Unit 2 Acting Notes Basics of Acting The

Unit 2: Acting Notes

Basics of Acting The actor has 3 main tools: • Body—facial/physical gestures & body language • Voice—subtext, dialect, etc. • Mind—imagination, emotions, knowledge

Basic Acting Terminology • Blocking: the actor’s movement onstage • Open: actor is visible to the audience • Cross: moving from one side of the stage to the other • Projection: to be heard • Diction: to be understood

Basic Acting Terminology • Credibility: to be believable • Variety: to be making a wide range of choices • Motivation: specific reason for doing something • Pantomime: acting with something that’s not really there

Basic Acting Terminology • Improvisation: acting without planning it out • Physicality: the way a person uses their body and/or moves • Dialect: a set way of speaking one’s native language

Basic Acting Terminology • Characterization: employing the physical/vocal attributes, mannerisms and personality traits of a specific person • Breaking Character: letting your own personality/reaction come out while acting

Areas of the Stage Rule #1: When you are onstage and facing the audience, your left is stage left. Rule #2: When you are onstage walking towards the audience, you are going downstage. Rule #3: When you are in the house, facing the stage, your left is house left.

Backstage Upstage Right Center Wing Stage Right Center Stage Downstage Right Proscenium Wall House Left Downstage Center Apron House Center Upstage Left Stage Left Downstage Left Wing Proscenium Line House Right

Mime/Pantomime • Mime is a specific art form. There is no talking the entire time. It’s completely silent storytelling. • Pantomime skills can be used in any kind of performance. You are pantomiming every time you use your body alone to communicate something that’s not actually there; e. g. opening and closing an imaginary door • The Mime Company

The “Be” Rules of Pantomime • Be detailed. – Know the size, weight, location, etc. of everything. – For example, if you’re carrying something, how heavy is it?

The “Be” Rules of Pantomime • Be accessible. – Use movements that can be seen and that will make sense to the audience. – For example, what gesture do people usually use to signify being on the phone?

The “Be” Rules of Pantomime • Be consistent. – Keep the established details the same throughout the entire performance. – For example, if you are pantomiming opening and closing a door, make sure the door is in the same place and that the door knob doesn’t “move. ”

Videos • • Holocaust Memorial Marcel's Stairs The Box Tug of War

Voice • Pronunciation: the way you say a word or phrase, esp. vowels and stress of syllables • Standard American Pronunciation: the dialect taught for the stage for the purpose of having a “neutral” or basic starting point for any other American dialects, as well as for use in performances where no strong “regionalisms” are wanted

Pronunciation Drills Access Celery Conscious Personal Statue Pin Excess Salary Conscience Personnel Stature Pen

Choose the “Correct” Rhyme Word A B Get Bit For Fur Ore Again Pen Any Penny Skinny Poor Sewer Sore Because Buzz Pause Duty Beauty Booty Our Are Hour What Dot Rut

Voice • Pitch: highness or lowness of your voice • Inflection: change in pitch or tone • Rate: the speed at which you speak • Subtext: what you actually mean when you speak regardless of the words you’re using

Pitch • • Begin at a high pitch A little higher Now very low Now very high Speak at a medium pitch Again very low Lower Back to medium

Inflection • Rising inflection: questions – Exactly? • Falling inflection: statements – Exactly. • Circumflex inflection: sarcasm, doubt and innuendos – Ex. ACtly.

Subtext Say the word “oh” with the inflection that conveys the meaning indicated: • How lovely • Really? • Ouch! • Now I understand.

Volume/Emphasis Stressing different words changes the meaning: • WAS Dave going home? • Was DAVE going home? • Was Dave GOING home? • Was Dave going HOME?

• WAS Dave going home? – You said so, but did he really? • Was DAVE going home? – Or was it Bill? • Was Dave GOING home? – Or was he returning from there? • Was Dave going HOME? – Or someplace else?

Rate • The speed at which you talk suggests both age and emotion. • Slow: old age, important ideas and/or the emotions of sorrow, reverence, deliberation, and doubt. • Fast: youth and/or emotions of excitement, happiness, and anger • Influenced by pause (time between words) and duration (time on specific sound)

Rate • • This pizza is delicious! I am proud to accept this honor. Oh my gosh, we won! I’m so tired.