Acting

What is acting? And what does a beginning actor need to know? This guide will cover the responsibilities of an actor, whether understanding a script or knowing a character type.

Terminology

• Analysis: The process of examining the pieces of the text in order to better understand it.
• Beat: A unit of action within a monologue, scene, or play.
• Blocking: The movement and gestures used in staging.
• Character Actor: A supporting actor who specializes in unusual or eccentric roles.
• Ensemble Character: A role with little to no lines who generally appears within a larger group of similar characters.
• Expectation: The character’s desired outcome that motivates the monologue.
• Featured Character: A small role within the script that has some lines, but could be cut from the show without altering the story.
• Given Circumstances: The information provided by the playwright about the character and situation.
• G.O.T.E.: An acronym for Goal-Obstacle-Tactic-Expectation, developed by Robert Cohen.
• Lead Character:A character that is in most or all of the scenes in a script, whose journey is central to the story; the protagonist.
• Moment Before: The event or idea that prompts the monologue.
• Monologue: A speech given by a character.
• Notation: The notes made on the text, including analysis, beats, and blocking.
• Objective: The desired goal of the character.
• Obstacle: The person or thing standing in the way of a character achieving their objective.
• “Other”: Related to obstacle, the person or thing a character struggles against.
• Scansion: The process of determining the rhythm of a line, usually a line in verse.
• Scene: A segment of action and dialogue between two or more characters within a play.
• Soliloquy: A speech given by a character that reveals inner thoughts only shared with the audience.
• Supporting Character: A character that is in many scenes, and helps or hinders the central protagonist on their journey.
• Tactic: The methods a character uses to achieve their objective, identified as actable verbs.
• “Type”: The criteria of an actor (gender, age, physical appearance, personality traits) that can determine how an actor is cast into a role.