Monday, 3 October 2016

Terminology

Context:
The context is the background for the play or scene. It may not be written into the play but can still be clearly interpreted.

Subtext:
Subtext is the unspoken thoughts and emotions of a character. Subtext isn't portrayed by the text, but by the actors themselves.

Units:
A unit is a section from a text. They are not necessarily paragraphed, but are the sections where the character changes their objective, or the feel of the scene changes. For example, I think my monologue has three (it may be interpreted as four) different units. At first, my character is flustered and nervous- this is one unit. When my character calms down, the scene has a different feel and her objective changes, so this is another unit. Usually, the units are split by a change in objective:

Objectives:
An objective is what the character wants and is trying to do throughout a unit. These may large- i.e. trying to propose, or small- trying to tie their shoe.  When a character has completed their objective or simply changed what they want, a new unit begins and they have a new objective. It is the reasoning behind each action carried out by an actor. If you're an actor and your movements don't have an objective, then are they really necessary?

Super objectives:
A characters overriding desire is usually referred to as a super objective (otherwise known as a motor). This is usually what they want most throughout the whole play, but it can be isolated to scenes and acts. A characters objectives are usually linked into obtaining their super objective.

Action phrases (actioning):
This is adding a verb to a line or unit. It explains the characters objectives and motion in one or two words.

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