Ivana Chubbuck, acting coach to the stars and creator of the Chubbuck technique, shares her top tips for actors to hone their craft.
Throughout my years as an actor, I read many of the iconic books about acting and found them highly theoretical, as opposed to a practical guide on script analysis. I set about writing a book that was a real nuts and bolts, ‘how-to’ guide to breaking down a script from the point of view of the actor, writer and director.
I created 12 easy steps to follow that are based on behavioural science, psychology and cultural anthropology. Since the 12-Step Chubbuck Technique is based on the science of how we live and behave on a daily basis, it’s easy to understand and utilise. I’ve used my technique when working with Academy Award winners and nominees, including Djimon Hounsou, Charlize Theron, Halle Berry, Brad Pitt and Jake Gyllenhaal, among others.
My book has been translated into languages all over the world and I get emails daily from international actors about how using the 12 steps dramatically changed their careers.
I’ve had the privilege of sharing some great advice with actors to help them improve and hone their craft over the years, including these 10 tips for actors embarking on a performing career:
1. Make Sure Your Overall Objective Is Relatable
Your overall objective should provide a primal human need that creates a universal journey, one that everyone in the world can support and cheer for. This enables people and audiences from every corner of the world and every segment of society to relate to the overall objective and can therefore change and grow from the experience.
2. Don’t Play the Character, Be the Character
Find your personal connection to the character on the page, so you can always be present and in the moment. Your need will come from a truthful and necessary place.
3. Never Play the Victim
We never support a person in real life who feels sorry for themselves. We always love and support a person who, against all conflicts and obstacles, no matter how horrible their circumstances, will still fight to overcome and attempt to win.
4. Celebrate Your Flaws, Fears and Insecurities
They make you interesting and special.
5. Never Colour the Underbelly of Your Work with Sadness
Sadness creates lethargy and inertia – the inability to make moves. Instead, find the anger. Anger creates passionate behaviour and is a fuel that makes us do things that, in normal circumstances, we would never do. I always say, “Anger moves mountains, sadness digs a hole.”
Ivana Chubbuck at a Barnes & Noble event for her book ‘The Power of the Actor’.
6. Bring Humour to Your Work, Even in the Darkest of Dramas
You can’t see the dark without the comparison to light. Humour makes the experience of watching a play, movie, or television show a more enjoyable experience. Chekhov’s plays are filled with satirical humour alongside profound drama – this is why he’s such a celebrated playwright who has stood the test of time. You’ll find this is true of Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams, David Mamet, August Wilson, Noël Coward, Samuel Beckett, Sophocles, Oscar Wilde, Aristophanes, George Bernard Shaw, Harold Pinter, Lillian Hellman, Jean-Paul Sartre and all other great playwrights who have historical value.
7. Chemistry is Key to a Great Performance
Chemistry, or lack of it, can make or break the success of a movie, TV show or play. Chemistry is something that everyone understands and relates to regardless of their religion, geography, language, moral priorities, intellect, socio-economic stature or occupation. Making other cast members and your audience feel that you are accessible is part of what makes a star. People would rather spend time with someone they’re attracted to than someone they’re not.
8. Take Risks, Never Play it Safe
There’s more satisfaction for the actor and the audience when choices are made from fearlessness. Bottom line: Fear is antithetical to art.
9. Greatness Is in the Details
It takes a lot of work to create the details, however, if we’re duplicating real human behaviour, we have to duplicate the complicated nature of being human, too.
10. Have a Strong Work Ethic
Success in any field takes time and work. Laziness is for losers. The people who work really hard on their script analysis, rehearse a lot and take the vast amount of time it takes to create a real three-dimensional human being out of a character are the winners.
The Power of the Actor re-edition by Ivana Chubbuck will be exclusively launched in Europe on 6 June in Antwerp, just before the first European Masterclass of 2025 weekend taking place in Troubleyin Laboratorium on 7 and 8 June.
Join Ivana Chubbuck for this exclusive evening on 6 June celebrating the book launch, and stay for the Masterclass on June 7 and 8. All Masterclass ticket holders will receive free entry to the launch event.
Ivana Chubbuck is the founder and director of the Ivana Chubbuck Studio and creator of the cutting-edge and widely adopted Chubbuck Technique. The Studio maintains a focus on producing and nurturing working actors in a rigorous professional environment. Some of the actors Ivana has worked with during her 30+ year career include Academy Award winners and nominees such as Charlize Theron, James Franco, Halle Berry, Brad Pitt, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jon Voight, Sylvester Stallone, Djimon Hounsou, Terrence Howard, Catherine Keener and Jared Leto. Read more on Ivana’s website.
Headshot courtesy of Ivana Chubbuck.
