and control:

Observation Exercises

Go to a public space and observe people's natural movements. Take note of posture, gestures, gaits and mannerisms. Replicate these moves at home to increase your movement repertoire.

Improv Movement

Put on different styles of music from classical to rap. Improvise moving to the beat in a way that reflects the music's mood and era. How effectively can you use your body to create distinct characters?

Physicalizing Character Objectives

Recite a monologue while incorporating gestures and actions that physically convey the character's objectives and emotions behind the words. Are your movement choices clarifying or distracting?

Evaluating Neutrality

Look at photos and video of yourself and examine your natural stances when "neutral" . Identify any areas of tension. Practice relaxing them for a more poised, effortless presence.

Emotional Availability and Depth

Connecting genuinely with a character's inner emotional state is the heart of compelling acting. These self-assessments allow actors to evaluate their ability to access emotions and portray them authentically:

Emotional Recall Exercises

Think back to a time you experienced an intense emotion like joy, anger or sadness. Use sensory details and memories to recollect the feelings in your body. Now improvise a monologue inspired by the emotion.

Identifying Personal Blocks

Notice if there are any feelings you resist expressing or have difficulty displaying honestly. Explore why through journaling or discussion with a coach. Work to become more comfortable showing that emotion.

Emotional Layering

Choose a monologue where the character experiences multiple emotions. First, perform it only conveying one dominant feeling. Next layer in contrasts and nuances. Does it gain depth and realism?

Eye Contact and Facial Expressiveness

Record yourself performing a high stakes conversation. Analyze if your eye contact and facial expressions successfully communicate the subtext and stakes. Or do they unintentionally contradict the dialogue?

Listening and Reactiveness

The ability to actively listen and react truthfully in-the-moment is crucial for compelling scene work. Test these responsive acting skills with the following exercises:

Active Listening Exercises

Have a friend talk to you about their day while you focus intently on not just their words but tone and body language. Reflect back what emotions you sensed they were experiencing.

Unscripted Conversation

Have an unplanned natural conversation with a scene partner. Stay engaged and really listen. Afterwards, recap what you learned about the other person through just conversing and being present.

"Source" Work

In a rehearsed scene, each time your partner speaks imagine they revealed their next line word-for-word to you yesterday. Let your reaction show you are receiving the information anew.

Fixing and Justifying

Rehearse a scene where your scene partner skips or flubs a line. Resist the urge to fix it. Instead justify the change by letting your reactive response show the story still makes sense.

Memorization Skills

Mastering lines is mandatory for camera and stage work. Use these techniques to evaluate and sharpen your memorization capacity:

Memorizing with Distractions

Choose a monologue. Practice reciting it while engaging in an additional distracting activity like walking around or having a simulated conversation. Aim to reach full multi-tasking ability.

Cold Reading

Ask a director or coach to give you a new scene sides to review for 3 minutes. Then perform a cold reading and monitor where you stumble. Repeat with new sides to improve quick memorization.

Number of Line Memorization

Time yourself reciting a scene verbatim after studying. Next attempt to increase the number of consecutive lines you can perform word-perfect from memory before needing the script again.

Recalling After Time Away

Study and memorize a monologue. Rehearse it frequently for a week. Then don't practice it for 1-2 weeks. Return and assess how much you retained to evaluate long-term memory.

Imagination and Improvisation Ability

Flexing creative muscles is a huge part of the actor’s skill set. Try out these assessments to determine strengths and areas for improvement:

Object Exercises

Choose 3 random objects. Use each as an inspiration point for a unique character with full backstory. Perform short improv scenes between the imagined characters interacting.

Visualization Exercises

Read a scene while visualizing the setting and character in rich sensory detail. Pay attention to how/if strengthening mental images enhances your acting choices.

Environment Exercises

Arrive early at the rehearsal space. Walk around imagining how your character would interact with the environment. Incorporate discoveries into your rehearsal performance.

Unusual Circumstances

Take a familiar scene and reinvent it with changed circumstances, like new location or relationships between characters. Perform the scene embracing the unfamiliar scenario.

Confidence and Self-Assurance

Having a strong sense of self and confidence as a performer is invaluable when under pressure. Analyze and build these mental skills with the following:

Performance Anxiety Analysis

Take note of when and how performance anxiety manifests for you, physically and mentally. Make a plan to counteract symptoms and self-doubt when they arise.

Affirmations and Visualizations

Compile a list of affirmative statements about yourself and your abilities. Repeat them aloud and visualize yourself succeeding. Make this a consistent pre-show ritual.

Emotion vs. Reality Check

When nervousness or imposter syndrome creeps in, recognize it as temporary emotion rather than reality. Collect and review evidence that you are ready and skilled.

Coping Mechanisms

Determine go-to methods for calming yourself and refocusing when experience performance anxiety. This could include breathing exercises, grounding techniques or a preshow routine.

