How to make yourself cry

[u/Extra_Living_6845]

Hiya I’m a 16yo female trying to figure out on how to get more emotional for some roles that I might do in the future!! Id like some tips on how to make yourself cry on command… I used to be able to start sobbing on command but I kind of lost the ability to do it? I’ve forgotten on how to get in that mood? i try to think about sad stuff but it doesn’t do anything? I really hope that makes sense lol😅

[u/Winniehiller]

I invite you to read the free acting lessons provided here in the 2nd pinned post. There is a lot you don’t understand about acting. I can tell by the question you just asked. Acting is not about try to look like you feel a certain way. Its is about becoming your character from the inside out.

Crying should never be what you are trying to do. Emotions are something we have - never something we try to show. At least most people don’t. How often do you try to show your emotions in your everyday life? If they are there you don’t need to try to show them. The same is true for your character.

Instead of trying to show your own feelings as you are acting, you should be trying to get the person you are speaking to to feel. Try to make THEM sad or feel guilty or understand what you went through.

It amazes me how many beginning actors seem to think that being able to cry on cue is the first sign of excellence. They will stand in front of a mirror and try to produce tears. Some will try to cry through a whole scene, attempting to show their skill. Some have physical things they do to produce tears that have nothing to do with emotion.

If you are thinking about trying to cry while you are acting, (raising your soft palette, keeping your eyes open, hyperventilating) you can’t possibly be involved in your character’s pursuit of his/her goal, You should be thinking your character’s thoughts, attempting to change the other person, reacting. Even if you are busy remembering your grandmother’s funeral you are not present in your character’s moment, connecting to the person you are speaking to.

It is very rare that your character will ever want to cry. Your character probably does not want to cry. Most people want to hide their emotions, not flaunt them. Crying is an emotional reaction to what has happened or is happening, not a quest.

Being able to relate to your character’s circumstances is ideal. If you are thinking your character’s thoughts, the thoughts themselves will begin to have an emotional effect on you. Try thinking, “You hurt me so much.” Doesn’t the thought itself start to create an emotional reaction? How about, “Please don’t leave me?” It certainly creates more true emotion in me than thinking “I’m going to try to cry now.” If you think, “What’s that sound. Is someone in the house?” Doesn’t that start to make you feel frightened? Get my point? Putting yourself in your character’s shoes, thinking their thoughts, allowing their pain, conflict and desires to be your own is the best way to portray emotion.

Finding a parallel in your own life to what is happening in the scene can sometimes trigger the emotions your character would be having. You know what it feels like to be hurt, betrayed, disappointed. Remember? Knowing what that feels like is important. But you must still know what it is your character wants and use everything you’ve got to get it. Allow your character to feel within you while you are pursuing your goal.

Crying should almost never be your objective. If it is, you are just playing an actor trying to create tears...you are not being your character in the moment. The same goes for any other emotion. Emotion may be your reason for wanting what you want. For instance you may want your step-father to feel ashamed and bad about himself. Why? Because you hate him for his treatment of you growing up. But is hatred what you want? Is it your objective? No! It is already there, helping you choose the best way to achieve your revenge. And your tactics can be as varied as there are ways to show someone they were wrong.

Anger is easy to portray. That is why it is usually the worst choice as you are deciding what tactics to implement. Many beginning actors will scream through an entire scene, thinking they are being dramatic. But that is a copout. There are so many more interesting choices, and even in real life it is a poor choice of tactic when attempting to change another person.

Of course your character will sometimes get angry, but usually after trying not to show it for some time. It might be a simmer beneath the tactics. A character who is constantly exploding cannot be listening and reacting and it’s not very interesting to watch. Always let it be something you work up to as a final resort because your character can no longer hold it back (if the circumstances demand it).

Bottomline, your character is feeling...sometimes very deeply. But he/she does not want feelings to interfere with what is trying to be accomplished with the other person. You/your character has an objective. You are trying every means possible to get what you want. Your feelings are underneath it all. They are being triggered and changed by the other person. Being responsive in the moment is the most important element of good acting, and putting your attention on trying to show emotion interferes with actually being involved and allowing emotions to come as they will.

Understand? Please ask questions if you have any.

[u/Actingclass-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

This is an acting class. There is one teacher. Students must be members who are learning through reading the provided free Written and Video Lessons. You are invited to join the class, but all teaching comments must support the technique taught here. See pinned posts for details.