You may think the only actors who have to worry about voice and body work are those in theater, but during a recent master class hosted at our studio, it became apparent this wasn’t the case. As we watched several talented actors struggle through scenes, it became clear that their lack vocal and physical work was impeding their success with the material.
The characters performed by the students required accents that were essential to the realization of the material: a Boston Southie accent (like Mark Wahlberg in “The Fighter”) or an Italian New York accent (like James Gandolfini in ‘The Sopranos’). A problem arose when the actor’s natural dialect—albeit small—created a rhythm and subtle accentuation that undermined their believability. The cadence of their dialect directly conflicted with their authenticity and hindered their capability to present a standard American accent, much less a more complicated one like Southie or Italian New York.
Yes, reducing a personal dialect can be a difficult and onerous task but having (or not having) an accent can make or break a character, especially when the film or television show specifically calls for it. An obtrusive accent can even
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