When I was writing my first novel,

Well, Amy Irving, Jodi Foster and I are middle aged now. But Caldwell and Hayley are still young. If a movie is ever made of The Few Who Count,Irving and Foster are never going to play those roles.

In fact, if a movie of the novel is ever made, the roles are probably going to be given to a computer. Why? Because I am the only person who has any interest in making a movie based on my novel. And today, it is actually possible for a novelist to make a movie all by herself!

The Few Who Count, I had no idea that even if I finished it and liked the end product, it would not be published by any established press, and once self-published, it would neither sell nor be read. No. Instead, like many a beginning novelist, I thought that someday it might make a pretty good movie. I even cast some of the leads. I wanted Amy Irving as Caldwell and Jodi Foster as Hayley. Those were roles for very young women. I was young at the time. So were they.

Instead of casting calls for actors and actresses, I am currenty engaged in the process of casting the right computer — or rather, the right software package — in all the roles that my movie requires. The would-be performers? Anime Studio, Claymation Studio, Poser and Xtranormal.

I was given Anime Studio as a gift and I have it installed on my computer, but it’s a very maleable and touchy actor, requiring way too much direction for my taste. I practically have to tell the actor what to do with every limb, every digit, every step of the way. Here are some tutorials that explain how to direct a movie using Anime Studio.

Can you imagine telling Jodi Foster how her ankle needs to be connected to her foot and what the relationship between the two should be when she walks? A really good actress doesn’t need that much direction!

Anime Studio is a software package for animation in 2D. Poser, our next contender, is a program that creates animations in three dimensions. In Poser, a character’s posture is arranged into individual poses, which, when strung together, can seem like live action.

n Claymation Studio directors use their own dolls, action figures or clay figurines to create action sequences from a series of snapshots. The result can be stunningly realistic, but the process is extremely laborious.

#1: Getting Involved 
Life upon the wicked stage may be a dream to many, but weather you dream of acting on the small screen, behind a camera, or on the stage itself there are a number of different ways to get involved. 

One of the most important things about being an actor is experience. Every role you play, be it the back line of the chorus in your school play to the principal part in a toothpaste advertisement will teach you something, meaning that you come away with a new experience every time. Getting involved at an early age may indeed set you in good stead for the future, but it is never too late to get involved. 

An effective way of gaining experience early on is by joining a performing arts group in your local area. Here you will be able to meet like-minded people and take your first steps in acting within a friendly and encouraging environment. Taking part need not be expensive or time consuming; most performing arts groups run a variety of classes at the weekend and are reasonably priced. Make sure you do your research and find out which one is best for you. 

If you are slightly older and are looking for a more advanced level of performance, Youth Theatres are probably the best option. Most local and regional theatres will run their own Youth Theatre group who will help develop your skills and display them in a more mature and focused way. Operatic and Musical Theatre societies exist for people of all ages, often giving you the chance to perform in a professional environment whilst still allowing you to make friends and have fun along the way. Universities and Colleges all have some form of performance group where professional help will be on hand to help you advance, offering constructive criticism and the opportunities to take acting beyond just a hobby. 

#2: Choosing Repertoire 
As in any type of performance, choosing the right repertoire is crucial in allowing your skills and talent to be displayed effectively and getting the most out of yourself as a performer. One of the golden rules is to only choose things that you feel comfortable with. Being familiar with a text and character as well as being able to explore issues that you find both interesting and relevant to yourself is the best way to progress, be it for a performance or an audition. For auditions, it is worth staying clear of some of the ‘classics’ and time should be spent researching and looking for works that are not perhaps as common. Never choose characters that fall outside of your age ranges, as it is harder to relate to them. Look for someone with enough substance who you can actively imagine being, and always search for the truth within the character. 

#3: Developing and maintaining good techniques 
To develop certain techniques that suit you, experimentation is the key. Never have a set way of doing things too early on; the best actors are those who are open to change and new ideas. Each director you work with will have a different impact upon you, and you will often take different things from each one to build your own techniques, almost like a jigsaw. Reading and research is vital as theatre practitioners each have various ways of doing the same thing that may seem a little far out at first. By watching live performances you will gain new techniques and see how different actors combat similar problems, which you can then use in your own work. The best techniques are those which are organic and develop over time, so be patient and allow yourself to experiment.

