WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN THE SCRIPT
- By John A. Martin
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- 14 Nov, 2018
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Below are some important points by our professionals at Child Actor LA you should consider for better acting results:
Character Details: What are the character details in the script? What questions should students be able to answer about their characters? What does each character want? Do they get it? What changes happen to the characters? What do they sound like? What's their background? Are the character details plentiful or thin?
Story Details: What are the main plot points? Is the story logical or absurd? Are there plot holes? Are there moments in the play mentioned but not dramatized?
The Structure: What does the structure say about the play? For example: repeating dialogue, out of the ordinary choice of words, change in tenses. Is the structure trying to make a point? Reflect a certain genre or time period or location? Are there words that might be mispronounced, or misunderstood?
The Conflict: What is the main conflict? How does each character react to the conflict?
Themes: Are they obvious? Subtle? More than one? Defining the themes will help you shape your vision for the play. How will the themes factor into the blocking patterns? Can you create pictures that demonstrate the themes? Is there a recurring symbol?
Images: What pictures come to mind when you read the play? What visuals can you create? Plays are more than just the words, they are about the images you can plant in the minds of the audience, the physical action of the characters. Is there a dominant color or texture?
The Nitty Gritty: A list of props, sets, costumes specifically mentioned in the script. What do you absolutely need for the show?
Research: If there's a specific time period, a specific historical event, specific pop culture references, all of these things need to be researched. It will reflect acting choices, design choices, directing choices.
The Biggies: What is the big problem trying to be solved? What is the biggest action of the story? What is the biggest action of each character? What is the climax? The highest point? The lowest point?
