Revealing Character

In a film or play your character will reveal who he truly is as the film/ play unfolds.  Let me elaborate on that.  As the owner of Vancouver Academy of Dramatic Arts I am constantly being exposed to character.  I get to talk to my students about it regularly.  I wanted to set this down on my blog so that the infinite masses may imbue this data.

As a character moves through a film or play he encounters obstacles.  Each one of those obstacles has to be a greater challenge from the one before.  As he overcomes the obstacle he reveals who he truly is.  Can you see where I am going with this?  So let me use a film as an example. Something popular, something that hopefully everyone has seen.  How about Star Wars.

Luke Skywalker at 1st is a reluctant hero.  He is a happy farm boy living out his existence with his family.  Then he buys R2D2 and the recording of Princess Leah propels him into action.  His family is killed and then he teams up with Han Solo.  As the film goes on Luke has to encounter bigger and bigger obstacles.  Now this is a major component to the concept of Character.  If he met Darth Vader and chose to avoid him.  To not challenge his evilness.  Then the movie would stop.  Instead Luke takes up arms against Vader and his evil empire.

So as you see Luke reveals who he truly is as the film goes along.  As each obstacle gets greater and greater, Luke has to dig deeper inside himself.  Thus revealing his true character.  So as you see obstacles reveal who you really are.  The greater the obstacle the greater the reveal.  Now what happens if you don’t over come the obstacle?  Nothing. Yep you got it, nothing happens.  The story just stops.  The movie just stalls and does not move.  Sound a little like life?

My next question is this:  Are you stuck in your life?  Are you stuck in your career?  Then what is it that you are not overcoming?  Have some time to reflect on that.  Then maybe you can reveal who you truly are.

Simon Longmore

www.simonlongmore.com

freeactingtips.net

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