The Anatomy of a Choice: An Actor's Guide to Text Analysis

The Anatomy of a Choice: An Actor's Guide to Text Analysis

by Maura Vaughn
The Anatomy of a Choice: An Actor's Guide to Text Analysis

The Anatomy of a Choice: An Actor's Guide to Text Analysis

by Maura Vaughn

Paperback

$40.99 
  • SHIP THIS ITEM
    Qualifies for Free Shipping
    Choose Expedited Shipping at checkout for delivery by Thursday, April 4
  • PICK UP IN STORE
    Check Availability at Nearby Stores

Related collections and offers


Overview

How does an actor bring a script to life? The actor must know how to read a script, break it down, and mine all of its clues in order to make the most effective choices.

The Anatomy of a Choice: An Actor's Guide to Text Analysis offers the actor a concrete method for approaching a script. This guide details a simple process to discover and define a character's scene and super-objective, obstacle, beats, and tactics. It includes practical information on how to build a character, how best to use rehearsal time, and what to do when nothing is working.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780761851097
Publisher: University Press of America
Publication date: 04/27/2010
Pages: 102
Product dimensions: 5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Maura Vaughn has been a professional actor and teacher of acting for over twenty-five years. A graduate of New York University's Tisch School for the Arts, she trained at Circle in the Square. As a performer, she has graced stages in New York, across the United States, and in Europe.

Table of Contents

Foreword ix

Introduction 1

1 The First Word 5

2 Reading the Play 11

First Reading-Defining the Story 13

Second Reading-Defining the Event 16

Third Reading-Defining the Character 18

Character Interview Worksheet 25

3 What Do I Want? 29

The Super-objective 31

The Scene Objective 33

4 What Is In My Way? 39

5 What Do I Do To Get What I Want? 45

Beats 47

Tactics 48

Pivotal Point 52

6 Creating The World of the Character 55

The Magic If 57

The Moment Before and the Moment After 59

The Inner Monologue and Subtext 60

Endowment 61

Stage Business and Secondary Activity 63

Secret 64

7 Into Rehearsal 67

Bringing Choices to Life 69

Tools for Rehearsal 70

Rehearsal Journal 71

Troubleshooting-When Nothing is Working 76

The Final Word 81

Appendix: The Anatomy of a Scene 83

Acknowledgements 95

Notes 97

Bibliography 99

Index 101

From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews