the villain defines the hero

In Animation – The Villain DEFINES the Hero | By Paul Liberti

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All of the characters in animation stories – are connected.

One of the great lessons we learn in Animation Character Creation – is that all of the characters in animation stories – are connected.

The Hero and the Villain balance good and evil in the story and must balance each other. The story’s antagonist defines the protagonist’s limits and vice-versa, and the depth of the Hero’s strength is defined by the villain’s strengths – and weaknesses.

When given the opportunity, you must learn all you can from all the characters in a story as they must balance each other out. If the Hero can easily conquer the villain, there is no story. Often it can look bad for the Hero – but with some conquering of their weakness, they define their storylines.

There is always a story ‘payoff’ promised to the audience that we must understand comes directly from the balance of those characters. Learn and understand your character and how it fits in with the others as the story unfolds.

This Character Balance carries over to audiobook narration, Video Game Characters, and all character acting. In any story – discover everyone in the story that your character balances against – The villain, the love interest, the Hero, the best friend – and you will begin to find your story arcs and have a strong balance as you start telling your story.

Paul Liberti
https://paulliberti.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/VoiceOverTuneUp

Treat every Audition as a Booking

See Every Audition As a Booking | By Paul Liberti

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The few minutes that you are auditioning – the job is yours!

When auditioning, it’s common to feel unsure and seek approval. However, true confidence comes from believing in yourself and being comfortable with your imperfections. As an actor, it’s essential to love yourself and the work you do.

Remember that you are unique and valuable; your individuality sets you apart. So embrace who you are, and let your authentic self shine through in your performance. Even if you can’t, remember that I believe in you!

Whenever you audition, remind yourself that you already have the part. During those precious moments when you’re in the script, the role is yours, so own it confidently. Believe in yourself and trust in your abilities. You are unique and valuable, and your individuality sets you apart from others. Embrace who you are and let your authentic self shine through in your performance.

Every audition is a win, even if you don’t book it.

Each audition is another opportunity to become yourself and work your acting process. Your auditions ARE your work so if you are an auditioning actor – you are a working actor. Remember that every audition is a win, regardless of whether you book the role. Each time you step to the mic, you work on your craft and become a better actor.

Embrace the process and trust in your abilities.

If you are an auditioning actor, you are a working actor because auditions make up much of a voice actor’s work. Keep believing in yourself and your unique talents, and success will follow.

Paul Liberti
https://paulliberti.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/VoiceOverTuneUp

Actor Resources

AC’s Favorite Actor Resources

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There are so many resources available to actors. Here’s a short list of a few of our favorites that we think ALL actors should know about!

The Entertainment Community Fund- Formally called The Actors Fund, The Entertainment Community Fund specializes in supporting performing arts and entertainment professionals. They offer affordable insurance, affordable housing, career trainings, a health clinic and so much more! They are always running informative seminars and sharing resources with their community. Everyone who works in entertainment should be aware of the amazing resources here! They even offer emergency financial assistance programs for some individuals financially impacted by the strike! For more info: entertainmentcommunity.org/

Up To Date Actor- It’s important to regularly research opportunities as an actor. To make smart audition choices, you should be aware of trends, know the people who are hiring, and explore all the opportunities that are available to someone with your skillset. On top of that, you should be tracking your audition data to make sure you are always making the best choices for you. This online platform will do it all for you. It’s basically a virtual personal assistant for actors! It’s run by a hardworking mother/daughter team. For more info: https://uptodateactor.com/

Google Alerts- Got a show you are following? A director you want to work with? Looking for theatres to release their season announcements? Setting up google alerts for these things are a great way to stay on top of that knowledge! Set-up a google alert and always receive info about that topic! To learn how to set-up a google alert, go here: https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/4815696?hl=en

Drama Book Shop- Need to find great new material? Looking for something to self-produce? Trying to learn more about the most produced playwrights? Maybe you need to read the script of the show before your audition or callback. Or you need to find a new monologue for your acting class. The Drama Book Shop is here to help! The Drama Book Shop is located in NYC but you can order online and have your products shipped! https://dramabookshop.com/

The Casting Actors Cast- This podcast is produced by Jeffrey Dreisbach from McCorkle Casting. Each episode is BRIMMING with content, info and tips for professional actors. Jeffrey is extremely generous in these episodes. He’s a marvelous educator and presents info with great energy and kindness. These are great resources for schools and individuals alike! Give them a list today: www.castingactorscast.com/podcasts

Written by Colleen Kahl, President, ActorsConnection.com

Special thanks to Jon Tyson for the featured image!