About This Course

Breaking down a script down from an actor’s perspective.

The script is to the actor what the score is to the musician. The script dictates the appropriate directions, intentions, and relationships for the actor. In this program, we look at how an actor’s interpretation of a script will enhance their performance, how to break down a layered script, and how to work with a weak script. Please note: there is no self-filming in this course.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Intro

    • Welcome
  • 2

    Getting Started

    • Course Goals

    • Choosing your Play

    • Important Note

    • Downloadable Exercise Checklist
  • 3

    Beginning the Play

    • Lesson 1: The Creative Reading

    • Assignment: The Creative Reading Explanation

    • Reflection: The Creative Reading
  • 4

    Mining the Script for the Story

    • Lesson 2: The External Plane

    • Naomi Harris on Reading the Script

    • Assignment: The External Plane Explanation

    • The External Plane Example

    • Reflection: The External Plane

    • How to Submit The External Plane Assignment

    • Lesson 3: The Plane of the Social Situation

    • Matthew McConaughey on Reading the Script

    • Assignment: The Plane of the Social Situation Explanation

    • Reflection: The Plane of the Social Situation

    • How to Submit The Plane of the Social Situation Assignment

    • Lesson 4: The Literary and the Aesthetic Planes

    • Anthony Hopkins on Reading the Script

    • Assignment: The Literary and the Aesthetic Planes Explanation

    • Reflection: The Literary and the Aesthetic Planes

    • How to Submit The Literary and the Aesthetic Planes Assignment
  • 5

    Mining the Script for the Character

    • Lesson 5: The Psychological Plane

    • Viola Davis on the Craft of Acting

    • Assignment: The Psychological Planes Explanation

    • Reflection: The Psychological Plane

    • How to Submit The Psychological Plane Assignment

    • Lesson 6: The Physical Plane

    • Stephen Adly Guirgis on Philip Seymour Hoffman

    • Assignment: The Physical Plane Explanation

    • Reflection: The Physical Plane

    • How to Submit The Physical Plane Assignment

    • Lesson 7: The Plane of Personal Creative Feelings

    • Chadwick Boseman On Filling in the Gaps of the Script

    • Assignment: The Plane of Personal Creative Feelings Explanation

    • How to Submit The Plane of Personal Creative Feelings Assignment
  • 6

    Deconstructing the Scene

    • Lesson 8: The Given Circumstances

    • Assignment: The Given Circumstances Explanation

    • How to Submit The Given Circumstances Assignment

    • Lesson 9: Moving the Scene Forward

    • Practice Exercise: Finding the Bits

    • Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Scene

    • Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Scene with suggested Bits

    • The Silence of the Lambs Scene

    • The Silence of the Lambs Scene with suggested Bits

    • Assignment: Moving the Scene Forward Explanation

    • How to Submit Moving the Scene Forward Assignment
  • 7

    Deconstructing the Dialogue

    • Lesson 10: Finding the Moments

    • Practice Exercise: Finding the Mini Objectives and Actions

    • Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf Scene Portion

    • Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Mini Objectives and Actions Example 1

    • Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Mini Objectives and Actions Example 2

    • Notes on Mini Objectives and Actions Examples 1 and 2

    • Assignment: Finding the Moments Explanation

    • How to Submit Finding the Moments Assignment
  • 8

    Conclusion

    • Course Summary

    • All Planes