Professional Acting Tips - Engaging in Defined Strategy

Within any script, your character will develop some sort of strategy. This strategy may be more elaborate in some story lines; however, every move, every word and every thought of your character is done so according to his internal defined strategy.

Understanding how to engage in defined strategy will help develop an interesting and provocative character, which engages the audience and makes your character truly three-dimensional.

While the exact processes of engaging in defined strategy may slightly vary according to the script and your character, there are several methods I have cultivated throughout years of professional experience to help you on this journey of finding and engaging in defined strategy.

Satisfying Your Character's Needs

If you truly delve into any script, you will notice that your character has specific needs that he is trying to satisfy. For example, you're a detective working on a murder case. His needs are to uncover evidence and the true killer behind these hideous crimes. Another example, your character is in high school and she wishes to become prom queen; however, she isn't the most popular nor pretty. Thus, she must engage in a specific strategy to satisfy her needs.

There are two types of needs within a character's story line: the primary need and the passing need. The primary need is what is driving your character throughout the entire script, while the passing needs are those that must be met in a short amount of time in order to satisfy her primary need.

When performing character development, ask yourself: "What is my character willing to do in order to satisfy his needs?" "Is my character willing to manipulate his world in order to get what he wants?" "What are the consequences if my character does not get what he wants?" After answering these questions you will have a clearer picture of his defined strategy and what steps you must take emotionally and physically to reach the overall goal.

Being Guided by Desires

When approaching a character, you must allow his desires to help guide you throughout the story. We are all guided by our desires. For example, I am sitting at my computer in the wee-hours of the morning writing this article because my desire is to help my fellow actors while generating exposure to help further my career. What are you desires? Why are you reading this article? Why did you go to work or school today? Why do you do anything?

Uncovering the desires of your character will allow you to reach a raw and vivid emotional point within the story line while simultaneously engaging in defined strategy to satisfy your character's needs and desires.