The Art of Building Character: Transformative Tools for Actors
- Richard Delaney
- Oct 21, 2024
- 4 min read
In the realm of professional acting, the journey of character development is both deeply personal and highly technical. It's a process that demands not just creativity and imagination, but also rigorous practice and a willingness to explore the depths of human experience. Today, we'll delve into the nuanced world of character creation, focusing on how actors can craft authentic, compelling performances through psychophysical connection.
Celebrating the Innate, Embracing Differentiation
At the heart of character development lies a paradox: how do we celebrate what we innately possess as performers while simultaneously leaning into character differentiation? The answer lies not in trying to become someone else entirely, but in expanding our range of expression and finding new ways to channel our innate qualities.
Voice: Beyond Accents and Affectations
When approaching character voice, it's tempting to focus solely on accents or vocal quirks. However, true character voice work goes much deeper. It's about finding how your unique instrument can serve the character's reality.
When approaching character voice and its development, you may wish to consider some of the following:
How does your natural voice change when you're in different emotional states or situations? How can you apply this to your character?
What aspects of the character's life might influence their breath patterns, resonance, or vocal energy?
How can you use your voice to reveal the character's inner world without resorting to clichés or stereotypes?
The goal is not to create a voice that feels foreign to you, but to discover how your voice can authentically express the character's truth.
Body: The Physical Life of Character
Similarly, character body work isn't about imposing a set of physical characteristics onto yourself. It's about allowing your body to respond truthfully to the imaginary circumstances of your character. Observation is the actor's friend in starting to interrogate behaviour more fully - and where story results from physical expression. But this isn't just a practice of external observation, but deep, considered and ongoing self-observation. Consider exploring Uta Hagen's Object Exercises to enhance this skill.
Further to this you might consider exploring:
How does your body naturally respond to different emotions or situations? How might this translate to your character's experiences?
What aspects of the character's life (job, background, current circumstances) might influence their physicality?
How can you use subtle shifts in posture, tension, or movement to reveal character without falling into caricature?
Remember, the most compelling physical choices often come from a place of truth and personal connection, not external imitation.
Ultimately, both for the body and the voice, we want to find ways to find outer expression of the inner life that is not pushed nor demonstrated, but authentically rooted in the moment.
Building Character with a Psychophysical Approach
Our workshop, Building Characters and Relationships (which is fast approaching!), and indeed my practice at large, focuses on engaging performers both imaginatively and physically. This psychophysical approach allows work and choices to be deeply connected, resulting in greater authenticity in performance.
It's crucial to understand that we're not working towards achieving specific emotional 'states'. Instead, we're looking to move past and through these states, allowing for a fluid, responsive performance that feels alive in each moment.
This approach involves:
Imaginative exploration: Using visualisation and improvisation to create a rich inner world for the character.
Physical exploration: Allowing the body to respond to imaginary stimuli and circumstances.
Integration: Finding ways to unite the imaginative and physical work into a cohesive, authentic performance.
You can find out a little more about my practice of Directional Transformation on the website to see if that whets your appetite.
The Actor's Process: Crafting Choice
I often describe the actor's process as a means of creating choice rather than just waiting for inspiration to land. Everything an actor crafts should be as provocative as their text and the intentions they settle on, driving a more nuanced and detailed approach to storytelling.
This process is, in many ways, the actor's 'dirty secret'. It's the work that often happens in the privacy of one's own space (bedrooms are popular, but other rooms are available), allowing actors to arrive at rehearsals or on set with choices and something to play with.
It's important to note that this process shouldn't be abandoned once rehearsals begin. Too often, there's an attitude of "let's just give it a go" in rehearsals, which can lead to superficial performances that lack depth and nuance - or where the intricacies of voice and body are neglected and left to chance. Instead, actors should continue to refine and develop their choices throughout the rehearsal process, always seeking deeper truth and authenticity.
The Importance of Unified Practices
One of the challenges in many professional settings is the absence of unified practices across a project. This can lead to actors abandoning - or feeling ashamed of - their craft. It's crucial for actors to advocate for their process and to find ways to incorporate their character work into any rehearsal or production environment.
For those unable to attend our workshop, here are some key principles to keep in mind:
Maintain a consistent practice: Set aside time each day for character exploration, even if it's just 15-20 minutes.
Use a variety of techniques: Don't rely on a single method. Explore different approaches (Stanislavski, Chekhov, Linklater, Viewpoints, Lecoq, etc.) and find what works best for you.
Keep a character journal: Document your discoveries, questions, and ideas about your character.
Seek feedback: When possible, work with peers or a coach who can provide objective feedback on your choices.
Stay curious: Always be open to new discoveries about your character, even in performance.
The Craft of Authenticity
The process of character development is not about losing yourself in a role, but about expanding your capacity for expression and human understanding. By engaging in psychophysically connected work, celebrating your innate qualities while exploring differentiation, and consistently crafting choices, you can create performances that are both authentic and compelling.
Remember, your process as an actor is valuable and valid. It's the foundation upon which great performances are built. Whether you're joining us for our upcoming workshop or exploring these concepts on your own, commit to nurturing your craft. The result will be storytelling that resonates with truth, nuance, and the full complexity of the human experience.
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