#4: Building Your Character 
Acting is about becoming a character who is not yourself. Before you can do this effectively you must build your character from what you are given, it may be text, music or stage direction. As a performer you must be bold with your choices and not be shy about who you are trying to become. Building a biography for your character will make you think about every little detail, from name and age to favourite colour and occupation. It is the same as building a house, you must begin at the bottom with strong foundations and expand upwards and outwards whilst filling in the cracks. The smallest details often make characters stand out, think about every aspect however trivial it may seem and be creative in your choices. If you use this together with details you are given you can build a believable character.

As an actor, your voice is your most important tool; more important than your body. Your voice enables you to speak and thus express what is in your soul. Without a voice, deeply meaningful communication is impossible. Thus, it is of the upmost importance that an actor looks after this tool, for it is a tool which has no replacement.

Talking loudly and talking over extended periods of time can put a lot of strain on the vocal chords. If a person is not careful, repeated improper use of the vocal chords will lead to nodules in the throat, which can permanently damage a person’s voice. It is not unlikely, that you have been told to ‘project’ your voice, rather than ‘shout’, but what does this actually mean? And how can you look after your voice against irreparable damage? 

The key to speaking correctly is to breathe correctly. The age old myth of ‘breathing in’ if we need to squeeze by something is very misleading. Of course, when we breathe in, air comes into our bodies, and thus we need to expand. The diaphragm (that magical word) is what controls our breathing. This hemispherical muscle is at rest when there is no air in the lungs. The muscle then contracts and flattens, pulling the air into the lungs. Thus by giving the muscle as much room as possible, we increase the volume of oxygen we can breathe in, and thus we increase the amount we have to breathe out and can create a more sustainable sound with. 

The diaphragm is a muscle and, much like any other muscle, it needs training if it is to be used effectively. One exercise is to repeat the alphabet aloud until you run out of breath. This can be done a second and even a third time, and the aim is to get further in the alphabet than the time before. Another good exercise is to produce an ‘F’ sound by pulling your tummy in. Do this repeatedly, twice a second. After a while it will begin to hurt from lactic acid build up. 

The extra strength in the diaphragm will enable you to project your voice well. Remember that the sound should always come from your belly, and never from your throat. Try making a soft ‘ah’ sound. Feel the tummy pulling in. Try to think of the sound you are creating as a single line, which reaches all the way in front of you until it reaches its target with pinpoint precision. By focusing the voice in this way, you will use your breathe more effectively and thus be able to sustain your power for much longer. 

‘triple threat’: 

In the twenty-first century theatrical world, it is becoming increasingly important to become a ‘triple threat performer’. The ability to act, sing, and dance to a high standard gives versatility in the work that a performer can do. Yes, he can later go on to specialise in one area, but a good grounding in all of the performing arts is highly desirable in the competitive world of modern theatre. 
Today, most drama schools will only accept those students who are of a good standard in two out of the three subject areas. 

So, what does it take to become a ‘triple threat performer’? Quite simply: a lot of hard work, dedication, and determination. Below is some useful guidance as to how to prepare yourself as best you can. 

The ability to assume a character is, obviously, the most important part of acting. It is worthwhile going to see as many plays as you can, to see how others portray different emotions in different plays. Of course, acting is not just emulation. Take time to observe ordinary people: as you are walking along the street or waiting on a bus, see what people do, imagine what they might be thinking and how they are feeling. Store these images in a memory bank so that you can use them later. If you get the chance to perform Shakespeare, do so. People in the industry expect a good knowledge of his plays, and active participation in one is the best way of finding out how you deal with the complexities of his language. 

Having a working knowledge of music is highly desirable. If you have the opportunity to learn an instrument, use it. If not, then try to get acquainted with basic musical terminology and teach yourself to read music. This is a sure-fire way to make yourself stand out. Try to get familiar with many different musical styles, and think about the emotions you feel when listening to music. Does it make you sad or happy, excited or troubled? The ability to play the piano is very advantageous, since you can not only accompany yourself, but are able to help out and, eventually, teach others too. 

As a performer, your body must be in shape. You must be flexible and fit. This can be achieved easily through dance. You do not need to be a brilliant to succeed in the acting career, but the ability to move in time with music is essential. Through dance, you will learn to express yourself through movement, as well as become more aware as to what your body can do. Ballet gives an extremely good grounding in all other dance forms. It also increases muscle strength and flexibility. 
This should be the first point of call for any aspiring dancer; the strength that you gain from practice takes years to build up. Jazz and tap are also useful, especially for a future in musical theatre.