1 Foolproof Way to Define Your Character’s Objective
You know that goal and action goes back to the Greeks, but how do you actually use objective based acting? I have drawn on my extensive background as a screenwriter and director to carefully formulate this approach and I am certain it is the best way to play an objective.
Always form objectives like this:
“I want to __________ (actable verb) __________ (another character) so this person will __________ (feel or do something), and I am willing to __________, and _________, and__________ (list tactics here) to see that happen now!”
Fill in the blanks on this sentence structure with compelling actable verbs and write it out at the top of every scene you play. Be dogmatic about this.
With all due respect to the great Ivana Chubbuck, I find it useless to direct an actor whose version of an objective is limited to, “I want love.” The verb is “want” here. Go ahead and play the verb “want.” I dare you. Show me your wanting.
This minimal approach does not give me (the director), or you (the actor) any inspired ideas. How do I specifically use the wanting of love to create, or fail to create, change in my scene partner and thus forward the story? What do I literally want them to do to give me love? And what type of love? Platonic? Romantic? An objective should answer your questions, not raise more.
Let’s look at playing the desire for romantic love using my objective structure:
“I want to seduce Sam so this person will disrobe, and I am willing to tease, confuse, and compliment to see that happen now!”
But what if they don’t hook up at this point in the story? So what. What if the lines don’t support that? Well, if you play it that way, these lines just got real interesting.
Nobody said you were meant to achieve every objective. But believe me, when you play a strong desire for someone to get naked in a scene, even if you never make a move, the audience will grasp your desire for romantic love.
“That’s not love,” you say, “it’s just sex.” Well, nobody ever went broke selling that. But if you want more innocence in your approach, try your objective for the same scene this way:
“I want to amuse Sam so this person will smile, and I am willing to jest, dance, and impersonate, to see that happen now!”
OK. Maybe that plays better. Let the story be your guide.
Stand firm on the primary objective of the scene once you find a workable one. Commit to at least that choice. Then see what happens when the objective remains the same but the tactics change to befriend, participate, and explore. More interesting? Maybe.
The tactics are additional actable verbs you can alternate at will. Have fun with them and throw in some curveballs. Play the opposite. Don’t be on the nose. Some should help your cause; some should hinder the objective. Set your tactics up to fail sometimes. That’s drama!
These words should be an idea generator, not an academic exercise. For a great list of actable verbs you can visit my Screen Actors System resources page by clicking here.
When you lose focus during a performance, recall your objective sentence in your mind. Now, recommit to the actable verb and go after it again. Or pick a tactic and go for it. This will immediately draw you into the scene again. All actors “check out” sometimes. How quickly you get back on track will define you. Be precise with this text work and you have a safety net in all your scenes.
To go into any detail beyond what’s called for by my structure would make the practical task of remembering the objective too difficult whilst acting. To go into less specific detail would also render it meaningless.
To say to yourself, “I don’t have to write my goal down, I know that my character sort of wants to kind of get a job,” is an amateur mistake. What good will that flimsy analysis do you at the critical moment of delivery?
You owe it to yourself to work objectives every time. Get after it.
A
abase
abet
abolish
absolve
abuse
accept
accuse
acquaint
acquit
addle
address
admire
admit
admonish
adore
advise
affirm
afflict
affront
aid
ail
alarm
alert
allow
allure
amaze
amend
amuse
anger
annoy
antagonize
anticipate
applaud
apologize
appeal
approach
arouse
arrange
ask
assess
assist
