Acting increases self-confidence and self-esteem

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It takes a certain level of confidence to act. Many professional actors, whether on film or stage, will agree that there is a fundamental dichotomy in acting. While it is true that acting involves taking on another person’s personality, regardless of which acting method the actor prescribes to, it also requires one to be self-aware and confident. This confidence helps actors perform better. Confidence is necessary in acting because there will always be critics who will find something wrong with one’s work.

Actors have to develop their own self-worth in order to deal with, and thrive in, the world of entertainment. The very essence of acting demands developing confidence.

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 The relationship between the two can be seen as a cycle: Self-confidence is essential for an actor to perform well. A great performance will add to the actor’s confidence, which will inspire him to continue honing his skills. But confidence from acting goes deeper than just developing or enhancing one’s skill. As strange as it may initially seem, acting increases self-confidence because actors get the chance to fully understand and appreciate themselves.

By playing or being another person, the actor (with enough self-awareness) can question his own motivations and biases. Acting also develops the talent of seeing oneself from a third person’s perspective. This ability to disengage allows the actor to see how his own actions affect other people without being clouded by morals or preconceptions. By better understanding this, the actor becomes more self-confident.

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Edoardo Costais an Italian actor who has appeared in a number of Hollywood films. Learn more by subscribing to this blog.

Thespian tips: How to get started in acting

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Many people want to make it big in Hollywood, but being a successful, well-regarded actor takes more than just a pretty face. It requires not only talent but also commitment and drive.

The following tips can be useful to those who want to break into show business:

Start early.

Many celebrities started their pursuit of acting success early in life: Some were members of their high school drama club, while some went to film school to study acting. Aspiring actors should consider taking acting classes as soon as possible in order to hone their natural talent.

Be financially stable.

In order to find work as an actor, one needs to be where the action is. While American films are shot everywhere in the world, most of the casting agents live in the Los Angeles area. However, actors shouldn't immediately quit their day jobs, sell everything they own, and move. It would take several years of being in the business before an actor can make enough money to support him or herself. It's important to have a job or some other means of sustaining oneself while pursuing this career as acting jobs are often few and far between, especially for those who are just starting out.

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Act!

Student films and plays are a great way to get some practice, earn a good reputation in the acting community, and to get one's name out to potentially interested parties. An added plus: After-parties are a great venue for networking and for meeting useful contacts and other actors with whom one can share experiences and tips.

Learn how to handle rejection.

Sydney Poitier was once told by a casting director to give up and become a dishwasher instead. Poitier went on to win a Best Actor Oscar for Lilies in the Field in 1963.

Actors need to be persistent and be able to handle rejection well. Newcomers to the field will hear “no” many times in the course of their career. Actors should keep in mind that they probably just weren't suited for that particular part, but there are plenty of other roles out there for which they will be a better fit.

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Edoardo Costa is an Italian actor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Subscribe to this blog for more articles on the acting profession and career success.

Moving in the direction of your dreams

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A dream is a strongly desired goal or purpose. From searching for a long-term relationship, breaking free from a destructive habit, to getting that master’s degree, any dream is worth pursuing. Many have the pining to reach their dreams. But while it’s easy to envision and embark on life’s aspirations, the ability to sustain them to the point of accomplishment is a challenging circuit. That is why most dreams are left down the drain.

This brings to finding the answer to a gnawing question: What should people do to move to the direction of their dreams and achieve them altogether? In his article from Oprah.com, Raphael Cushnir suggested some ways to spike just about any dream and realize them in the long run.

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One was to identify an important action that has not been taken yet or that has been done to no avail so far. It involves action, like making a call, consulting someone, or doing research.

Another suggestion was to find a vulnerable point that can happen while pursuing a dream. Thinking of the worst-case scenario or looking for a stink can spark a challenge.

Third was to recognize the intolerable emotion that clogs persuasion and movement. Understanding that anger, fear, hurt, or even embarrassment is a hindrance can be a liberating truth.

There is nothing more fulfilling than realizing a dream, whether it’s modest or grand. With a strong sense of motivation, optimism, and anticipation as a leg up, people will see a vigorous and enthusiastic attitude throbbing from within. And this will put them in the right direction.

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Being and not acting: On the method technique

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Method acting is gaining popularity because it forces actors to imbibe their characters more thoroughly as compared to traditional forms of acting. However, a recent opinion article published in the New Yorker questions this method’s stability and whether there are inherent dangers in allowing actors (a naturally emotional and volatile group of people) to fuse with their characters.

This technique is considered the most useful in delivering lifelike performances because it requires the actor to dig deep by practicing the mannerisms, lifestyle choices, tone of voice, and general frame of mind the role demands. The reproduction of action is combined with the actor’s careful consideration of the psychological motives and personal identification with the character. In theory, these strategies prevent any clichéd performances, which in turn lead to less direction from the director.

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Nevertheless, this demands the actor to congeal his personal and professional life. Early method acting notables such as Marlon Brando, Cary Grant, and Robert Mitchum, did not become the roles they were asked to play, but turned the characters into versions of themselves. The performances were not contrived, but reflected a barely held form of self-control. The result, of course, is brilliant. Audiences and fellow cast members can feel the passion and become more engaged with the method actor – but this encourages them to burn even brighter; and therein lays the danger.

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Ultimately, method acting is a useful technique and should be properly taught and understood by all actors – whether they are aspirants or veterans in the field. Remaining unaware of the hidden risks might dent the actor’s psyche in the long run.

Edoardo Costa, an Italian actor and model, is best known for his role in the Bruce Willis blockbuster, "Live Free or Die Hard". Learn more about him here.

Edoardo Costa: Actor, entrepreneur, philanthropist

Edoardo Costa is an Italian actor whose career began in the 1990s after he was discovered by a modeling agent in a local Milanese bar. It was due to this fateful event that he transitioned from serving the military to becoming a top model for some of the biggest agencies in the world. He had worked on covers, editorials, catalogues, and TV commercials for brands like Calvin Klein, Giorgio Armani, Versace, Christian Dior and many others.

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Following his work as a model, he was then cast on a variety of independent American films. His debut in a feature was when he played as Emerson, the terrorist in the fourth installment of the Die Hard series, Live Free or Die Hard. His first major role was in the drama Down The Shore, which was directed by Harold Guskin, and starred James Gandolfini and Famke Janssen. His most recent appearance in film was in the movie Non-Stop, with Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore, and Michelle Dockery.

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Apart from his career in acting, he had also served as the CEO of the Beatrice International Model Agency and the President of Actors Academy Milano from 2005 to 2009. Through friends and colleagues, he has remained active in philanthropic work and has supported projects in Afghanistan, Brazil, and Africa.

Currently, Edoardo Costa is based in both Los Angeles and New York city and he continues his career as an international actor while taking time to connect with people and finding opportunities for growth.

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Find more information about him through this Facebook page.