When expressing myself, I tend to be stiff and nervous especially when it comes to exaggerated movements or actions. The paranoia of appearing stupid is an inhibition which is stiffling my freedom to move flexibly and comfortably. The thought of feeling embarrassed prevents me from fully utilising my body to exude confidence and getting my message across to the audience. I focus too much on my image and will tend to neglect the way I express myself. I constantly feel controlled by my mind to do the minimum with my body because my daily routines do not include flexing my muscles. Therefore it is a question of habit that I have to deal with.
A strategy to overcome this is to constantly practice body projection in front of a mirror to condition myself to feel comfortable and boost my self-esteem. Also I can try to do warm-ups on frequent basis to train myself to use body expressions with more ease and lesser restrictions. A deep analysis of other actors can help me gain access to various emotions and imaginations. This can mean or imply watching more stage productions and take note of how actors portray characters with the use of their body, be it aggressive tendencies or provocation. I must also have self-discipline in the use of space when acting and sensory awareness and repitition.
Jasmen Yew Lien Tah
