How to Act?

Assume that you have a script and a (screen) play written etc etc... now how would you go about and prepare to act?

• First understand the back ground and the context under which the play-write wrote it. Understanding this is very critical - this would help you to bring out the very essence that might not be available in the script/play itself. For you to act well, finding this is like finding the undercurrent that a Salmon uses to shoot against the flow of the current.
• Next do your homework - ie understand your character well, you should be able to say even to the extent of what happened to that character when she was say 12 years old, who were the best friends, what was the outlook on life - how it evolved etc etc
• Then understand the goal of the character. (The goal might be influencing the goals played in each scene). Find the sub-text.
• Prepare GOTE sheet - you should prepare one for each scene. Write down who else in the play/scene can help that character or hurt that character. What are the deepest fears and how can that be played in the scene. Remember the fundamentals: any change in goal or tactic forces a change in motivation.
• Find out what in the character's nature that would make you choose the tactics in the scene.
• Break the scene into beats and units and explain the motivation for each beat or unit from the angle of the chosen character. If any character enters or leaves the frame/scene then that automatically constitutes the start/stop of an unit. There may be many choices that might be "right" but remember to find the choices that are the most exciting.

That's it now get on the stage or set and give your best :)

Here are some very important tips:

• Never play a part pitifully - we root for underdogs; so look for the driving force to bring that edge out even if you are playing a very miserable part.
• Also if you have to play a negative role, find a more vulnerable reason to justify your actions on the stage.
• Now get ready for the most important one: Bring out conflict - conflict should always exist. Even if you are playing a dry scene try to inject conflict. Example: if you are just talking - a real boring speech - add a dimension of conflict to it - be it as simple as struggling to unscrew a Coke bottle.