Overview
This lecture focuses on the concept of a character's objective in acting, explaining its critical importance in driving scenes and performances.
Understanding Objectives
- An objective is what your character wants or needs from another character in a scene.
- Every scene in film, TV, or theater centers on a character's desire directed at another person.
- The objective is always about changing or impacting the other character, not just talking or venting.
Importance of Specificity
- Strong objectives are specific, compelling, and clearly targeted at another character.
- Examples: “I want him to put down the gun,” or “I want her to take care of our mom.”
- Weak objectives focus on self-expression or emotions (e.g., “to vent” or “to feel sad”) rather than interaction.
Formulating Effective Objectives
- Objectives should be concrete and actionable (e.g., “I want Jake to give me the money”).
- They must be achievable within the play's context and consistent with the playwright’s intentions.
- Objectives should focus on what you want to achieve, not on what you want to avoid.
Playing Objectives in Scenes
- Usually, a scene has one main objective, but if it’s achieved, a new objective may emerge.
- Conflict arises when characters have opposing objectives, making scenes engaging.
Applying Objectives to Real Life and Performance
- In real life, we always want something from others, even in simple interactions.
- In acting, channeling this natural desire creates authentic and compelling performances.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Objective — What a character wants or needs from another character in a scene.
- Conflict — The clash between differing objectives of characters, driving dramatic tension.
- Specificity — Making the objective concrete and clearly directed at another character.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Watch a TV show or film, identify a character’s objective in a scene, and determine if it is specific and compelling.
- Prepare to articulate clear, actionable objectives for your own scenes in class.