Getting into character can help bring any costume to life. Even if your costume isn't the best, getting into character can help make it even more believable. This article will give you tips on how to get into character for cosplay, theater, or reenactment.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Get into character for plays and recreation
Step 1. Write an essay about your character
Ask yourself some questions about the character and try to answer them. It can help you understand it better. It's a good idea not only for characters in a play, but also for cosplays, Renaissance Fair characters (and other performances), and original live role-playing characters. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- What does your character look like? Are there any unique characteristics, such as lameness or hump?
- How does your character speak? Does he have a lisp or an accent?
- What is your character's position in life? Are you part of the upper class, like a king? Or is he from the lower class, like the drunk in town?
- What does the character want? Does he understand that?
- How does the character solve problems? Are you frustrated? Do you expect others to figure it out for him?
- What do others expect from the character? How does the character feel about those expectations? Does it meet them, exceed them or not fill them?
- How do other characters feel about yours? Is your character well loved or not?
Step 2. Read the entire work
This includes the parts where the character does not appear. If you only read the parts with the character, you could miss important events that he may be aware of. These events can affect how it behaves.
Step 3. Read essays about the character, especially if it is a character in a play
However, don't choose just any essay. Choose academic and peer-reviewed essays. Many of them will delve into the character and analyze his thoughts, behavior, and role in the play. For example, Shylock from The Merchant of Venice can be a villain or a victim. The essays you read can help you decide how to portray it: villain or victim.
This also applies to the historical roles of Renaissance fairs and other historical re-enactments
Step 4. Look at other interpretations of the character carefully
The director may want you to play the character differently from how he is portrayed in other versions of the play (especially filmed versions).
Step 5. Read the book if the play is based on one
Some works are based on books, but they don't always tell you everything about a certain character. However, the book can give you that information. It can show you how the character behaves "off stage". You can use this information when you act as the character. Examples of plays (and musicals) based on books include the following:
- Dracula
- The Phantom of the Opera
- Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King are not based on books, but on movies. In this case, you may want to see the movie.
Step 6. Read about the character's world
Most of the works will take place in a bygone era. You can make the character more believable by learning about that time. The only exception to this, of course, is if the director wants to do a modern interpretation of a play. An example would be setting Romeo and Juliet during the 1940s, with one Jewish family and the other German, rather than during the Renaissance.
Method 2 of 2: Get Into Character for Cosplay
Step 1. Watch their episodes if possible
Study how the character speaks, acts, and moves. Observe how he behaves with other characters. Some people act differently towards different people.
Step 2. Read the books, manga or comics
Please note that the print version of the character may differ from the movie version. It can include how the character looks and acts. The character's backstory can also change.
Some people find it easier to remember a character's quotes if they are written, rather than spoken
Step 3. Play the games if possible
Some characters also appear in video games. These games can tell you more about the character. Some games even expand on the character's backstory. Keep in mind that not all characters will appear in a video game, and if they do, it may not always be a big part.
Make sure you play licensed games and not fan-made games. Fan-made games don't always depict characters accurately. Instead, they often meet the needs of some followers
Step 4. Study the character and learn the character's backstory
The backstory can explain why a character acts the way he does. For example, Severus Snape from Harry Potter is often bad, especially for Harry Potter. However, his backstory reveals that he was harassed by Harry's father.
The backstory can also give you ideas for interacting with other cosplay actors
Step 5. Take note of how the character speaks
You will also want to notice their facial expressions. These little details can help spice up the cosplay and make it more believable.
- Be aware of speech patterns. Does the character have an informal way of speaking, or an older, more archaic way? For example, Thor from the "Avengers" often uses ancient and archaic terms like "you."
- Be aware of repeated words or phrases. For example, Reno from "Final Fantasy VII" often ends his sentences with "you."
- Be aware of the way a character speaks. Does your character speak fast with a high-pitched voice? Or do you have a slower and more hesitant way of speaking? Severus Snape is known for having long pauses when speaking.
Step 6. Take note of the character's manners and actions
Study the way the character walks and stands. This can help make the cosplay more believable. After all, a Gaston (from "Beauty and the Beast") who hunches over all the time won't be very convincing. Gaston would stand tall and proud!
- Is the character known to react in a specific way to certain words and phrases? For example, Edward Elric from "The Alchemist of Steel" ("Fullmetal Alchemist") gets very angry when someone implies that he is short.
- Does the character have a specific way of walking? Captain Jack Sparrow from "Pirates of the Caribbean" has a very distinctive and rocking gait, often accompanied by a confused look and expressive hand gestures.
Step 7. Don't be afraid to interact with other cosplay actors
Sometimes it's easier to get into character when you have a friend (or other friendly cosplay actor) to play along. Keep in mind, however, that not all cosplay actors will want to play your game. If they don't react to you, move on. Don't force them to play your game, or they may report you to cooperatives for harassment.
- Envy from "The Alchemist of Steel" would never pass up the opportunity to call Edward Elric "short". If you cosplay Envy and see Edward, yell, "Hello, Steel Shrimp!" and see how the laughter arises.
- The Harry Potter Marauders were known to torment Severus Snape. If you're playing a young James or Sirius, and you come across a young Severus Snape, try calling him Snivellous, but don't be alarmed if he responds with a hex!
- Kagome from "Inuyasha" disciplines the dog demon by yelling "SIT", forcing him to sit up. If you see an Inuyasha misbehaving or rude, be sure to discipline him by saying "Inuyasha! Sit down!"
Advice
- Don't worry too much if you can't do it, you may just have to rearrange the costume and be someone else, or accept the fact that while you may look good in a picture, live role-playing may not be your thing..
- Consider choosing a character close to your own personality.
- Consider choosing a character that is completely different from you. Sometimes it's easier to play someone who is your complete opposite. As a result, the performance could be more exhilarating.
- Try to think like the character when playing him.
- Better to think of more than one way to act as the character. If you're in a play, give yourself more than one choice for voice or character. If it is a cosplay, think about how the character acts in different scenes and choose the emotion that you like the most and practice it.
Warnings
- Not all cosplay actors will want to interact with you. Take note of the other cosplay actor's body language and expressions. If it seems annoying or uncomfortable, stop and, if necessary, apologize.
- This won't be the easiest part of cosplaying, so don't expect this part to only take a couple of hours.