Learn Best Technique To Analyze Script And Create A Character

Script analysis for actors

First of all, some actors don't approach script analysis at all, which is a huge mistake. Script analysis is the road map to your work. Actors make their acting choices from the knowledge given to them from script analysis.
To understand and create a right profile of the character you intend playing, and to have initial correct feelings, it's extremely important to read the entire script.

A great motto my Acting coaching is "Think before you act, so that you can act before you think."
The actors should have freedom on stage and on camera, to enable them to concern ourselves only with acting taking it as the truth of the moment, and shoild have fun! Analyzing the script creates a blueprint of clear choices of how to portray the character and play truthfully and instantly under the given circumstances in a scene.

To create an amazing character for an actor to play, here is an exquisite and artistic technique-

 1. A critical analysis of script (scene or screenplay)

A.The moment you get a script either for a film or only your lines for an audition, don't try to read it hurridly in your eagerness to know  what it is about. Many read it while walking or traveling or texting on cell phone. Don't do it because remember, first impression is important and gets imprinted in mind. That may take you in a wrong direction than what a writer exactly wants to convey to viewers- the objective of the story. For auditions, where you you have to prepare yourself quickly, find a quite place or go out or sit on the staircase or even in the toilet and prepare. Inform the concerned person coordinating auditions about your absence for few minutes.
B. Have patience. Read it with your free time and without any clouded thoughts. Read it again and again, at least 3 times or more for a clarity.

2. Now ask these questions to yourself and note down answers by analysing the script repeatedly

• What is the Plot? (what is the story about); The objective
• What is the Theme? (what is the message the story wants to communicate to the audience)
• What are the changes (Beat) in the script? In the beginning, middle and at the end? Beat changes are in a script smaller shifts / changes within the scenes where the characters may change their action, attitude, or topic of conversation.
• How  are the characters playing these changes. What are their 'Beats". Especially those of a character you intend portraying. ( A beat in acting terms is a change in how the character is reaching their objective in a scene. This could be a change in emotion, thought process, subject matter, or simply what the character is doing )
• What are the complications? (what is the conflict, drama in the story)
• What in the script is creating the tension (what will happen next) and how is it solved? 
• What is the conclusion? (how does the story end)
• Who is the protogonist? (the main character)
• Who is / are the antagonist/s? (could be one or more characters)
• Where does the story take place? (location, time and period etc)

Note: The questions and the answers as in above exercise, where ever applicable, should be done scene wise and shot wise especially in those, where your character is present

3 Character Analysis from The Script And How To Create "Your" Character

Though this will be done in detail in my sequenial next post, I'm giving below the key points of  creating a character

Based on your indepth analysis of the script

A. Create a physical, mental and social profile of the character
B. What is the character's objective in the script and then in each scene?
C  How the character achieves the objective? Identify character's actions (physical and mental responses or changes in 'beat' to varied situations)  for each scene, shot, even for each line.
This can also be based on asking yourself, “What does my character want to other people in the scene to do?” The answer that question is your character’s objective. How are you going to accomplish your objective? That’s what is important because that gives you an action, your response to play in each scene.
D. Based on this analysis and character creation, memorize your scenes or lines

Conclusion

• Remember that acting is a collective exercise and actors must also take a director’s opinion into account. Listen to what a director says and incorporate it into your character in an honest way, based on your own analysis of the script. 
• Your script breakdown will be a never-ending process. Each time you read the script, you find out something different about the story or the characters.
• The script will constantly evolve. It will change because of the your creative notes – writer changes – actor changes – producer changes – changes due to technical changes in a shot– location availability and on and on and on…
• If you are well prepared, can trully transform into your character and be yourself as well (due to technical reasons, especially when acting for camera), you can adjust to all the changes. 

Take 5 Minutes Test To Know If You Will Be An Actor Or Not

Can You Be An Actor?

Whether You Will be An Actor Or Not?
If Yes, great but, what next?
If No, then what to do? Forget your dreams? Or is there any hope?

