CREATING A CHARACTER, 'YOUR CHARACTER'

IN MY OPINION;

WILLIAM REYNOLDS;

CREATING A CHARACTER, 'YOUR CHARACTER'

The goal of any actor is to be able to tell a story as a character, so the main task from first reading to final performance is to develop that character. The first and most important step in this process is perhaps the easiest: read! Read the script, read the text, read everything given to you for your part. You wouldn't believe how many actors go straight to performance without having even read their material. It is only by reading the material that you can learn the fundamentals about your character.

So what do you look for when reading your script? Pay attention to everything given to you about your character: his or her name, age, address, likes, dislikes, family, friends, political and religious viewpoints, favorite foods, places, upbringing— anything and everything about your character. Just like you, yes you. You personally have everyone of these traits, so why should not the character you are playing DUH!  Some of these qualities will be said directly by your character or another character; other attributes you'll be able to pick up through context clues in the script. However, the script will only grant you a small fraction of what you need to know about your character. So what do you do to find the other details? You make them up! AND NO! I'M NOT KIDDING. IF IT'S NOT THERE, MAKE THEM UP, AND REMEMBER THEM.