Lesson 5 - Scene Study
Breaking Down Scripts and Scenes
Honesty isn’t enough for me. That becomes very boring. If you can convince people what you’re doing is real and it’s also bigger than life
—- that’s exciting.
Gene Hackman
Scene study is an essential component of an actor’s training, focusing on the in-depth analysis and exploration of scripts and scenes. It involves breaking down the text, understanding the character’s objectives, and developing a nuanced performance. Through scene study, actors gain a deeper understanding of their characters, enhance their acting skills, and bring authenticity to their performances. Let’s delve into the process of breaking down scripts and scenes.
We will use the film, The Shawshank Redemption (1994) – Directed by Frank Darabont as a working example.
Script Analysis
Read the entire script: Actors are storytellers! If we are going to be effective at telling our part of the story, we need to know the story! Duh! Begin by reading the entire script to understand the overall story, setting, themes, and context. Study the story so you know where your character fits within the story.
Identify the character's objective:
Determine what the character wants in each scene. The objective could be explicit or implicit, and it may change throughout the scene or story. In “The Shawshank Redemption,” Andy Dufresne, played by Tim Robbins, is the main protagonist. As with most stories, Andy’s objective grows and changes throughout the film. His primary objectives can be summarized as follows:
Survival: Andy’s first and most immediate objective upon entering Shawshank State Penitentiary is to survive the harsh and brutal conditions of prison life. He must navigate the dangerous and volatile environment, avoiding trouble and staying out of harm’s way.
Maintaining Innocence: From the beginning, Andy insists on his innocence regarding the murder of his wife and her lover, a crime he was wrongfully convicted of committing. Throughout the film, he maintains this objective and works tirelessly to clear his name.
Adapting to Prison Life: As a newly incarcerated inmate, Andy’s objective is to adapt to the prison’s routines, rules, and social hierarchies while still maintaining his sense of dignity and self-respect.
Hope for Freedom: One of Andy’s most significant and long-term objectives is to regain his freedom. He never loses hope of escaping prison and is determined to find a way out, despite the seemingly insurmountable odds.
Redemption: The title of the film itself implies that redemption is a central theme. Andy seeks redemption for his past mistakes, not only by proving his innocence but also by finding a sense of purpose and hope amidst the bleakness of prison life.
Creating a New Life: As the film progresses, Andy’s objectives expand to include creating a new life for himself. He dreams of starting fresh outside the prison walls, where he can lead a fulfilling and meaningful existence.
Exposing Corruption: Andy becomes aware of the corruption and abuse of power within the prison system. He aims to expose the wrongdoings and seek justice, ultimately leading to the downfall of the corrupt prison warden and chief guard.
Throughout the film, Andy’s unwavering determination, intelligence, and quiet resilience help him pursue these objectives. His actions and choices impact not only his life but also the lives of his fellow inmates, especially his friend Ellis “Red” Redding (played by Morgan Freeman). Andy’s character arc and objectives are central to the film’s emotional impact and themes of hope, friendship, and the human spirit’s resilience.
Analyze the given circumstances:
Consider the character’s background, relationships, and any external factors that influence their behavior in the scene.
Identify beats and shifts:
Break the scene into beats, which are distinct moments or shifts in the character’s intentions, emotions, or tactics. Note any significant changes and transitions within the scene. “The Shawshank Redemption” follows a well-structured narrative with several significant story beats. Here are the key story beats from the film:
Introduction to Andy Dufresne: The film begins with the introduction of Andy Dufresne, a successful banker who is wrongly convicted of murdering his wife and her lover. He is sentenced to life in Shawshank State Penitentiary.
Adjusting to Prison Life: Andy arrives at Shawshank and faces the harsh realities of prison life. He befriends Red, an inmate who has connections and can get things for others.
Innocence and Hope: Throughout the film, Andy maintains his innocence and insists that he did not commit the crime. Despite the challenges, he retains a sense of hope that he will someday be free.
Corruption in the Prison: Andy discovers the corruption within the prison system, particularly with the warden and chief guard. He witnesses brutal treatment of inmates and illegal activities.
Building a Library: Andy gains favor with the prison officials by providing financial advice and helps them with tax issues. In return, he convinces them to allow him to build a prison library, which becomes a place of solace for many inmates.
