Summary of Acting Methodology

1. Learn all the relevant facts that influence this person's behavior (given circumstances).

2. Use these facts to place yourself inside the character's life perspective (Magic If).

3. From the character's point of view, determine what the character wants most in life (super o jective)
and range of lesser but still important goals, both conscious and unconscious from scene to scene and
within scenes (objectives). ·

4. Find the connection between all the moments when a psychological motive (objective- what
the character wants) prompts an impulse (action- what the character does to get what they want).
Experience the character's particular way of dealing with the variety of obstacles and setbacks
that get in their way.

5. Mark the script (score) into work able units, particularly noting when the character's objectives and
actions change (beats).

6. Project onto people and objects, real and imagined, physical and emotional qualities from your
imagination and experience that bring them to life (endowment). Explore and define the

many small activities or bits of business available through these objects.

7. Use your five senses to awaken memories of both physical sensations and emotions that can be
filtered into the character's feelings (recall). Use sense memory to add detail and texture. Tap
emotional memory to connect with the character's feelings.

8. Create the character's constantly playing stream of consciousness, including their thoughts (interior
monologue) and visual, auditor, tactile and kinesthetic sensory experiences (images).
9. Alter your own physical and vocal tendencies to suit those of the character, particularly your sense of
time and intensity of xperience (tempo and rhythm) so that none of your own habitual or inappropriate
mannerisms are imposed on the role (external a4justments).

Explore physical characteristics utilizing the exaggerated grotesque possibilities, psychological gesture
and animal exercises. Balance the internalized psychological and externalize

physical ingredients appropriately for the style and circumstance of the production. Explore the
character’s status, both preferred and played in relations with other characters.

10. Allow yourself to use all the previous "probing" of the text to free your entry into the heightened
reality of the moment in the performance that allows you both to discover and control simultaneously
through the mutual interaction and exchange with your fellow performers (communion).

Character Development Outline 2

I. Script Analysis

A. Understanding the text

l . First reading -just read and respond to text. Note your emotional responses

2. Second reading-

a. What does the author say about your character?

b. What does your character say about his/her self?

c. What do other characters say about your character?

d. What are your characters wants and desires?

In life?

In the overall time ofthe play? (Super objective?) In each scene?

e. How is the character like you?

f How are the character and you different?.

g. What does your character know that you don't? B. Scoring the text - Four Column analysis

Mark the beats and note:

1. Environmental Requirements - Objects/Activities

-scenery, props, costume pieces (rehearsal clothing), special effects, etc

2. Objectives/Actions

-What do you want?

-What do you do to get what you want?

3. Subtext I Interior monologue

What do you think that you don't say?

Where do the thoughts for the things that you say begin in the text?

4. Images .

Beat Objects/Activities Objectives/Actions Interior Monologue

C. Character Biography 3

1. What is your full name?

2. Physical attributes ofthe Character

age health posture cleanliness

hearing eyesight dialect

Do you dress to cover or reveal?

3. Personality

(-self image/ego, jealousy, reliability, etc.) Do you believe in God and religion?

What are your prejudices? Are you a day or night bird? What is your romantic life like? What is your
"secret?"

Do you mask or cover up feelings and behaviors? What feelings do you mask?

Do you have a sense of humor? What do you find funny?

Is this sense of humor used in a positive of negative way? What is your most positive trait?

4. Status (parents, job, social class; Is your character a high status or low status player or a status
expert, who easily plays the “status seesaw”?

What is your level of education and what is your attitude towards it? Do you have money?

Do you have power?

What is you job? How do you feel about your job? Are you a member of the "in" crowd?
5. Off Stage Life

What do you carry in your pockets (purse)? What does your room look like? .

What happens in the moments before your entrances?

II. Physical Work

4

A Environmental [nfluences

What are the physical requirements for each scene? (heat, cold, hunger, drunkenness, arousal, etc... )

Objects and Activities

B. Outward appearance

What is your posture like? Where do you manifest tension?

C. Movement
,What is your leading center?

-head, shoulders, heart, stomach, pelvis

-gesture from your leading cente

Explore the Grotesque possibilities of the Character - Clown/Monster

Do you have small, repetitive physical gestures?

Animal Image -what animal would you be?

III. Vocal Work

A Breath

B. The Three Modalities

Volume Pitch Tempo/Rhythm

C. The Three Energies

Structural Tonal Consonant

D. Resonance Chest Mouth/Throat Mask

Head

E. Operative words

F. Utterances
What personal sounds are associated with you?

-sighing, wheezing, grunting

G. Dialects/Regionalisms