Finding a character

-I study the time period that the character was in, which does influence their behavior
-I determine a style of walking and speaking
-I try to act like the character offstage in different situations (whenever it's appropriate)
-I try to look for motives for their actions in the script
-During the last part, when my character is nicely established, I fill out a question sheet, the answers being everything that the character would say.

I love character development in shows.

Besides what Lady said, I write a short biography of my character, tracing their life from birth to death, thinking about all the factors that would affect their life. I also use certain character traits and connect them to the character's past to give meaning to why they are the way they are.

This reminds me of something that Pearl Bailey said when she played in TWHM at the Kennedy Center in Washington. She got tumultuous applause when she stepped off the trolly in the first scene and started chatting with members of the audience as she was wont to do. She stopped herself and said: "The producers are telling me that I've gotta stay in character. 'Trouble is, I ain't found out what my character is yet!"

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y'all have some great pointers. i'm taking an acting class this semester at school and i will definitely try to keep those in mind. making the character seem more realistic is fantastic!

ive been in plays and productions before and tried the usual method for memorizing lines. any suggestions for faster ways?

a thing i learned from inside the actors studio (i watch that show religiously) is that you have to find a reason for why your character says what he/she says. if he's singing, find out why he's singing. what emotions are there? what is the motive?

Thanks Hugh Jackman :)

Sometimes what is best is finding a song that is what you can base a character on.

For example

Mr. Applegate can be somewhat like "Ballad of Guiteau" from Assassins, funny, unstable, a religious zealot (in reverse). It helps with quick ideas and character choices and motivation. And it gives you something to go back to if you feel you've lost the original thought.

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Just be very observational and notice people around you and strangers passing by. Does someone carry themselves in a way that reminds you of your character. Analyze what about them makes them remind you of them. Is it the way they talk, their posture, gestures, their facial expressions. Try playing around with different combinations of these things. I am more referring to the physicallity of the character because emotions are based on motivations.

For me I was struggling with finding my approach to the character of Motel in Fiddler on the Roof (which I am currently playing). One day I was experimenting with different walks and suddenly i found this perfect, akward hunched walk, and the entire character just clicked in me. It was an epiphany and a great moment in my acting.

Akiva

Okay, I don't want to be preaching Mamet right now, but as I am in the Atlantic Theater School and no one has brought this 'method' up, I'm going to post it. (And it's kinda good review for me seeing as I haven't been in school all summer)

Basically, we're taught that you cannot become a character. That's just impossible. Or you'd go crazy. We're all ourselves, with our own unique experiences and ways of dealing with things etc. So, with Practical Aesthetics (what they call the technique, boy if anyone from my studio sees this I'm going to look like such a brown-noser hehe), what you do is analyze the script scene by scene. To analyze, you ask these questions:
1. What is the character literally doing?
2. What does the character want?
3. What is my action?

An action is the means with which you get what you want. Basically. An example would be 'to put someone in their place' or 'to get forgiveness'. You use your lines to play your action out fully. From playing your action truthfully (which is what all good acting is supposed to be, right) you create the illusion of character.

This might be really confusing for some people. I don't even know if this technique is for me yet. It certainly works, I've seen people do amazing things with it and it's helped me become more honest in my acting, but who knows, right? If you want to learn more (shameless plug), read 'A Practical Handbook for the Actor'. It's an interesting read even if you don't end up using the technique.

Yes, I'm with you, redhot.

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to expound on what Robbie just said - I think the core of being a good actor is the "Listening" factor - all acting really is, is reacting to circumstances and dialogue. How a human being reacts to something said to him is what the action is usually all about.

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i basically do what everyone has said. i don't feel like repeating it all.

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The first thing I do is read the script. I study how my character interacts with all of the other characters and from there I determine who he is. Once I talk to the other actors I determine a voice/accent. This is only because different people will have different views of the show. If I have any questions I go to the director.
If the character is well known you sort of have to take a clue from the popular image but try and make it as much you as possible.

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