Summary: You can create a character by building it from the ‘outside in’ by finding your walk, posture, and rhythms. Or you can build it from the ‘inside out’ by determining how the character thinks and responds to people, places, and things. Or you can figure out what your character wants and carefully determine how he or she goes about getting it. By knowing your character’s objectives, actions, and adjustments you will end up defining your character. Remember, the objective is what the character needs. The actions are what the character does to get what he wants. And the adjustments are how the character does the things he does to get what he wants. And it is in the “how” that characterization resides. Clearly, the distinction between two characters that have similar objectives and actions is in how they approach their actions. So thinking about characterization in this way should help you to play any character. As you get ready to take on a new role, think carefully about how your character pursues their objectives. You may know what they want…but it is the “how” they behave that defines their personality. By discovering interesting approaches to how they do things, you’ll be able to play any type of character. For more on this, listen to the full podcast. For podcasts and more please follow me on Twitter @NotesOnActing. You can also follow the podcasts on iTunes or Stitcher on Demand Radio. © Eric Barr. All rights reserved. 2013.
