01 Apr Scene Preparation: Breaking Down a Script
Here at 3-2-1 Acting Studios in Los Angeles, we have taught scene preparation techniques to hundreds of students, both online and in person. We always start out by teaching our acting students how to break down a script. Before diving into scene work and even line memorization, it’s important for actors to ask themselves a set of key questions regarding their character.
If you can learn to successfully break down a script, you are one step closer to becoming a successful actor!
Here are some scene preparation tips for breaking down a script; we suggest that you ask yourselves the following questions about your character:
Who am I?
Who is this human being that you will be playing? Take a pen and a piece of paper, and write down some details about your character – in the first person. I’ve invented an example to support you with this process. Let’s say your name is Sally. You are a 17-year-old girl, and you love art and music. You were raised by a single father, who works long shifts. Your family doesn’t have a lot of money. You have two younger brothers, Thomas and Sam, who are 8 and 10 years old. Often you look after them after school and on weekends when your dad is working. You have a boyfriend named Ryan, and you are in love with him.
What are the circumstances of your life at this moment?
Evaluate relevant facts surrounding the present moment. Ryan has just asked you to the prom, and you have said yes. When he asked you if you had a dress, you also said yes. The only problem is: you don’t actually have a dress! You lied to your boyfriend. Prom is in one week, and you don’t have the money to buy a dress.
What is my goal?
Your goal, in this case, is to get a dress for the prom, ASAP.
Why do I want what I want?
It’s very important that you understand your character’s driving motivation. You want to have a dress for the prom because you are afraid Ryan will find out that you lied to him and cast you out of his life. The stakes feel very high to you because you love Ryan.
Where am I?
In the scene, let’s say you are in your best friend Tara’s kitchen after school on a Friday afternoon.
Who am I talking to, and what is my opinion of this person?
You are talking to Tara’s snooty mother, Mrs. Greene. In your opinion, Mrs. Greene is a bit intimidating and strict. You’ve always felt that, for some reason, Mrs. Greene does not like you. You adore your best friend Tara, but you are intimidated by Mrs. Greene.
How do I plan to get what I want?
In this scene, you are want to get Mrs. Greene to leave the house so that Tara can sneak her extra formal dress out the back door and into your car. You may use a variety of tactics to try to convince Mrs. Greene to exit. If you wanted to increase the “stakes” of the scene, you could imagine that prom is in 6 hours and that you need the dress today!
Continue your exploration
Now, you’ve completed some strong scene preparation work. You know your character’s goal, you know the stakes, and you know what you are fighting for! Continue to enjoy the process of discovering your character as you break down other scenes. The great news is that you can use this process of setting goals in your real life. For example, you could set a specific goal for yourself when entering a job interview (e.g. to receive a job offer for a specific salary).
We are wishing you the best of luck with your acting preparation!
