Resources Part I: DSM

One thing I haven't really touched on for actors is resources.

Since I'm in the middle of researching crazy and getting the patterns and ideas down properly, I thought I'd share one of my favorite resources.

Although I owned it before I came back to acting, it's a godsend. That is... the DSM IV. The Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV. I know V comes out in late 2012 or 2013, but there won't be huge differences and it could be that IV is even cheaper in a year or two.

Now, why might this be useful? The thing is as heavy as a backpack of bricks and around 1000+ pages. That's a lot of reference material on everything from eating disorders to depression to schizophrenia. It's well organized, comes with symptoms, leading questions, family history, and even cultural factors. It is by far one of the most valuable tools an actor can own. (As opposed to possess, like natural talent, or develop, like high energy)

Now, why is this so useful, you might ask. I don't need that.

Really?

...Really?

How often are you going to play a character that has never once had a problem. Whether mental diseases are recognized or accepted in your society, how often will you play someone who has been super happy their entire life (and isn't that probably delusional, anyhow)? Never. Some characters have agression issues, others mania and depression, some are truly psychotic, and others are compulsive kleptomaniacs. No matter what it is, understanding a character's mental state adds tons of depth to a performance that may not otherwise be there.

Of course, as a warning, owning a copy of the DSM might convince you you've got problems you don't have. I implore you not to diagnose yourself with it. It doesn't work well, especially for actors who display a lot of traits the general population would term insane.

Anyhow, back to the advice. Consider how useful some of your acting tools have been. The best performance you ever gave, the best acting book, the best coach. You can pick up a copy of the DSM IV for at most $60 on eBay right now. Go to Amazon or wherever you buy books and leaf through some of the pages. It's an invaluable resource for understanding mental states outside your own.

Just remember: some symptoms are cultural, so don't always trust what you find online. Wikipedia is Eurocentric and may not give you the best description of an African, Russian, or Asian character's view of or symptoms of a mental disorder.

While most of us are moderately well adjusted, that doesn't make for good theater or interesting stories. Wild, passionate characters do and that's how most writers choose to develop them. That means playing something with an extremely high energy. There's a lot to be said for doing research into your character and even more to be said for doing it the way a psychologist might. Every good actor should be a psychologist, so get started.