Every performance will have objectives regardless of whether it is for film, theatre, television or commercials. Objectives can be broken down many different ways. In fact an entire book could be written on the subject. As far as we are concerned, we will concentrate on 3 types of objectives which apply to your character:
1. “Super – objective” – What is the overall objective for the character and the story? All of your individual objectives in each scene will direct you to the “super-objective”. In TV commercials, the overall objective could be to “help” the audience. If they purchase the product or receive the service, they will have been “helped” and better off because of it.
2. Scene objective – Every separate scene will have its own objective, which moves towards the “super-objective”. In a TV commercial for instance, one of the scenes might require the actor to overcome an obstacle which can only be achieved through the use of the product being advertised.
3. Line objective – Each line of dialogue will have an objective that is related to the scene objective and ultimately the “super-objective”. When studying your dialogue for a scene, you will want to try and determine what the objective is for that line and how it relates to the overall objective of the commercial. Do not try to over analyze this. Sometimes the objective can be as simple as agreeing or disagreeing to what was just said by another actor.
The pursuit of objectives is constant active behaviour and becomes the connecting link for your character from line to line, scene to scene and beginning to end. Without a defined, pursuable objective, your performance can lack focus and appear de-energized or diffused. The more defined your objectives, the easier it is to focus and direct your performances to desired outcomes. You will have a direction to head.
Once you feel you are connected to the objectives, you will come across more confident in your delivery with clearer emotions that are both varied and precise. Often the moment your objective changes will be the “key moment” mentioned previously and the new objective will provide you with the appropriate reaction.
Be careful not to confuse “motivation” with “objective”. The best way to differentiate the two is generally a motive will be based on the past, while an objective is based on the future.
If you are just starting out in acting, don’t become too concerned at this stage with objectives. You will soon learn what they are and their importance. At some point though, as you progress and experience more auditions and more roles, you will want to take a closer look at objectives and discover how to develop them, ultimately improving your abilities in the process. Acting classes or workshops that focus a great deal of time on understanding objectives will be extremely beneficial to your success.
Action = Success!
- Konstantine Stanislavski"When an actor is completely absorbed by some profoundly moving objective so that he throws his whole being passionately into its execution, he reaches a state we call inspiration."
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