The place on earth does time go? I’m typing this in 2025, and but it seems like mere moments in the past I used to be spiralling into existential dread throughout a script evaluation class in 2020. How occasions have modified: how far we’ve all come, how little I keep in mind from that session… Luckily, (and I can’t consider I’m typing this) it was a Zoom class–which meant I had the pleasure of rewatching the dissociative expressions of my classmates while concurrently refreshing my reminiscence on other ways we will strategy textual content. Let’s discuss the very first thing to do along with your script.
The way in which you strategy your script can have a huge effect in your efficiency. Should you apply too many alternative strategies, you’ll probably overthink the fabric and the efficiency can be blurry. Should you succumb to alternative paralysis and don’t do something in any respect along with your script, then you definitely’ll be about as partaking to observe as a plank of wooden. The very first thing to do along with your script is learn it. Then work to a plan catered to your appearing course of that lets you work via the fabric and uncover the character. Don’t begin appearing till you recognize it in and out.
Once I dusted off the recording of that haunting little COVID relic, it occurred to me simply how a lot is on the market in the way in which of methods and theories and approaches to script work. Ought to we drop within the photos first? Intone all of the vowels or train the consonants? Mark out the beats or play with some particular actions or brush our hair or purchase extra milk? Ought to we be doing all of this? What if we don’t have time? The place the heck are we supposed to start out?
Script Acquired
Should you’ve been given a script, there are two* important potentialities as to why this has occurred:
- It’s for an audition.
- To not brag, nevertheless it’s for a job that you just’ve already landed. (Congratulations, by the way in which.)
Let’s stroll via every of those situations and why they’re completely different in terms of what we do with our script.
*Okay, so possibly a 3rd choice right here is that you just’ve been given a script as a part of an appearing class. We’re not going to make that our focus right this moment, just because the sources of time and knowledge aren’t as scarce. In that context, the very first thing it’s best to do with the script is script analsyis, utilizing both our useful information (linked) or nonetheless you’re directed by your instructor.
The Audition
It appears a bit of one thing like this: you’ve simply completed a ten-hour workday at your muggle job, and also you get an electronic mail out of your agent with a self-tape request that’s due in 24 hours. You’re working one other lengthy day tomorrow so the one window it’s important to submit is that night time. Fortunately, your housemate is nocturnal and the script is simply half a web page and a few strains. Time to burn some midnight oil.
Once you’re auditioning for a job, time and knowledge are your two limiting elements. It’s probably, particularly with display screen business, that you just received’t have a lot time to arrange and the script you’ll be given may need a undertaking synopsis, a scene or two and, should you’re fortunate, a personality temporary. Not loads to work with however sufficient to make do.
Skip to the Script
With a view to set basis in your work, I’d advocate skipping over the synopsis and the character temporary and going straight to the scenes. Typically I discover studying the undertaking synopsis and the character temporary beforehand can tempt me into making decisions in regards to the supply earlier than I’ve even seen the script, so nowadays I prefer to go in as blind as attainable.
The very first thing we wish to do is learn the script completely with out preconception. Learn it such as you’re studying this text: with curiosity and with out bias.
After your first learn, write down in quite simple phrases what the story is about. Even when it’s an excessively cinematic automobile advert, there’s a narrative being advised: “Each day man escapes town to behold the majesty of nature in his brand-new Ford Titan.” You must also make just a few notes about what stands out with out making any decisions in regards to the efficiency. Are there any actions which might be very particular or complicated? Any notes in regards to the tone of a line? It’s all helpful data.
Moreover, if there are any phrases or phrases you aren’t acquainted with or don’t know easy methods to pronounce, look them up. That is the quickest means in your tape to be “noped”, irrespective of how a lot work you’ve put in across the error.
Style and Tone
Now that you just’ve bought an preliminary learn for comprehension, escape that undertaking synopsis and character temporary you’ve been dying to learn. Together with the script, these will enable you get a gauge of the style and the tone of the undertaking. Once more, don’t make any large decisions about appearing simply but; as a substitute think about some broad efficiency parts typical to the given style.
For instance, if it’s a comedy, the timing of your supply and the tone of any pauses will differ considerably to, say, horror. Because of this you ought to be watching a lot of movie, tv and theatre: so you may determine widespread parts of various genres.
You’re not making an attempt to reinvent the wheel in terms of auditioning for a undertaking, you’re giving your distinctive tackle the function. So belief that by understanding the conventions of that style, and the place your character may match.
The Path Diverges
From right here, you’ll have to make your individual determination about what to do with the script, retaining in thoughts the timeframe it’s important to work with.
Should you’re auditioning for a automobile industrial with a dramatic, cinematic edge and never a whole lot of spoken strains, I might advocate beating out the script. Develop imaginative photos for every half in order that your eyes mild up with the awe of seeing an enormous canyon and a wonderful shoreline quite than your bed room wall.
