Acting 1 Vocabulary

Front 1

Ensemble

Back 1

A group that functions together where the whole is more important than any one individual. Ensembles cannot be forced or manufactured, but happen organically.

Front 2

Five Basic Acting Skills

Back 2

Vocal and Breathing Techniques, Improvisation, Relaxation Skills, Performance, and Audition Skills

Front 3

"Why do we play"

Back 3

Play is creative, spontaneous and fun while using the voice, body, and imagination

Front 4

Specificity

Back 4

The act of being specific. Involves making choices. Makes acting/directing interesting.

Front 5

"Magic If"

Back 5

Term used by Stanislavski to describe the process by which an actor places himself into the given circumstances of the scene.

Front 6

Improvisation

Back 6

spontaneous invention of lines and business by performers. Types of improv: Machines, environmental, cold readings, freeze and justify, and hands.

Front 7

S.L.I.M.

Back 7

Sound, Levels, Isolation, and Movement. Four parts of a "Machine". +Connection.

Front 8

Neutral Position

Back 8

Position of the body that allows the spine to be in a neutral, unfixed position. A framework for clearing a channel or path from the center of the body up and out of the face.

Front 9

Diaphragm

Back 9

Lg. muscle located atop the abdominal cavity that forces air in and out of the lungs. Figures prominently in proper projection of sound.

Front 10

Super Objective

Back 10

What the character wants overall. The character's "life goal".

Front 11

Objective

Back 11

What the character wants, motivation for each beat. The goal your character pursues through action to satisfy a need. Always expressed in the active infinitive: I want to ____.

Front 12

Obstacle

Back 12

A physical or moral obstruction that hinder one from completing an action.

Front 13

Given Circumstances

Back 13

Unchangeable facts which affect the playing of the scene. (also Stanislavski)

Front 14

Subtext

Back 14

An actor's continuous thoughts that gives meaning to the dialogue and the stage directions, the meaning behind the words.

Front 15

Cold Reading

Back 15

A reading from a script or other text without rehearsal, usually in the context of an audition or workshop, cold reading=cold acting.

Front 16

Fourth Wall

Back 16

Imaginary wall separating the actors on stage from the audience.

Front 17

Beat

Back 17

A performer's unit of measurement describing the character's thoughts, goal, or desires. The beginning to end of a single intention or state of mind (motivational unit, action unit). In each beat a character has a single objective.

Front 18

Motivation

Back 18

The internal springboard for an action or set of actions on stage. The character's individual desires or goals, which propel them into action.

Front 19

Blocking

Back 19

The directors placing and movements of the actors on the stage.

Front 20

Tableau/composition

Back 20

A stage picture, which may or may not include actors. Created by the director.

Front 21

Five functions of a director: good directing.

Back 21

Shows in the work of the actors. Has technical polish. Creates compelling pictures and movements. Gives performance Tempo/Pace. Unifies all of the elements of the performance.

Front 22

Stage Directions

Back 22

Stage Right-The actor's right as he faces the audience.
Stage Left-The actor's left as he faces the audience.
Downstage-Towards the audience.
Upstage-Away from the audience.
Upstaging-An actor takes a position that forces another actor to face upstage or away from the audience. Also stealing focus from another actor.
Cross-To move from one place to another on stage.

Front 23

Five components of good acting

Back 23

Detail and Texture.
Center/Through line.
Technical Proficiency.
Surprise.
Truth.

Front 24

Apron

Back 24

The part of the stage that extends towards the audience in front of the curtain.

Front 25

Basic Directing Skills.

Back 25

Blocking, stage grid, stage positions, monologues, and scene work.

Front 26

Body Positions

Back 26

one quarter
one half
three quarters
open-a position in which the actor is facing toward the audience.
closed-a position in which the actor is turned away from the audience.

Front 27

Environmental

Back 27

Type of improvisation where the ensemble creates the environment, the sounds, parts of the place, and perhaps the people that inhabit it.

Front 28

Proscenium Arch

Back 28

The opening in the proscenium wall through which the audience can see the stage (arch that frames action on stage).

Front 29

Process

Back 29

Read through, blocking, memorization, props and costumes, defining character (making choices), rehearsal.

Front 30

Transition

Back 30

What happens between the beats, what gets you to the next objective, can include both internal and external changes.

Front 31

Stage grid

Back 31

Draw out. up stage vs down stage. UR. UC. UL. DR. DC. DL. C. Apron. Audience.