Hello Actors,
This graded quiz is where I’d like you to explore and share your characterization work as we lead into our first scene study project. I will be reading your answers so please be as specific as possible. There will be some word count expectations for some answers. Please do not use AI as I’ll know immediately and its also against the rules.
At this point you should have read the entire script your scene is from. Remember that top tier artists read their script multiple times and it is what I absolutely recommend.
Now that you’ve read the script, you should have a collection of notes on what the playwright said about your character, what your character said about themselves, and what other characters say about your character. While also working on a nice list of research topics and references made.
You should also begin to have a specific point of view on your characters’ relationship with the other characters in the play. You should create specific scenes in your imagination of things that happen off stage and have an imagined memory of your times together before the action of the play starts.
The questions in this quiz should help you consider the Physical, Social/Economic, Psychological/Emotional, and Character history of your character.
Please give each question consideration and answer as specifically as possible. You may need to have the digital copy of your script open for reference. If some of these questions are not given to you by the playwright it is up to you to make informed creative choices when answering. They should align with the given circumstances.
Thanks!
Your character : Conor
1. What economic class does your character come from? (Upper Class? Middle Class? Working Class? Poverty?) Expand on your answer as to how this will inform your character work in the scene. Knowing where your character came from and what circumstances they existed in during an impressionable part of their life is very important. Did they work their way up from the bottom? Have they always been poor? Have they always been rich? Does this effect their outlook on life and the circumstances provided? Are they trying to protect their way of life? Please use at least 200 words to answer.
2. What is your character’s lifestyle? Be creative in thinking about what your character’s day to day life looks like and explain it to me. What are they like at the end of the day? What are some images of their life outside of the circumstances of the play. Do they have fun or have any hobbies? Please use at least 300 words in your answer.
3. What is going on in your character’s mind during the scene? (What is their inner monologue or what are they telling themselves as the dialogue progresses?). What are some things that go through your character’s mind as certain lines of dialogue are used? Please use examples and touch on at least 3 different moments in your scene. At least 300 words please.
Examples: (though please expand more than these examples do)
My character is probably telling themselves “My siblings think I’m crazy”.
I think there is a flurry of thoughts going through my characters mind. (Then list them all). – Does she love me? – Did she ever love me? -Why didnt they just tell me the truth? I love this person even though they don’t love me, I wonder what it would take to convince them.
My character is considering how they can get their point across without hurting their brother’s feelings.
4. What is your Scene Objective? What is it your character wants from the other character in this scene? Or what do they want in the scene if it doesn’t have to do with the other character? Keep in mind that your scene objective is not always achievable or achieved in the scene and that does not stop your character from wanting it and striving for it. Does your scene objective change mid scene? Does it change multiple times as new information is shared?
Example:
I want to finish what I was working on.
I want to be left alone.
I want to make sure my friends are protected.
I want lynx to leave.
I want Jordan to know he’s better off without me.
5. What are some hidden thoughts, fears, emotions, or desires your character has? (Are they hiding something? Is what they are saying true? Do they have some skeletons in the closet? What are they afraid of?)
6. Where are they from? What was the neighborhood like where they grew up. (Avoid making problematic assumptions about where you’re from and instead make informed choices. Expand on your answer and give me some vivid details.)
7. What was their childhood like? This is different from the “economic class” question. How were they treated by their parents? Did they have a loving home or a toxic one? What was the atmosphere of the location they grew up in?
What were their teens like?Pre-teens? 20’s? Fill in this characters life.
At least 400 words please
8. What is their occupation or what were their occupations? How do they make money? If they do not make money how do they spend the working hours of the day? If it is an obvious answer because the play says so, please give me a specific snapshot of what your work day is like and how you feel about it. 200 words at least please.
If you’ve answered this already please just give me a short reminder.
9. What are some key events in your characters life that truly molded who they are? What are some mistakes they always make? What are some of their most triumphant moments? What are some key events in your relationships with the other characters in this scene and the play? No word guideline but this should be a long-ish answer to cover the many events in your characters life. Or was there one major one? Expand.
A time that changed their point of view on life.
Specify an important event that is mentioned in the play that includes your character.
A person who changed them and an event they had with them (Make it up if you want! Add richness of character! Add life!)
10. What does your character think of themselves? What are some thoughts they have about how they live their lives? It could be thoughts they never share with anybody but always tell themselves. It could also be thoughts they constantly share.
