“Objective and action” is a unique acting method that I learned this summer, and it revolutionized the way that I go about playing a character. It is based on observations of human behavior. More specifically, it takes into account the way that people act, and how it is more dynamic than how most people play characters. In real life, people have objectives, whether they are aware of them or not. These objectives drive both our behavior and emotions. For example, if I’m aiming to get a good grade on a quiz, my behavior will change in that I’ll study more, and my emotions will change based on whether or not I do well. This example applies to human reaction to all objectives. With this in mind, “Objective and action” involves the actor thinking about what their character wants, and using these motives as a way to portray the character’s emotions. Here are the steps I go through when analyzing a character:
1. What does your character want? Every character has some objective, though it may not be apparent at first. This is generally the most difficult step, since some objectives are sort of hidden. Many characters have many objectives. Decide whether these are “primary” or “secondary”; whether they are the character’s main goal or a peripheral issue. Determining their importance helps organize which to prioritize in your portrayal.
2. How are they going to get it? Your character’s actions should all be driven by their motives. Figure out how their choices relate back to their motives, and hit the actions that correlate strongly to the objective with more emphasis.
3. Understand the emotional response to these goals. If your character is getting what they want, they will be happy. If they are not achieving their objectives, they will most likely be upset about it. Think about how you react to achieving your goals, and likewise how you react to failure.
4. Play through your emotions. Now that you know how your character feels, use this to guide your portrayal, but do not predicate your entire character off of it. Sometimes, actors might play a certain emotion too strongly, as though it is the only thing their character feels. Thinking about real life, this isn’t very realistic- most of the time, you probably feel more than one single emotion. Keep this in mind when playing your character, and play through your emotions rather than solely playing them.
Voila! You now have a much more realistic and convincing way to play a character! Though this process can be tough and a little time consuming, it is so rewarding, as it helps to portray a much more dynamic character.
What are some of your favorite tricks for convincingly playing characters? Let us know in the comments!