Preparation

[Sad Max]

What do you hope for in terms of preparatory materials, for a role? Beyond the screenplay do you value notes on characters' biographies? Is there utility in things like 'letters from character?' Family background? Deep notes on motivation?

What is your favored preparatory process with a director on a new project? Extensive scribblings or take-the-script-and-run?

 

[Tom Marshall]

I haven't done that much film, yet, but I can comment on theatre.

Generally, through the rehearsal process, some input from the director is needed. In general, I prefer to come up with my own interpretation of the character for the most part. Basically, whatever is given to me in terms of necessary background in order to give the character the needed traits for the story is built upon to flush out the character.

If my choice in character is off base, then the director has every right to reel it in closer to fit the story. In the end, the character HAS to support the story and the other characters. That's the only way that character will help develop the plot and push things along towards the overall story arc. That's the most important thing in the end.

With the short films (and one no budget feature) that I've done, I've been given complete freedom to do whatever I want to do for the most part. I would like to have a little more input from the director though usually. Anything he (or she) can give me would be great. Character background, family background, letters from character are good things to be given. Notes on motivation, not so much. If I'm given a different objective to play than the one that I've chosen for that part of the scene, then I'll make that adjustment, but motivation is something that the actor needs to take control of. It's like a cook is given the recipe and ingredients, but the final dish is his.

I think an actors input is vital to the whole creative process. If he doesn't have the freedom to come up with his own character choices, then it will usually be a somewhat stale performance. It's the same thing with other creative aspects.

 

[Michele Seidman]

Sad

I think Tom covered most things really well. I would add one thing regarding film...

Actors often get a set of sides and not always the whole script. When we do get the script it does not always give enough for us to visualize smaller roles. Sure, with leads we get enough info to build a character but bio notes or even simple descriptions of the character help. I love it best when the director takes even 30 seconds to a minute to describe his 'view of the scene or character. It gives me a good idea of where to go with the reading.

I always try to imagine the part being played in more than one way so I can follow the direction or redirect faster. My old teachers used to tell me to 'marry' to one way of playing it but I find if I consider multiples...I can follow the directors lead faster.


Like Tom...I do feel an actor should be given a little room to help build the character but the director has to give us an idea of how he see's the 'final' look of the part or project to guide us. If the character is not based on any real type of person then it takes both actor and director and even sometimes the writer to define it together...at least I think it works best that way with far out roles.

Michele

 

[rsbush]

As Michele says it's very good to hear the director's "view of the scene or character", other than that, all I want is the script - I find it best to discover the possibilities of who the character may be through MY work not the work someone did for me. Make all the adjustments you want to my playing but let me find my way there and don't ask me to tell you how I got there.

 

[Tom Marshall]

I'll also add that it depends on the character. If it's a real character that you're portraying, then it's your responsibility as an actor to match the person as much as possible.

I recently watched Johnny Depp on "Inside the Actor's Studio". He's played several real life characters (Donnie Brasco, Hunter S. Thompson, Ed Wood, etc) and he said he spent several weeks (if I recall correctly) living with Hunter Thompson getting down all of the character traits and idiosyncrasies.

 

[Michele Seidman]

I'll also add that it depends on the character. If it's a real character that you're portraying, then it's your responsibility as an actor to match the person as much as possible.

I recently watched Johnny Depp on "Inside the Actor's Studio". He's played several real life characters (Donnie Brasco, Hunter S. Thompson, Ed Wood, etc) and he said he spent several weeks (if I recall correctly) living with Hunter Thompson getting down all of the character traits and idiosyncrasies.

Tom...great points. If the character is real, the more homework the better. I had to play Carrie Nations and found some excerpts from her diaries that a shrink had studied and the woman may well have been looney but I still had to play her as if she was not...because she did not think she was 'off'. It did help knowing it.