ROLE PLAY and CHARACTERISATION

a means of exploring attitudes and beliefs ROLE PLAY

characterisation The process of fully Developing a Character (like you did with the magic book) characterisation

Part played by an actor/ attitude adopted ROLE

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO LEARN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE ABOUT YOUR CHARACTER?

WHAT ARE SOME TECHNIQUES WE COULD USE TO EXPLORE OUR CHARACTER?

THOUGHT TRACKING LETS FREEZE THE ACTION RIGHT HERE. IF MAXIMUS COULD TALK WHAT WOULD HE SAY? WHAT IS HE THINKING? An aid to characterisation: the character speaks their thoughts out loud THOUGHT TRACKING

THOUGHT TUNNEL

NORMAN. WE CAN’T HAVE THEM TREAT US LIKE THIS. KILL THEM ALL NORMAN. WE CAN’T HAVE THEM TREAT US LIKE THIS. VOICES IN THE HEAD

Questioning a character in role HOT SEATING

I miss you so much since you left me. I can barely eat, I can’t work Dear Anna, I miss you so much since you left me. I can barely eat, I can’t work I can’t talk to anyone at all. Say you love me and come back to me. Please. I beg you. Yours always. Ricardo WRITING IN ROLE

ROLE PLAY CAN HELP US DEVELOP A STORY MORE FULLY.

Key moment, scene, character, relationship or event in a drama FOCUS

Build up of excitement TENSION

WE CAN USE CONVENTIONS TO HELP US BUILD UP TENSION OR FOCUS

A stage picture, held without movement TABLEAU

COME IN … IF YOU DAAAARE VOICE OVER

Allows for a voice in head The action is frozen In time. Allows for a voice in head Or voice over Or a soliloquy FREEZE FRAME

NORMAN. WE CAN’T HAVE THEM TREAT US LIKE THIS. KILL THEM ALL NORMAN. WE CAN’T HAVE THEM TREAT US LIKE THIS. VOICES IN THE HEAD

ROLE PLAY and CHARACTERISATION will help you be a better actor! and create a better story!

BACKGROUND STATUS SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS LIFE LANGUAGE ROLE PLAY will help us investigate SOCIAL LIFE RELATIONSHIPS

PRACTISE QUESTIONS Think back to a character that you successfully portrayed in your Standard Grade Drama Course. Describe that Character. (3marks) List five characterisation techniques you used, or could have used, to develop this character. (5 marks) Choose one from the list above and say how this technique helped you, or might have helped you, to develop a greater understanding of this character (4 marks)

I used a character card to develop my character.

Candidates may include standard character card details such as name, age, occupation, personality, appearance, relationships, hobbies/interests etc. 3 marks for a description which summarises the character succinctly but fully. 2 marks for a description which gives basic information but is not fully informative. 1 mark for a brief, unhelpful, fairly superficial description. Techniques listed in the Body of Knowledge are: • character cards • improvisation • role-play • hot seating • voices in the head • writing in role • thought tracking • thought tunnel. 1 mark for each correct technique. Accept no others. Be alert to inclusions that are not on this list eg angel and devil, and to confusion with conventions. Do not give marks for any technique not on the list above. No mark for choice. If more than one is selected, mark the better response. 1 mark for each valid point made about how the chosen technique helped develop a better understanding of the character.