Answer This Simple Test And Know

• Either directly on page or copy on Microsoft word / notepad. Just write "yes" or "no" against every question based truthfully on 'who you are'
• Answering all the questions is mandatory. 
• Time: Unlimited
• Maximum: 100 Marks

1. Am I always going all out to compete against my own last performance in rehearsals, auditions and in a shoot?


2. Am I a strong believer in myself as well as others?


3. Have I always helped others without expecting any return?


4. Have I set my long and short term goal, action plan and strategies?


5. Am I prepared to continue to learn and update the acting craft till I die?


6. Am I always taking an action to meet my goals?


7. Am I absolutely confident while in auditions or in a shoot or in life in general?


8. Am I emotionally strong and thick skinned to take rejections, criticism, and rebuke?


9. Am I afraid of making mistakes?


10. Am I reluctant of saying, I was wrong?


11. I  not egoistic and try to boast about myself.


12. Am I disciplined and orderly in managing my life?


13. Am I persistent in getting what I want and don't give up?


14. Am polite and courteous all the times, even in spite of adverse comments?


15. Do I plan in advance to be punctual?


16. Am I well informed?


17. Have I researched on the internet and with other sources to understand cine industry, rules of the game, money required to fulfill my dream to a successful actor?


18. Do I have the patience to wait for years to be a successful actor?


19. Am I willing to take  chances?


20. Do  I always answer the telephone in a polite and professional manner?


21. I don't get carried away by Industry's big names, rumors and promises in undertaking training, roles offered in big films or serials etc.


22. Do I work 10 hours a day on the requirements of "How to be a successful actor in Bollywood' like top body, good looks, excellent voice, proficiency in Hindi and English, excellent acting skills, knowledge of the industry, developing contacts, networking etc. ?


23. Do I forget the failures of the past,  brood and look at each new day through fresh eyes?


24. Do I look for solutions, not problems?


25. Do I look straight at other people in the eyes during conversations?


26. Do I always make a comment 'I like that' or 'That's good,' a big part of my conversation?


27. Do I look for and meet with other successful actors on a regular basis?


28. I never criticize.


29. I never say, 'never' or 'not possible' or 'cannot be done'.


30. Do I reach beyond my 'comfort zone'?


31. Do I recognize and applaud the performance of others?


32. Do I always return telephone calls?


33. Do I reward myself for even little achievements?


34. Do I always maintain a friendly face with a permanent smile?


35. Do I say 'thank you' and 'please' on a consistent basis?


36. Do I share what I have with others?


37. Do I take care with the way I dress?


38. Do I'm always careful of taking a recommended nutritious diet for my body?


39. Do I use a diary to plan for the day, check in the night, whether I have achieved my previous day's plan?


40. Do I walk perfectly like a model normally, and have good posture?


41. Do I pray to my God every day before I start to move out?


42. Am I careful in selecting my friends and have ones from whom I learn and who are always ready to help me?


43. I believe in 'I would rather win a friend than win an argument'?


44. Do I read lots of books to improve my acting craft?


45. I don't chat foolishly on social media like Facebook or post my photographs for receiving favorable comments, thus giving me false hopes.


46. Do I write lots of notes


47. Am I a  good listener?


49. I never indulge in gossips

50. If I have nothing good to say, I keep my mouth shut

51. Am I ready to do another part time job to support me in my pursuit to be a successful actor, in the case of a prolonged financial uncertainty?

CHECK OUT THE RESULT YOURSELF

• For "Yes" +2 Marks
• For "No" -Marks
• Add up your points

INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS

More than 70 Marks: 
Good Job! You are Gonna Be A Star Actor! But, continue to learn till you die

Less than 70 Marks: 

Read this blog, practice and change yourself
Or Join us to get trained
Or Just forget to be an actor. Dream some other life and be happy 

Source

Is Acting Talent Inborn or Learned? What Should Do If Not?

A Big Dilemma for Beginners

Can  An Actor's Creativity and Talent Be Taught or Is It Inborn?

 

Beliefs

Good acting comes naturally and it's "inborn"
No, not necessarily. Good acting can be learned

I think, like with any talent that one has to have a certain amount of natural ability towards such in order to be good at whatever event you wish to pursue.

Examples:

Hollywood

Imagine Al Pachino as the leading scorer of NBA game, and Micheal Jordan as an actor.
Each was great within their own field of expertise through a seemingly natural endowed gift towards that particular talent, hence, it's technically both.

