Stupid Performance Face :\

September 4, 2009 12:16 AM

Performers, presenters, actors, dancers, models, all related: How do you get over awkward facial expressions and not look stupid?

I've been performing on and off but really only got into it this year. I've learnt a lot and have had many opportunities, but there's still something I need to work on: facial expressions.

I'm ok with being neutral, being defiant/angry, and with silly happy acting-type gestures; however, I'm doing a piece that starts off as being this cheesy Bettie Page "omg damsel in distress" thing and I can't seem to pull it off. I tend to focus more on my outfit/apparatus than on the audience, and my face just looks really really weird.

I've asked around and the main thing I hear is "practice" - is there anything in the specific I should practice on? I find it strange looking at my face in the mirror while performing. How else have you gotten over "urgh I look stupid"?

posted by divabat to Media & Arts (4 answers total)

One trick that an acting teacher taught me was to find a photo of someone doing the face you want to copy. Just stare at the photo for a few minutes trying to copy it, then turn around and look in a mirror quickly. Turn back around to the photo and try adjust your facial muscles to more closely emulate the expression. Repeat until you are satisfied or fed up.
posted by arcolz at 2:22 AM on September 4, 2009

The only performing I do is occasional modeling, and I pretty much learned it from taking hundreds of self-portraits over a few years. I quickly realized the angles where I look fat and the faces that look stupid and how to keep glare off my glasses.
posted by Juliet Banana at 7:44 AM on September 4, 2009

When you look at a photograph of yourself, it generally looks subtly wrong to you because it's your true image, and you're accustomed to your mirror image. Take the photo to a mirror and look at the reflected photo. It will give you much better judgment about the picture.
posted by theora55 at 9:36 AM on September 4, 2009

Hi, divabat, this is a great question!

First, since you're going to continue acting and performing, you should read up on the various methods of acting...you know, method acting, character acting, etc.

What I've been doing is emulating and copying every expression that I witness on other people...both face AND body. (Especially new and or crazy things...people watching is great fun.) That's an easy way to build up your range and will help you be more comfortable with your expressions. Yes, it's practice, but it's also, and more importantly, experimentation.
posted by snsranch at 6:46 PM on September 4, 2009