Character choices

Definition

Character choices refer to the decisions and actions made by an actor to shape a character’s behavior, motivations, and emotional responses during a performance. These choices can significantly impact how a character is perceived by the audience and contribute to the overall storytelling in a scene. Understanding character choices is essential for actors as they engage in the process of bringing their characters to life, especially during cold readings and collaborative scene work.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Character choices are influenced by the script, director’s vision, and personal interpretation of the role.
2. Actors often use improvisation during rehearsals to explore different character choices and discover what resonates best with their portrayal.
3. In cold readings, quick and instinctive character choices can showcase an actor's understanding of the role without prior preparation.
4. Collaborative scene work emphasizes the importance of adjusting character choices based on interactions with fellow actors to create a cohesive performance.
5. Effective character choices enhance storytelling by making characters more relatable and believable to the audience.

Review Questions

• How do character choices impact an actor's performance during cold readings?
  • Character choices are crucial in cold readings as they allow actors to quickly establish their understanding of a character's personality and emotions. When actors make instinctive decisions about their characters, it helps them convey a clear interpretation of the role even without rehearsal. These choices can demonstrate an actor's ability to connect with the material and engage the audience right from the start.
• Discuss the role of collaboration in refining character choices during scene work.
  • Collaboration in scene work is essential for refining character choices because it allows actors to respond to one another's performances. As they interact, actors may adjust their decisions to enhance chemistry and emotional depth within the scene. This dynamic process fosters creativity and leads to more authentic portrayals, as actors build on each other's choices to create a unified storytelling experience.
• Evaluate how an actor's character choices can influence audience perception and engagement.
  • An actor's character choices have a profound impact on audience perception and engagement because they help define how relatable or believable a character appears on stage. Thoughtful decisions regarding motivation, emotional expression, and physicality can draw viewers into the story and foster empathy for the characters. When audiences connect with characters through these choices, it enhances their overall experience and investment in the narrative being presented.

Related terms

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

Subtext:

The underlying meaning or intention behind a character's spoken lines, which may not be explicitly stated but influences how the dialogue is interpreted.

Physicality:

The use of body language, gestures, and movement by an actor to express a character's emotions, intentions, and personality.