Bollywood  India

• Watch great TV live incredible shows of Indian Idol of singers, Jhalak Dikh La Ja of dancers and The Voice Kids of singers. It's both, inborn talent and the result of most rigorous training and practice.
• Watch classics of Bollywood oldies like Dilip Kumar, Sanjeev Kumar, Meen Kumari, Nargis who never took any training and then the group of contemporary star actors like Khans, Akshay Kumar, who had both talent and training

However, I strongly believe, acting can be learned. Sure, there are actors with inborn talent but acting can't be satisfactory until you feel it and to feel it you have to practice it.

My personal formula for the best way To be a good actor 

Is to practice acting by

1. Just lie: lie a lot . make stories that don't exist and make everyone believe in your stories. That will help you to improvise scenes and with your character.

2. Observation: Observe people with varied attitudes and practice copying their physical movements, voice, reactions and emotions. For this visit regularly, public places like bus stops or railway stations, market, museums, zoo etc and spend time watching

3. Imagine and Dream: A. Develop power of imagination by creating new stories on what you have observed like backstory or new stories on shapes, emotions, actions, family, happenings etc.B. Write 10 words (any) on a paper. Close your eyes and put your finger on any one. Now, create a story related to that word and then play that story in front of a mirror or in front of friends (play this game with your family or friends)

4. Magic "If": The easiest and most effective technique to learn acting is called magic "If". In simple term, it's imagining "If I'm so and so (The character) in this given situation in a scene". Read, learn and practice it daily. It's almost forty years since I first put my first steps on the stage to perform as an actor and I still practice, of course, now for camera  magic "If" in free time.

Finally: Then go on learning on your own and practicing it till you die

I remember the comments of 2 top acting coach whom I met during my long coaching career.

"Acting is a talent and skill that cannot be taught – only nurtured and developed” 

“Some actors will always be crap, no matter how much training they get".

Talent is inborn, skill is acquired. If you really want to fly high because of talent alone, try to analyze and mingle with 2 categories of actors and learn-

A. Only talented and
B. Well-trained actors with passion

So what’s the final verdict then?

The truth is that – based on numerous survey and findings – some individuals really are born more creative than others. The rest of us will have to continue nurturing and developing our creative minds in hopes that we’ll get to the level of those gifted people.

But hey, we’re artists nonetheless and it will be hard to push any artist, whether“talented” or not into trusting only "opinions" behind being an actor over our passion and determination.

16 Pearls Of Wisdom To Know Before You Decide To Be An Actor

Is there any aspiring actor reading this now so wise as to learn by the experience of others?

These are few pearls of wisdom related to acting and actors based on from performing art world masters, my own decades of personal experience as an actor, writer, and a filmmaker Source

So, here we go!

1. In my life, I was lucky to meet some good actors out of thousands. It's a challenge, writing about actors, especially a good actor, because you can't always tell when they're being honest and when they're pretending - that is, when they're acting. Whether in front of a camera or in real life, they are an epitome of excellence~Kiran Pande, author, and an acting coach

2. In the acting business world, every actor is paid in two coins: cash and experience. Take the experience first; the cash will come later

3. Being a successful actor is a business. If you don't drive your business, you will be driven out of business

4. Every day I get up and look through the list of the richest actors in Bollywood. If I'm not there, I go out and work harder.

5. A Casting Director a stupid person. She is your wife. Take care and do what she wants.

6. I rate enthusiasm and determination in an actor even above professional skill.

7. Like in any other business, if you don't sell yourself as an actor to the cine world, you are not creative.

8. Struggling actors! Sometimes you can have the smallest role in the smallest production and still have a big impact.

9. Make your life by creating a new life in front of a camera.

10. There are no regrets rejections and failures in actor's life. Just lessons.

11. Wanna be an actor? Warning! You can be terrorized by the observation, imagination and emotional requirements of being an actor. Acting is like letting your pants down; you're exposed.

12. To be a good human being isn't easy. Being an actor is even harder. I want to be both before I die.

13. A good actor is a criminal, to be willing to break the rules to go for something new.

14. There are two main jobs in acting - the first one is to be a good actor, and the second one is to convince everyone that you're a good actor.

15. A good actor must never be in love with anyone but himself.

16. The world of acting is no place for good actors. The competition from bad actors is too great. Be an intelligent actor