As human beings, non of our socialogical traits are automatic at the push of a button. It's just now how we're programmed. We're not robots.. and we can't do almost anything at the drop of a hat. It's just not how people operate.. and for this reason, the task of having to cry on cue is often a scary summons for any actor. In fact, having to cry on cue is a laborous request, enough to make any stressed out actor cry in their private life. But like anything, it can be accomplished. I've taken various drama classes for years and worked in theatre, tv, & film. Crying on cue is not always easy, but like anything, it can be mastered and attained. I used to not be able to do it at all. I'd have to work and muster up salty tears of pain for hours just to get one single drop to fall.. but I worked at it.. and now, honestly I can cry at the drop of a hat. In fact, sometimes I'll get so worked up or emotional that the tears will now come involuntarily when I don't mean them too. Ironic? Perhaps. Convenient? Definitely. Let me share some tips that helped me on how you can learn to cry on cue, whether needing it for a play, a film role, or even just to evoke someone sympathy. (Hey, we've all done it.)
1.) DRAW FROM WHAT YOU KNOW / HAVE - No, I'm not preaching the Stanislavsky method here. For the most part, that method is unreal because if you're portraying a serial killer or an ailing old man with cancer, there's no way you can draw from experience.. or let's hope not. What I am referring to is that, again, as human beings there are a billion little things that we repress everyday. Think about it. How many times in a day or a week or a month has someone said or done something that hurt you? How many times has something not gone quite right or you've had a personal crisis or strife in your life? And of those times, how many times have you just pushed it away and repressed the emotions, and kept yourself from breaking into a ball of tears? It's human nature to repress hurt feelings. As a society, especially now a days, we're taught to try and be tough and no one cries over every little thing. So we tuck these trampled feelings away and forget about them.. but guess what? They don't go away... they're just tucked away for a rainy day. Well this is your rainy day. This is the time to let yourself cry for every little thing that you repressed before. Play out all those feelings. In this way, learning to cry on cue can also be very theraputic because you can get out all those trapped hurt emotions that you wanted to cry about before but maybe just took a deep breath and forgot.
When learning to do this, you could also, if you don't have enough to draw from there, think about something incredibly sad from your life that maybe you had trouble getting over. The loss of a loved one. Having to leave home. Being hurt by a friend or significant other. Things you maybe have grieved for in the past but forced yourself to move on from. Well now is your time to get it ALL out. Learn to UNLOCK your emotions, and you'll be able to let them flow freely. That's not to say have a complete emotional break down on stage.. but learn to teach yourself that it's OK to feel and cry, and you'll be able to do it more easily. If you don't feel comfortable with using these emotions at certain times, then just make a general practice to stop repressing your feelings. On a day to day basis, remind yourself it's ok to cry. If you had a bad day at work, your boss was really on your case, you didn't get that raise, etc. and you're driving home alone.. then CRY! It's OK to let yourself cry. A lot of us can't cry because we don't let ourselves. When you learn to LET yourself cry, then you'll have more control over it if you should WANT to cry at a split second.
2.) PRACTICE - Again, I know this sounds cliche, but it's really true. Practice makes perfect. Look in the mirror and just focus on letting the tears well up in your eyes. As you watch yourself in the mirror, you'll notice certain facial features change when you start to consciously cry. The more you notice, the more your mind will get in the "sad" mode.. and more easily the tears will come. When you see a few tears come.. then your mind will tell yourself that something is sad or wrong and more will follow. If you still need motivation, then get a sad scene out of a play or movie and practice it while looking in the mirror. Focus on letting the emotion play out on your face. Really get into it and in the middle of the scene when your character is breaking down, watch your face.. watch your eyes well up with tears.. and just let it go.. or if you're good at improv, then go with that. Don't be afraid to look in the mirror and talk to yourself. Create a huge, elaborate, emotional scene where you have to break it to your significant other that you cheated and are so sorry or where you tell your best friend that you can't believe they hurt you when they promised you they'd always be there. Anything dramatic just to get your emotional juices flowing.. and then let the tears follow.
3.) GET IN THE MINDSET - If you have a sad scene in a play or film coming up where you have to cry on cue, try to put your mind in that frame. You are the character. Think how you'd feel if whatever is happening to this character was really happening to you. Take a minute to reflect. Try to avoid having a fun, ha ha good time with your cast mates at dinner 30 mins before you go on. Don't be brooding and crazy.. but just try to keep your mind in check.
Most importantly don't get freaked out about having to cry on cue. Remember, crying and sadness is a natural human expression.. just like being happy. If you can portray exuberance, you can portray the flip coin.. it's just learning how to do it and tap into that emotion in your head. And again, always remember that an actor's body is their TOOL. Everyone has tools at their job and for an actor, your body, your facial expressions, and your emotions are your greatest and only tool. Use it. Practice with it. Refine it to be the type of tool you need. When you learn to use that tool properly and unlock within in it what you need to unlock, then you'll be able to manipulate it for any purpose that you need.