Should you’re auditioning for a drama, be it for display screen or theatre, spend time with the character relationships. Mine the script for any details about who the opposite characters are and the way they relate to your character.
Everytime you’re fully stumped, I’d all the time advocate going again to your creativeness. What does the script remind you of? What photos or ideas come up? Play with what your thoughts conjures up and ship the strains from an trustworthy place: should you’re confused as heck, then play your character as confused as heck and see what occurs!
The Job
Let me be the primary to say it: congratulations. You analysed that script so good, you nailed the audition and now the job is yours! That is the place it will get enjoyable. Time remains to be restricted however not as restricted—and now you will have the complete script. So many phrases to play with…
Let’s dig in…
Rinse and Repeat
Once you get the complete script, overlook (virtually) every part you probably did within the audition and begin from scratch. Remember what you already know in regards to the character, however put together to alter and add issues. The complete script might have undergone a whole lot of modifying because you final learn it, so for all intents and functions you’re working with a recent manuscript.
Learn it for sense, get an concept of the complete story, the style and tone. Make notes about any main variations between now and what you realized within the audition.
As soon as once more, think about the undertaking. If it’s a industrial, there isn’t an entire lot to be executed with the script. Usually, in commercials, they’re wanting the strains stated clearly and plainly with a contact of creativeness. If it’s a characteristic size efficiency, although, you get to have some actual enjoyable.
Learn it Once more. And Once more.
The very first thing to do along with your script is to learn it. Once more, and time and again.
Belief me: the extra you learn a script, the extra it’s important to play with. I like to use Earl Gister’s methodology at this stage: combing via the script, being attentive to opinions and info about my character. It’s very scientific and goal.
The primary factor you’re doing by re-reading the script is mining it for details about the world, the individuals who inhabit it and the way your character suits in. Learn it as many occasions as you may in as many alternative states of thoughts as you may. Learn it while you’re drained, joyful, unhappy, offended, pissed off and so forth.
You’re not making any main selections about supply right here, you’re simply utilizing the benefit of the human mind as a malleable, changeable anomaly that offers you quite a lot of views on the identical factor relying on what chemical substances are in excessive provide.
That is how we look at our characters and begin to type an concept about their private context throughout the world of the play or movie.
Get Technical
From right here, you can begin to interrupt down the script into smaller sections or beats and performing some wider analysis into the context of the script.
Whereas some actors have differing views on beats and aims (myself included), they’re invaluable instruments for element. You have already got a broad understanding of the script. By breaking it down additional, you can begin to determine the particular person journey of your character all through the story.
Establish the climax or turning level in every scene they seem in: what occurs that adjustments the stakes of the scene? It doesn’t need to be enormous, however script will all the time have a second in every scene that alters its trajectory in a roundabout way.
If aims be just right for you, go forward and make observe of these. (Personally, I desire Declan Donnellan’s concept about “the goal”, however that’s an instance of private choice amidst the ocean of methods.)
Get Studious
Put a while into researching the author and their physique of labor. It may give you clues as to their inspirations and concepts which have influenced the script. If the script is predicated on one thing from historical past, otherwise you’re enjoying a real-life particular person, it’s best to get throughout that interval as a lot as attainable and analysis any references you don’t perceive.
And on the danger of sounding a bit uni lecturer: analysis from respected sources. Don’t belief the Wikipedia article on Janis Joplin when it tells you her legs bent the fallacious means. Confirm your data, else you’ll make some very unusual decisions.
Get Bodily, Get Vocal
At this stage, you probably have loads of data to make some broad selections about how your character strikes. In the event that they’re demure and awkward, maybe they hunch their shoulders and forged their gaze down. In the event that they’re daring and brash, they may tilt their chin upwards and strut round like a rooster. You’ll be able to over-exaggerate their physicality right here too and see the way it impacts your voice.
Talking of: begin studying the script out loud. Get a way of the way it sounds however, once more, resist the urge to “act” any of the strains. That ought to be reserved for rehearsal. Should you’ve executed all your homework, you’ll have lots to play with while you set in entrance of the digital camera or onto the stage.
Don’t cling too tightly to any of those decisions because the director might wish to change them however don’t be shy about them both–come onto set or stage with a proposal. Even when it’s completely completely different to what the director has in thoughts, they’ll respect the selection you make, and the truth that you cared sufficient in regards to the function to do a little bit of leg work.
A Closing Phrase of Recommendation
So there you will have it: the very first thing to do along with your script. (And some extra issues after that.) Earlier than I depart you with all this knowledge recovered from the depths of a 2020 lockdown Zoom class, right here’s a closing phrase of recommendation. Preserve a journal. Write down any concepts, observations and questions in regards to the script as a way to deliver them to rehearsal. I promise you’ll overlook them in any other case.
There are one million various things we will do with our script however I sincerely consider that detaching ourselves from the need to “act” straight away is among the most useful issues you are able to do as an actor. You’ll get to play, quickly sufficient. However you gotta do a bit of labor first.
Hope this helped. See you across the traps!
