Scene-specific objectives

Definition

Scene-specific objectives are the precise goals that a character aims to achieve within a particular scene, guiding their actions, emotions, and dialogue. These objectives help actors to focus their performances, understand their characters better, and create more authentic interactions on stage. By clarifying what a character wants in each moment, scene-specific objectives enhance the overall storytelling and character development.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Scene-specific objectives are crucial for actors as they provide clear direction on how to portray their characters' intentions and emotions.
2. Understanding scene-specific objectives allows actors to make informed choices about their physicality, voice, and interaction with other characters.
3. These objectives can shift within a scene based on changes in emotional dynamics or external circumstances.
4. Directors often facilitate discussions about scene-specific objectives during table work to ensure that all actors are aligned in their understanding of the scene.
5. By focusing on these objectives, actors can create more layered performances that resonate with audiences and enrich the overall narrative.

Review Questions

• How do scene-specific objectives enhance an actor's performance?
  • Scene-specific objectives enhance an actor's performance by providing them with clear goals that inform their choices in terms of dialogue delivery, emotional expression, and physical movement. When actors know exactly what their characters want in a specific moment, they can create more authentic interactions and convey a deeper understanding of their character's motivations. This clarity helps the actor to connect with their role on a more personal level and engage the audience effectively.
• Discuss the role of directors in helping actors identify scene-specific objectives during table work.
  • Directors play a vital role in guiding actors to identify scene-specific objectives during table work by facilitating discussions about character motivations and emotional arcs. They encourage actors to analyze the script deeply, asking questions that prompt them to think critically about what their characters want in each scene. By doing this, directors help create a cohesive vision for the production, ensuring that every actor is aligned in their understanding of their roles and how they interact with one another.
• Evaluate the importance of scene-specific objectives in developing character arcs throughout a production.
  • Scene-specific objectives are essential for developing character arcs throughout a production because they provide insight into the evolving desires and challenges faced by characters. As characters pursue different objectives across various scenes, these goals illustrate their growth or regression, adding depth to the narrative. By focusing on scene-specific objectives, actors can highlight pivotal moments of change or realization, ultimately crafting a more compelling journey for their characters that resonates with the audience and enriches the overall story.

Related terms

Character Motivation: The underlying reasons or desires that drive a character's actions and decisions throughout a play or scene.

Subtext:

The unspoken thoughts and intentions behind a character's dialogue, revealing deeper layers of meaning in their interactions.

Conflict: The struggle between opposing forces within a scene or story that creates tension and propels the narrative forward.