is it ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY to be able to cry, if you want to become an actor??? Options

[wishonthestars]

I'm serious about acting, but there is something I'm really unsure of. I can't cry without yawning, squirting water directly at my eyes, etc.
Is it manditory to be able to cry?
I've been trying to get bad experinces as a background - but I have nothing horrible. Is there another way I could make myself cry?
I know I have what it takes to act, but crying isn't my expertise. Advise please!

EDIT - I CAN do all the emotions EXCEPT for crying! I have no horrible experinces that could lead me to making myself cry. It just isn't my expertise. Should I stop trying to act ONLY because I can't cry? Or should I keep going??

This isn't a spam topic! I'm asking for advice. Sheesh!

[*anubis*]

i'm wanting to become an actor too and i'm known to be able to cry on command, but i think you're missing the point.

what makes acting, acting, is its genuinity, despite the fact that it's not real.

in acting, you don't "make yourself cry." if you're truly playing your character and feeling everything your character is feeling, it just happens.

if you're not able to, it could either be

1.) you're not in the mood. that happens to all of us one time or another.
2.) you're seeing yourself playing the character. never ever ever do that. you have to see yourself AS the character.
3.) you're not understanding your character. you're not feeling what your character is feeling.
4.) you're distracted.
5.) you're too focused. trying so hard to make yourself cry that it's almost unattainable.

what most people don't understand about acting is the EMOTION:

think of a script.

most people focus on acting out the black ink on the script. the words. saying the words and only that.

but most people forget everything in between. what makes acting. all that empty white space of emotion inside the script. and i'll admit, it's pretty damn hard to get into it.

but don't memorize your lines and just say them, hoping to make yourself cry.

you have to see yourself SAYING those lines, as if you were that character, improvising those words on the spot. feeling that sadness.

i think that's the key to crying in acting.

[April__x]

i'm wanting to become an actor too and i'm known to be able to cry on command, but i think you're missing the point.

what makes acting, acting, is its genuinity, despite the fact that it's not real.

in acting, you don't "make yourself cry." if you're truly playing your character and feeling everything your character is feeling, it just happens.

if you're not able to, it could either be

1.) you're not in the mood. that happens to all of us one time or another.
2.) you're seeing yourself playing the character. never ever ever do that. you have to see yourself AS the character.
3.) you're not understanding your character. you're not feeling what your character is feeling.
4.) you're distracted.
5.) you're too focused. trying so hard to make yourself cry that it's almost unattainable.

what most people don't understand about acting is the EMOTION:

think of a script.

most people focus on acting out the black ink on the script. the words. saying the words and only that.

but most people forget everything in between. what makes acting. all that empty white space of emotion inside the script. and i'll admit, it's pretty damn hard to get into it.

but don't memorize your lines and just say them, hoping to make yourself cry.

you have to see yourself SAYING those lines, as if you were that character, improvising those words on the spot. feeling that sadness.

i think that's the key to crying in acting.

I just have to say that that is really nicely and beautifully put. As for hte answer, I thought most actors could just insert some glycerin in their eye during the crying scene? As long as you can keep a sad, genuinely sad face, that should be enough. It definitely shouldn't stop your career.