What Makes a Good Actor? Imagination

Having previously described two of the core elements to "Method Acting" (emotional memory and physical actions) it is not time to move to the next: imagination.

Every child has surely used their imagination at some point while playing and passing the time. It comes in the use of dolls and superheroes. Children create characters to portray. They give these characters backgrounds and stories and they imagine these fallacies to be truths. This is an important concept for actors to grasp.

Actors must learn to use their imaginations to create environments for their characters. They must use their imaginations to embrace these false moments and make them true.

Imagination plays a part not only in scenes, but also in back-story. Very often, scripts to not delve into the reasoning behind a character's actions or past. The actor needs to imagine these details and make them specific.

Just as every human is a product of their lifelong environment, every character is as well. The burden to create a character's past is placed upon the actor who will portray him. Think about the following scenario.

You are playing a secondary character and are given a scene in which your character robs a convenience store.

The first thing to remember is: "There are no small parts. There are only small actors." Keeping that in mind, it is time to rationalize your character's behavior. Answer the following questions:

1. Why have you chosen to rob this store? (Both why at this moment in time and why this particular store.)
2. What happened to cause you to rob this store? (If you are robbing the store because you need to pay rent, you might act differently than if you are robbing the store to get money to leave town.)
3. What are your plans after you have completed the deed? (Where are you going? What are you doing with the money?)

It is a good start to imagine yourself as a reporter. While doing this, make a list of questions you might ask someone who has done what your character is about to do. This will help you to rationalize the actions and further develop your character as a person with a history and a future.

Imagination is useful not only in rationalizing actions, but also in determining the "subtext" of the lines. Comments made by anyone can have a multitude of meanings. For instance, the scripts calls for your character to say, "I'm hungry now."

Now it is time for you to determine the subtext of this line. Are you hungry because you have seen a commercial for a restaurant? Or are you hungry at this current moment and upset that you are unable to eat?

Many times, subtext can be determined through the actions of an entire scene, but subtext refers to the whole of the meaning, the thought, the intention, and the bodily gestures associated with all of these. They are equally important and should be equally studied and cared for.