24. The Actor's Craft and Writing: Make Your Characters Active and Believable

EPISODE DESCRIPTION:    
Continuing to build on last week's discussion, this episode presents the next three don'ts in a series of 12 that actors (and writers) should not do., and what they SHOULD do instead.

4. DON'T INDICATE, meaning, don't comment on the work, or tell your audience how they should feel about a character or situation. Both actors and writers should play the truth of the situation and leave interpretation or evaluation to the audience.

5. DON'T JUST STAND THERE, DO SOMETHING, which means, actors should find behavior to justify the text since story is about behavior, and writers should start each scene by giving the characters something to do. This will allow the scene to develop in a more dynamic way.

6. DON'T USE PEOPLE LIKE PROPS. All characters must have their own agenda. Don't have all of the supporting characters simply there to serve the main character's needs. When each character enters a scene with his or her own objective, it can lead to conflict and tension, which is what we want. Actors, focus on tactics you should use to achieve your objective, and writers, make sure every character has his or her own agenda to pursue.

UP NEXT
Next week, we will discuss the next 3 don'ts.

7. DON'T BE A DUMPTRUCK
8. DON'T HOLD BACK.
9. DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE MESSAGE

Join us for some great tips! 

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SPECIAL THANKS
The Mission with Zena Dell Lowe would like to thank composer Carla Patullo for the original music she graciously permits us to use in the intro and outro of this podcast. To find out more about this amazing talent, go to  www.carlapatullo.com

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