Creating Characters

1
Creating Characters

• The process through which an actor creates a
  character (whether a specific character from a
  play or a character for a skit or pantomime) is
  called The Characterization Process
• This process involves the actor tapping into
  several possible sources for help

2
Characterization Process

• By using any of the following five elements, you
  can help create a fully developed character
• Observation and Experiencewatch others and
  remember what you see and hear
• Sense Memoryusing your own memories of sights,
  sounds, smells, tastes, and textures to help
  define a character in a certain situation
• Emotional memorytechnique of calling upon your
  own memories of intense emotions to understand
  your character (inside-out approach)
• Action Generated Memorytechnique in which you
  perform the action associated with the emotion in
  order to kick start the emotion (outside-in)
• Imagination

3
Motivation and Behavior

• What is a motive?
• A clear reason to do or say ANYTHING
• Motive determines your objectiveyour goals or
  intentions
• When analyzing a scene or monologue, first ask
  yourself two questions
• What is my motive?
• What is my objective?
• Once you have determined those.

4
Motivation and Behavior

• Figure out the following
• Obstacleswhat stands in the way of you achieving
  your objective? (hintthe obstacles create the
  conflict
• Strategywhat is your characters plan to
  overcome the obstacles?
• Stakeswhat does your character stand to gain or
  lose?
• Outcomewhat is the result of the action
  (strategy) your character takes (in the
  scenemonologuethe whole play)?

5
Marking your beats

• When analyzing a monologue (or a scene), you can
  divide your characters changing emotions into
  beats
• Beat the smallest emotional unit for a
  character in a scene
• Determined by the actor
• Sometimes creates a pause in the line
• Each beat should correspond to a new emotion felt
  by the character
• By dividing a scene or monologue into beats, you
  can create emotional levels

6
Blocking a Monologue

• Blocking the process of planning and
  coordinating any movement on the stage
• In a play, blocking in determined by the director
  and becomes a collaborative process with the
  actors
• For a monologue, the actor must block himself.

7
Blocking a Monologue

• Rules for Blocking
• Never move without a purpose
• Check the stage directionssometimes the
  playwright has ideas about where and when to move
• These are not law however, you must make the
  final decision.

8
Understanding Stage Directions

• All stage directions are written from the
  perspective of the actor as he faces the
  audience.
• SR stage right
• SL stage left
• C center stage
• Uupstage (or away from the audience)
• D downstage (or toward the audience)

9
Stage Areas

• Stage is generally divided into 9 locations