Acting on a Tight Rope

One of the primary challenges in the majority of films, and prose for that matter, that I compose is walking the line between irreverency and sincerity. It's a difficult task, to mock your own creation while not demeaning it. It's not as simple as derogative comments about quality, meant to garner praise. It's not even direct ridicule. It's more of a subtle humor, the ability to not take oneself seriously, while still creating a meaning that goes beyond entertainment-value.

It's an issue I have personally as well as artistically; I often come off as downright flippant, when I'm really quite passionate and sincere about many of my beliefs and ideals. It's a tight rope, maintaining a light flair, a small smile with a gleam in your eye, signifying a joyful sense of humor, but without losing the indication that there's something stronger, something deeper under the surface. It's humor with purpose and intensity, although the humor is more of a smokescreen or even bait, to draw distract and disconcert until the person is lulled into an ease that allows you to slowly grab hold of them and, before they're aware of it, your point hits home. You don't know whether to laugh or cry. Even that choice alone speaks volumes about your personality, values, and outlooks. Or maybe it's just an indicator of "which way the scales tip."

So that's the grand balancing act. How do we create something humorous, but still moving? If you get too humorous, you're fluff. People walk away with a smile on their faces, and hardly give you another thought. If you're too serious, people get turned off, feel they're being preached to, see the message coming so they avoiding being hit head on.

As you're acting/improvising/writing/what have you, keep this in mind. Ostensibly, you're a clown. But it's a facade you don't really want to be convincing. You want to be funny. But you want to be human, not a mere caricature.

Love your character. Or love to hate him, depending. Allow her to have flaws, certainly, but try to avoid invoking pity. Embrace your part, no matter what emotions you're supposed to convey, and really let a personality shine, not just a cardboard cutout. You're a person, not a prop. Think of your character the same way.