Tips for the Horror Film Actor - Using Your Imagination

Often times, when you're acting in a horror or gore film, you are encountering situations that are so far fetched, they can become hokey if not performed correctly. Sometimes, you're having to work alongside invisible villain's or in an environment that will be created later through the use of CGI. Because of this, as a horror film actor it is vital that you understand how to use your imagination to enhance the believability of your performance. While acting with your imagination is a very personalized process, there are several tips you can follow to help streamline this method.

Imagery

Imagery is the most powerful tool any actor can possess when having to act alongside invisible characters or in an environment that will be added later in post-production. When you're reading a script, imagine the scene. Imagine what the characters look like, what the lighting will be like, what the air will smell like. Imagine the character's face, the feel of the ground underneath your feet. Become as detailed with your imagery to paint a full picture of the scene. This will help when you're acting against a green screen.

Physical Environment

Perhaps one of the most difficult things to do as a horror film actor is interact with an invisible physical environment. The current film industry is turning to CGI methods to create and illustrate a physical environment. This can be a roadblock for certain actors as they feel this limits their ability to properly interact with the physical environment because it's just not there. When you're in this type of setting, it is vital to use your imagination. Using the imagery process, imagine the feel of the ground, are there trees? What do they look like? Is the sky clear or hazy? What is the color where you are? Become as detailed with your imagination and focus on truly interacting and engaging as if you were in a real physical environment.

Documentation

One of the most effective means of using my imagination when working on a horror film is to document my imagination. I have a notebook where I write down every single detail for characters, environment and other vital information. By documenting your imagination, you can quickly return back to it for future reference, and somehow writing it down makes the entire scene seem more real. Remember, if it's real to you, it will be real to the audience.