Red’s Parole Hearings: Red becomes eligible for parole but is repeatedly denied because he is deemed “institutionalized.” He struggles with the idea of hope and whether he should even consider the possibility of freedom.
Escaping through the Sewer: Over the years, Andy secretly works on his escape plan, digging a tunnel through the prison wall using a poster of Raquel Welch as a cover. He escapes through the sewer on a stormy night.
Revelation of Andy’s Escape: The next morning, the prison officials discover Andy’s escape. The warden is infuriated and realizes the extent of Andy’s deception over the years.
Red’s Journey to Zihuatanejo: Andy leaves behind evidence of corruption by sending incriminating documents to a newspaper. Meanwhile, Red receives a letter from Andy, encouraging him to join him in Zihuatanejo, a town in Mexico where Andy plans to start a new life.
Red’s Parole and Release: After spending decades in prison, Red is finally granted parole. He is hesitant about life outside but decides to follow Andy’s advice and goes to Zihuatanejo.
Red’s Reunion with Andy: The film concludes with Red traveling to Zihuatanejo and reuniting with Andy on a beach, symbolizing their newfound freedom and hope for a better life.
These story beats create a compelling narrative that explores themes of hope, friendship, resilience, and the indomitable human spirit.
Understand subtext:
Look for underlying meanings, unspoken thoughts, and emotions beneath the character’s dialogue. Subtext adds depth and complexity to the performance. When reading The Shawshank Redemption, look for underlying meanings and subtext like:
Hope and Resilience
Redemption and Second Chances
Institutionalization
Corruption and Abuse of Power
Friendship and Camaraderie
Freedom and Liberation
The Passage of Time
Self-Discovery and Transformation
The Search for Meaning
The Power of Small Acts of Kindness
Character Development:
Create a character biography: Build a backstory for your character, including details about their past, relationships, and personal traits. This helps inform your choices during the scene. Andy’s backstory is gradually revealed throughout the film, providing insight into his life before his imprisonment at Shawshank State Penitentiary. Andy Dufresne was a successful banker who led a seemingly stable and affluent life. He was married to his wife, Linda, and they appeared to have a comfortable and loving relationship. But, Andy’s life takes a devastating turn when he is wrongfully accused and convicted of the double murder of his wife and her lover. Despite his claims of innocence, the evidence against him leads to a conviction, and he is sentenced to two consecutive life sentences at Shawshank. Before his arrest, Andy experiences profound grief and loss due to the tragic deaths of his wife and her lover. The circumstances surrounding the murder remain a mystery for much of the film.
Determine the character’s relationship with others: Explore the dynamics and history between your character and other characters in the scene. This understanding shapes the interaction and informs your choices. Here are the key relationships of Andy Dufresne:
Red: Red is a fellow inmate and Andy’s closest friend in Shawshank State Penitentiary. Red serves as a mentor figure to Andy. He initially admires Andy’s quiet dignity and becomes intrigued by his mysterious personality. As their friendship deepens over the years, Red becomes Andy’s confidant and ally, helping him navigate prison life and providing support and camaraderie. Their bond is based on mutual respect, trust, and shared experiences, and it becomes a central pillar of hope and friendship in the film.
Brooks Hatlen: Brooks is an elderly inmate who has been in Shawshank for decades. He serves as the prison librarian before Andy takes over the role. Andy’s compassionate and understanding nature makes a profound impact on Brooks, helping him find a sense of purpose and hope. However, when Brooks is released on parole, he struggles to adapt to life outside the prison walls, illustrating the challenges faced by those who have become institutionalized.
Warden Samuel Norton: Warden Norton is the head of Shawshank prison. Initially, Andy appears to be just another inmate to the warden. However, as the story progresses, it becomes evident that Andy’s financial expertise is valuable to Norton’s illegal activities. Their relationship is one of manipulation and exploitation, with Norton using Andy to launder money and maintain control over the prison population.
- Tommy Williams: Tommy is a young inmate who becomes friends with Andy and Red. He looks up to Andy for guidance and education, as Andy helps him improve his literacy skills. Tommy becomes a key figure in the film’s plot as he holds critical information that could potentially prove Andy’s innocence. His tragic fate has a significant impact on both Andy and Red.
What will set you apart?
