Summarized as Thought, Action, Behavior, and Rhythm—the four building blocks of how we communicate meaning. Thought: Electrical impulses in the brain that spawn emotions. Action: What you do, physically or verbally, propelled by thought. Behavior: The patterns or...
A single line or belief that frames a character’s worldview, often buried in the script as a seemingly offhand remark. Once you spot the “core thought,” you can let it guide emotional choices across the story—even if it only appears explicitly once. Practical Note: A...
Something the audience infers from visual and auditory cues. It is not something the actor “plays.” Setting, costumes, music, and editing supply context for the viewer’s brain to piece together. Practical Note: Trust the environment (set design, period costumes, etc.)...
Divided here into two primary types: Focused Concentration – Directing your mental resources on one object or task, often to the exclusion of everything else. Open or Diffuse Concentration – Expanding your awareness outward to take in everything (scene partner,...
A character choice arises out of the script’s logic and the character’s needs or worldview. An actor choice often stems from the performer’s desire to be “interesting” or “bold” (e.g., an added flourish to impress casting). Practical Note: Always ask: “Is this the...