Objective

Definition

In acting, an objective refers to a character's goal or intention within a scene, driving their actions and choices. It serves as the foundation for character motivation, shaping how an actor interprets and delivers their lines while interacting with others on stage. Understanding objectives is crucial for creating depth in performances, whether it involves crafting a character biography, delivering a monologue, or developing relationships and conflict.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Objectives can be short-term, such as winning an argument in a scene, or long-term, like achieving personal growth over the course of a play.
2. An actor's understanding of their character's objective helps to inform their delivery and physicality, making the performance more believable.
3. Actors often break down scenes by identifying their character's objectives to clarify motivations and enhance interactions with other characters.
4. When rehearsing, clear objectives enable actors to stay focused and committed to their character's journey throughout the production.
5. Objectives can evolve during the performance, reflecting changes in the character's emotional state or circumstances as the story unfolds.

Review Questions

• How does identifying a character's objective influence an actor's performance?
  • Identifying a character's objective is essential for actors because it shapes how they approach their lines and interactions with other characters. Understanding what their character wants at any given moment allows actors to infuse emotion and authenticity into their performance. This clarity helps actors make choices that align with their character’s goals, ultimately enhancing the overall impact of the scene.
• Discuss the relationship between objectives and conflict in a scene.
  • Objectives are closely tied to conflict because differing goals among characters create tension and drive the narrative forward. When one character's objective clashes with another's, it leads to conflict that engages the audience. This dynamic is crucial for building drama and interest within the story, as characters navigate their opposing objectives throughout the scene.
• Evaluate how understanding objectives can improve cold reading techniques for actors.
  • Understanding objectives significantly enhances cold reading techniques by providing actors with immediate context for their lines. When actors can quickly identify their character's goals in a script, they can deliver lines with more conviction and emotional truth. This insight helps them connect more naturally with other characters during cold readings, making their performances feel more spontaneous and alive even without prior rehearsal.

Related terms

Motivation: The underlying reason or desire that propels a character towards their objective, influencing their behavior and choices.

Conflict: The struggle between opposing forces in a scene, often resulting from differing objectives of characters that drive the narrative.

Subtext: The underlying meaning or intention behind a character's words and actions, often linked to their objectives but not explicitly stated.