8 Ways to Dive Deeper into Your Character Work
Let’s talk about eight ways that you can dive deeper into your character work.
Make a playlist that your character would like.
You should start with the songs that are available to your character. So if your character lives in the 1960s, start with music available then. But I believe you can add music from the current era that you think they might like. Dance around as your character.
Go grocery shopping as your character.
Does your character eat healthy and organic, vegetarian? Shop and eat like your character. Cook what they might eat in your kitchen with what is available to you. Does your character eat cruddy processed foods? I don't think you should eat that way, but be aware. Why do they eat like that? No time to prepare healthy foods? Do they not have resources to purchase fresh healthy foods? Think about what it is they might put in their cart if they were shopping.
Consume your character’s favorite media.
What are the movies, TV shows, and books that your character likes? Read and watch them! Especially if your character refers to them, it will be satisfying and interesting and a somewhat passive way to connect to your character. You are always free to change it up if you change your mind and decide that your character really likes Monty Python instead of Three Stooges (old references, I know). Of course, if your character states something specifically like they do in the movie “High Fidelity,” again, I stress, read, watch, listen.
What is your character’s typical day?
What is their morning routine? We all have a typical day; I have one, you have one, celebrities have one, everyone has a typical day. Now scripts are typically not set on a typical day. Something very unusual is happening in the script for the character on that day, but what is their usual routine? Do they have breakfast or do they just have coffee? Do they exercise, do they meditate, and can you incorporate some of the character’s routine into yours? If your character starts the day with drugs and alcohol - Do Not Do That. But be aware of what they do.
Go shopping as your character.
What does your character wear? What do they wear when they get dressed for work or for going out on a date? Go shopping as your character. We, the actor, are making choices every time we get dressed, and your character should too.
Wear an outfit your character would wear.
Go outside wearing what your character will wear. People respond to us differently based on how we're dressed. If you don’t believe me, try putting on something sexy and revealing and see how people respond to you at the grocery store. Again, dress as they might, do they wear something that’s a little more modest?
Hang out with your friends as your character.
Hopefully at this point, your friends know that you’re pursuing an acting career. Let them know you’re working on this character and want to go out with them as this person. Go do the activities the character would enjoy and say to your friends, “We’re going bowling, because my character likes to bowl.” You can even try some actions as your character. For instance, tell your friends that this character flirts more than you do, or is ruder. Tell them what your plan is so they’re prepared for this “new you.” At first it may be a little uncomfortable, so try it for as long as you can.
Decide who your character’s hero is.
I also love thinking about who that person’s hero is. Maybe it’s a hero that they wouldn’t tell people, for example, maybe they say they love Mother Teresa but really it’s Marilyn Monroe. Whoever your hero is, that’s gonna say a lot about who the character is. It’s fun to look at those things — so you’re playing a scientist or an anthropologist, and who’s their favorite scientist or the person that inspires them? Maybe you’re a scientist who’s inspired by jazz music and Miles Davis is the hero. You can build this full, rich character as full and rich as you are.
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