Professionalism and Preparedness

Showing up with confidence, passion and respect for the craft is key. Gauge these intangibles with the following exercises:

Practicing Waiting

Challenge impatience by intentionally arriving very early to rehearsal. Invest the excess time in productive activities like vocal warm ups, character work or chatting with collaborators.

Professionalism Research

Research guidelines for professionalism in film/TV or theatre auditions and rehearsals. Make notes of any areas you need to focus on improving, like dress code or communication etiquette.

Training Observation

Observe a class or workshop. Take notes on details like how the instructor prepares the space, gives notes, and makes participants feel welcomed. Reflect on practices you’d like to adopt.

Tech Process Observation

Sit in on a rehearsal or shoot focused on technical elements like lighting and sound cues. Note the communication style of how the director collaborates with crew. Identify helpful takeaways.

Dedication and Work Ethic

Your passion and determination drives your success. Analyze your dedication and self-motivation with these tips:

Goal Setting

Make short and long term SMART goals for your acting development. Track progress in a journal. Update goals regularly to keep yourself stretched and motivated.

Extracurricular Activities

Auditition for student films, improv troupes, sketch comedy groups, community theatre, etc. Say “yes” to opportunities for more stage time outside your training program.

Master Classes

Enroll in master classes or specialized skills workshops like Shakespearean scene study or comedy improv even if not a current “weakness”. Remain open to continuous skills expansion.

Maintaining Vocal Health

Research and share tips with classmates on protecting vocal cords. Hydrate, watch acid reflux, steam/hum to warm up, use amplification when needed, and see a vocal coach.

Assessing Overall Growth

Regularly compiling insights from self-tests allows you to assess your skills holistically. Dedicate time to this critical practice:

Recording a Baseline

Perform contrasting monologues. Record and review the footage for strengths and growth areas at your current skill level to establish a baseline.

Documentation

Keep an acting journal. Track learnings from classes, rehearsals and self-tests. Make note of triumphs, challenges and aha moments. Review it periodically.

Monthly Self-Assessments

Set aside an hour each month for reflection. Review your acting journal, footage and notes from teachers. Analyze your growth and progress.

Annual Skills Review

Every year, re-perform and record monologues from your baseline taping. Compare the footage and measure improvements in ability since beginning your training.

Comedy Skills

Being skilled at comedic acting means mastering timing, reaction and commitment. Test comedy chops with these exercises:

• Perform a serious scene as hilariously over-the-top. Analyze what physical and vocal choices made it humorous.

• Add pauses and holds for laughs when rehearsing comedic scenes. Assess if beats help heighten the humor.

• Film yourself telling a funny personal story. Does your storytelling and facial expressions elicit maximum laughter?

Stage vs. Camera Acting

Mastering acting for the stage and camera have key differences. Compare your abilities with:

• Perform a monologue live then on tape. Critique how you adapted performance for each medium.

• Practice a scene at stage height and projection, then much more subtly for camera. Review what adjustments were needed.

• Film the same intense scene with different shot sizes like wide, medium close-up. See how much emotion reads.

Accents and Dialects

Having strong dialect skills expands casting options. Gauge your capabilities through:

• Work with a dialect coach to articulate goals and develop training plan.

• Record yourself speaking various dialects/accents. Analyze with coach for accuracy and areas of improvement.

• Assign yourself 1-2 new accents/dialects to study each month. Set proficiency benchmarks.

Non-Verbal Communication

Mastering the non-verbal elements of performance is critical. Evaluate through:

• Perform a high stakes scene using only facial expressions, gestures and movement. Does the story translate clearly?

• Film yourself reacting to various news like winning the lottery or a break-up. Do your nonverbal reactions authentically convey variou emotions?

• Improvise a silent scene with a partner. Does your physicality successfully replace dialogue to tell the story?

Vulnerability and Intimacy

Displaying vulnerability helps connect with audiences. Prepare by:

• Rehearse emotionally raw scenes to build trust with scene partners. Discuss feelings afterwards.

• Notice any tendencies to "act" more vulnerable moments versus allowing authentic reactions.

• Research and discuss intimacy direction so you know techniques if needed for a production.

Knowledge of the Business

Understanding the acting industry supports success. Learn by:

• Take improv classes to gain experience with collaboration and comedy.

• Familiarize yourself with SAG-AFTRA and Equity resources for education and job opportunities.

• Network by attending industry events, joining organizations and informational interviews.

• Research common actor contracts, best practices for auditions/rehearsals and personal branding.

Conclusion

Regularly assessing one's skills through targeted self-tests is a game-changing practice for actors seeking to consistently evolve and better their craft. The wide range of exercises covered empower actors to evaluate current ability level across all facets of acting, including voice, movement, emotional depth and business savvy. Performing these self-tests identifies concrete strengths to leverage alongside specific development areas to focus. By implementing a routine of self-examination using the strategies outlined above, actors can unlock their true potential and excel in the dynamic world of film, television, theater and beyond. The dedication and courage to closely analyze one's skills, while challenging, provides the foundation for continuous improvement on the lifelong journey of mastering acting.