Overview
This lecture introduces the concept of tactics in action-based acting, explaining how characters use different strategies to achieve their objectives in a scene.
Understanding Tactics in Acting
- Tactics are specific actions a character uses to get what they want from another character.
- The choice of tactic depends on the character's objective (goal) and the obstacles in their way.
- Tactics and actions are interchangeable terms in acting; some may use 'strategy' as well.
- In life and acting, people naturally adjust their tactics based on feedback to achieve their goals.
Objective, Obstacle, and Tactic Example
- A child's objective: get Mom to give candy.
- The obstacle: Mom does not want to give candy.
- Tactics used: begging, threatening (meltdown), and bargaining.
- When one tactic fails, the child switches to another tactic to try to achieve the objective.
Importance of Changing Tactics
- Good scenes require characters to adapt and use new tactics when old ones fail.
- Playing the same tactic repeatedly makes a scene boring and unrealistic.
- Changing tactics brings a character closer to winning or achieving their goal.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Tactic — A specific action a character takes to get what they want from another character.
- Objective — What a character desperately wants from another character in a scene.
- Obstacle — Anything that stands in the way of a character achieving their objective.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Reflect on how you use tactics in real life and how they can be applied to acting.
- Be prepared for part two on tactics in the next lecture.