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As actors and improvisers we always want to make our scenes as dynamic as possible. One way we can increase the potency of a scene is to play with the power dynamics. Just as in real life, many situations and interactions involve complex power dynamics such as one person being more dominant than the other. These sometimes subtle, something overt inequalities influence the interactions in fascinating ways. As actors, we can play with this basic human nature element to create interesting scenes.
High Status/ Low Status
In a given scene you might choose to play high-status, which means becoming a dominant person. Or you might choose to play low-status to your partner, which is often hilarious. Both roles can be very funny and creative. Some people find one role more comfortable than the other, and will tend to go to that status as their “default” character. What you want to do is vary your characters so that you don’t get stuck in either extreme. In short, you want to cultivate the ability to play high and low status characters with equal ease.
Practice Switching
Identify which is generally easier for you in terms of status, and make a deliberate effort to play the other part in class. This increases your range of characters and flexibility and keeps your scenes fresh. This may be a challenge if you are very polarized to one extreme or the other. But the goal of improving your scenes is complete spontaneity, and if you are always playing one role or the other, you are not fully in the moment and creating anew.
Identify the Actor’s Elements of Status
How does a high-status person stand, how do they use their body? How do they move? How do they assert their dominance with their body? How do they use their voice? Do they use volume or speed of talking to create this dominance? What about eye contact? High status people will often use extremes, either a lot of eye contact, or refusing to look at you.
What are the elements of behavior in a low-status character? How do they use their body, voice, face, eyes, energy? If a performer is clear in their choices, you will know in less than three seconds whether they are playing high or low status in the scene. You can choose to play the same status, you can one up them, or you can play the opposite of their choice. All of these options can be very entertaining and create dynamic scenes.
Flexibility Drills
One of the great ways to increase your emotional flexibility is to play with status in a scene. You might even change your status in a scene according to what your partner does. Change from one status to the other can be interesting, but it should be motivated by the interaction between you and your scene partner, not just something you “decide” to do within your own head. But in practice mode, you might try switching just to get the experience of playing both sides of the character coin.
Go to the extremes of both behavioral poles. It is fun to push the envelope. It also gives you greater range and helps you find new ways to engage with each other. Status creates instant character. If your scenes are feeling bland, try adding a strong choice of status and watch the fun explode!
Watch this You Tubes where actors switch status during a scene. Do you like the choices they made or do you feel it would have been better if they stuck to their initial choices.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a_GBKcrWSk
Genie Joseph

Journal Questions:

What is easier for you? Playing high or low status characters?

What is it about your choice that makes you feel safe?

What would you have to do to experience the other extreme?

Are you willing to expand your personal power?

Does playing either extreme scare you?

How does this relate to your real life and interactions?

Power Play

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Lesson Nine

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