astound
attack
attain
authenticate
B
baby
badger
baffle
bait
bask
bear
beckon
befuddle
beg
beguile
belittle
berate
beseech
bestow
bewitch
bid
blame
bless
bluff
boast
boost
brag
brainwash
bribe
brood
bushwhack
C
cajole
calculate
call
caress
catch
caution
celebrate
censure
challenge
charge
charm
chastise
cheat
check
cheer
chide
clarify
cloak
coax
coddle
coerce
collude
comfort
command
compliment
con
conceal
concern
concern
conciliate
condemn
condescend
confess
confide
confirm
confound
confront
confuse
congratulate
consider
consign
contest
convince
correct
corroborate
court
cover
criticize
crucify
crush
curse
D
damn
dare
deceive
declaim
deduce
defame
defend
defraud
defy
delight
delude
demand
demean
denigrate
deny
destroy
detect
deter
devastate
dictate
direct
dis
discard
disconcert
discourage
discover
discredit
disencumber
disgrace
disgust
dishearten
dismiss
dispirit
displease
dissuade
distract
distress
divert
divine
dodge
dominate
dramatize
draw
duck
E
ease
educate
elevate
elicit
elucidate
embroil
enchant
endear
endure
enflame
engross
enkindle
enlighten
enmesh
ensnare
entangle
entertain
entice
entrap
entreat
entrust
eradicate
erupt
escape
eschew
estimate
evade
evaluate
examine
excuse
execute
explode
exploit
exult
F
facilitate
feed
fight
flatter
flaunt
flee
flirt
forbid
force
frame
free
frighten
frustrate
fuddle
fume
G
gag
gauge
gain
gaze
gladden
gloat
glorify
goad
grasp
graft
graze
greet
grieve
grill
groan
groom
growl
gull
H
hallow
halt
harangue
harass
hassle
hate
hear
help
henpeck
herd
hesitate
hide
hinder
hint
hit
hoodwink
hope
hold
holler
hover
humanize
humble
humiliate
humor
hunt
hurl
hurry
hurt
hush
hustle
hypothesize
hypnotize
I
idolize
ignore
imitate
impair
implicate
impress
incite
indict
indoctrinate
induce
indulge
insinuate
inspect
inspire
insult
instruct
interview
intrigue
invade
invite
J
jab
jam
jerk
jest
join
joke
jolt
jostle
jot
judge
juggle
jump
justify
K
keep
kick
kid
kiss
knead
kneel
L
lag
lambast
lampoon
laugh
lead
leak
lean
lecture
legitimize
lend
lengthen
lessen
levy
libel
liberate
lie
lighten
like
limit
linger
list
listen
look
loom
loosen
lounge
love
lunge
lure
lurk
M
madden
magnetize
maintain
malign
manage
maneuver
mangle
manipulate
marshall
mask
masquerade
match
meddle
meditate
melt
mend
mesh
milk
mimic
mislead
misuse
moan
mobilize
mock
modify
model
monitor
mortify
mother
motivate
mourn
muffle
muse
muster
mystify
N
nag
nauseate
narrate
navigate
neglect
negotiate
neutralize
nip
notice
notify
nourish
nudge
nurse
nullify
O
obey
object
oblige
obliterate
obscure
observe
obsess
obstruct
obtain
occupy
offend
offer
omit
ooze
oppose
order
organize
orient
orientate
outdo
outfox
overlook
outline
outrage
outwit
overwhelm
P
panic
parade
parrot
patronize
perform
perplex
persecute
persuade
peruse
pervert
pester
placate
plan
please
pledge
pontificate
ponder
pose
pounce
pray
praise
preen
preoccupy
prepare
press
prevail
prick
primp
prod
promise
promote
prompt
propagandize
propel
propose
propound
prosecute
protect
provoke
purge
purify
pursue
Q
qualify
quarrel
quash
quicken
quickstep
quiet
quit
quench
query
question
quiver
quote
R
rack
rally
ratify
ravage
rave
read
rebuke
recreate
rectify
reiterate
reject
rejoice
rejoin
relate
release
relegate
remedy
remind
renege
repel
reprehend
repress
reprimand
repulse
rescue
resist
restrict
retract
retreat
revolt
ridicule
rile
S
sanctify
savor
satisfy
scheme
scold
scrutinize
search
sedate
seduce
seethe
seize
settle
shake
shame
shock
shroud
shun
sicken
simplify
slander
slur
smirk
smother
snare
sober
somber
soothe
spellbind
spoil
spur
spurn
squash
squelch
stalk
startle
still
stir
stretch
strike
strip
strut
study
stymie
substantiate
suffer
suggest
summon
supplicate
support
suppress
surrender
surprise
swindle
T
tantalize
tarnish
taunt
teach
tease
tempt
terrify
test
threaten
thwart
tickle
titillate
tolerate
torment
torture
trammel
trick
trouble
trump
tyrannize
U
unburden
uncover
understand
unite
unlock
uproot
upset
urge
use
V
validate
value
vanish
vent
veto
verify
victimize
violate
vilify
vindicate
vote
vouch
volunteer
vomit
vow
W
wager
wail
wait
warm
warrant
warn
waste
watch
weaken
wean
weigh
wedge
weed
weep
welcome
wheedle
withdraw
withhold
woo
worry
worship
wound
wrangle
wreck
wrestle
Y
yank
yawn
yearn
yell
yelp
yield