Taken from the Aaron Speiser Acting Workshop workbook

The following information should be used to assist you in your preparation for performance. The information you get out of the script will guide you in creating truthful, believable behavior. REMEMBER - read the script often (or at least read the entire script once and then the scene often). When in doubt, go back to the script for answers or get professional coaching. Base your acting choices on facts given in the script, research and life experience.

CHARACTER - Who am I? Take notes the second time you read the script. Try to read the script more than once. Read the scene many times. List all the facts given in the script about your character. Make three lists: what others say about you; what the author says about you; what you say about yourself. Because something is given, does not necessarily mean it’s true or that your character accepts what is said. For instance, your character might not feel she has a problem with alcohol even though everyone else knows she is an alcoholic. Write an autobiography based on the following facts:

• Full name, date and place of birth
• Family background (mother, father, siblings, etc.)
• Religious background - past and present
• Economic back ground - past and present
• Sexual background - past and present
• Educational background - past and present
• Hobbies, likes, loves, dislikes, hates,
• Habits, heroes
• Relationships with other people, events and things
• How do I feel about myself? Describe yourself.
• What do I find funny? Sense of humor
• What makes me nervous? Angry? Afraid? Etc.
• Who am I at this point of the script?
• How have I changed from earlier in the script?
• What are my dreams, needs, obsessions, desires?

An Autobiography should also include the following information:

What are my relationships? How do I feel towards all other people, places, events and things in the scene and script?

What are my problems? Sometimes these are clearly given and sometimes they’re not. Your character must have problems. BIG, IMPORTANT problems. If the problems are not clearly given in the script, then you must use your imagination and life experience to figure them out. Make sure you identify the problems and look at them from your character’s point of view (POV). For example, you are a man who beats his wife. “I beat her because she is so stupid and disrespectful. She also likes it because it lets her know who’s the boss.” Notice no judgment is made The character sees his problem from his point of view. Plus, he must have other problems.

What SECRETS do I have? (Make them personal)

Writing your autobiography is just the beginning. Things will change. You will come up with new ideas and choices. Don’t hesitate to throw out old ideas and go down new roads. You can always go back. You may also find that you need to do research.

BE SPECIFIC ON ALL THE ABOVE