Professionalism
Professional actors are committed to their craft and treat acting as a full-time profession even when they are starting out or part time. They devote considerable time and effort to perfecting their skills, preparing for auditions, and staying current with industry trends. They put the time in when others have gone onto less difficult activities. This would be the same as an athlete who stays behind after practice to put in more conditioning, reps, and effort.
Preparation
Do the work! Research the story, breakdown the script, develop the character fully, commit the lines to memory, understand the message, and become the character! Would you want a surgeon to show up with a pocket knife and a band-ade without never have read your chart? No! You want a professional who is prepared. You should do no less!
If you want to separate yourself from the pack. The 3 P’s are your path! This section offers a plethora of tips and tricks to help actors bring their monologues to life and captivate their audience on screen.
Script Analysis
The first step in character development is a thorough analysis of the script. Actors examine the dialogue, actions, relationships, and overall narrative to gain insights into their character’s journey and purpose within the story. We need to identify key moments, conflicts, and objectives, which serve as guiding points for their performance.
Try these
Monologue Tips
Script Analysis: Begin by thoroughly analyzing the monologue script. Understand the character’s background, motivations, and emotional journey and the overall story. Identify the key beats, shifts in emotion, and any subtext within the dialogue. This analysis will help you develop a deeper connection with your character and enhance your performance. Review the section on Script analysis in Section 3 – Crafting Memorable Characters.
Character Development: Build a well-rounded and believable character by exploring their backstory, relationships, and objectives. Understand the character’s desires, fears, and conflicts. This deeper understanding will allow you to embody the character more authentically, creating a captivating performance. Be sure to go through the Six steps to building a character as mentioned in Section 3 – Crafting Memorable Characters to create your character completely.
Emotional Preparation: Dive into the emotional landscape of the monologue. Explore the range of emotions your character experiences throughout the scene. Use personal experiences or imagination to connect with those emotions genuinely. You can practice the emotional exercises in the Acting for Film and TV : Fundamentals Course Section 8 – The Power of Emotion to access and express the required feelings effectively.
Physicality and Gesture: Pay attention to your body language and physicality. Use appropriate gestures and movements to enhance the monologue. Align your physical expression with the character’s emotional state. Consider how your character’s body language reflects their thoughts and feelings, and use it to convey meaning. Refer to Acting for Film and TV : Fundamentals Course, Section 5 – The Physicality of Acting for more insights.
Vocal Variation: Explore the nuances of your character’s voice. Experiment with pitch, tone, volume, and pace to convey different emotions and create variation. Be mindful of how your character’s voice changes in response to different moments within the monologue. Mastering vocal variation adds depth and texture to your performance. Refer to Acting for Film and TV : Fundamentals Course Section 6 – The Voice of an Actor for more insights
More Tips
Connection with the Audience: If you are doing a commercial, engage your audience by establishing a direct connection. Maintain eye contact with the camera as if you are speaking directly to the customer. For film and TV, maintain that eyeline with whomever you are speaking to in the scene. Create moments of vulnerability, intensity, or intimacy that draw the audience in and make them feel a part of the performance.
Memorization, Rehearsal and Feedback: Dedicate ample time to rehearse your monologue. Practice consistently to build confidence and familiarity with the material. Use a rehearsal app on your phone to play your lines over, and over, and over, and over, until you have them memorized backwards and forward. Seeking feedback from acting coaches or mentors to gain different perspectives will refine your performance further.
Authenticity and Vulnerability: Strive for authenticity in your performance. Be a professional and sell out to your character. Allow yourself to be vulnerable and open to truly connect with the character and the audience. Embrace the character’s flaws, quirks, and vulnerabilities, as they make the performance more relatable and engaging. Remember, Be…Don’t Act!
Use of Props and Environment: Consider incorporating props or utilizing the environment to enhance your performance. Props can provide context, add depth to the character, and create visual interest. Utilize the space around you to establish a sense of place and create a more immersive experience.
Intention and Objective: Clearly define your character’s intention and objective throughout the monologue. Understand what they want to achieve or convey. This clarity will give your performance a strong sense of purpose and direction. Emphasize the shifts in intention as your monologue progresses. A monologue is a small window into a larger story. Make sure you have a good understanding of what is happening in that moment.
