Exploring Beats, Objectives, Tactics and Obstacles __________________________________________________________________

Exploring Beats, Objectives, Tactics and Obstacles __________________________________________________________________

Exploring Beats, Objectives,
Tactics and Obstacles
__________________________________________________________________
What are Objectives?
Objectives are used to break down the psychology of a character. By understanding the
character’s psychology, we can make interesting decisions about how to play a character and
have active things to play (the act part of acting).
An objective is a strong emotional want or need that one’s character has for themselves or
from another character in a play. Objectives help in the process of: 1) Creating drama, 2)
Causing action, 3) Creating conflict and 4) Giving life to a character.
Objectives may come in three different types: 1) Beat objective- (your objective for that smaller
moment), 2) Scene Objective- (Your objective for the scene) and 3) Meta-objective- (Your
objective for the entire play). Knowing the character’s objectives is the responsibility of the
actor. The director will assist when needed, or may change or strengthen an objective, but will
rarely tell an actor what their objective is.
The Four Elements of Every Objective:
* Always start with the “I want to”
* A strong, actable verb
* To whom the want is directed (your scene partner)
* A tactic (a strategy used to achieve your objective), usually formed as a adverb (a word ending
in “ly”)
* The desired response sought from that character (usually formed with so that)
Good Examples of Objectives:
I want to humiliate my wife brutally so that she breaks down and cries.
I want to ignite the crowd patriotically so that they descend into a riot.
I want to seduce Rosalind passionately so that she kisses me.
Four Rules about Objectives:
* Must be directed towards another character rather than oneself
* Phrased as simply and directly as possible
* Avoid weak or negative wants. It is difficult to play a negative want or need. Try and turn
your active verb into a positive. (Rather than “I want to withdraw from reality shyly” try I want
to defend my fantasy factually”)
Beats:
A beat is a psychological unit where one character tries to achieve their objective. If they
achieve their objective, or give up on trying to achieve their objective, there is usually a change
in what they want. This change denotes a beat change. When an objective changes, a beat
changes.
One beat links to the next beat which links to the next, etc. Stanislavski used the phrase
“through-line” to spotlight the idea that each beat is related to the previous one.
When you examine a scene for beats, you will find definite shifts or transitions built into the
dialogue. A typical beat is about half a page long, but obviously this is only a rough rule of
thumb. In cases, of certain playwrights, or in monologues, beats occur far more frequently.
In general, a new beat will begin with:
* An entrance. Typically an entering character will introduce a new want into the scene. This
does not mean that every entrance signals a separate beat since it is possible for an entering
character to continue with the flow of the present beat.
* an unsuccessful attainment of a wish. If a character fails to get what she wants, a new idea,
tactic, or activity might be tried.
* A successful attainment of a wish. After a character gets what he wants, the character will
likely shift to a new wish or new variation of the wish.
* A shift in power between the characters. The onset of a new beat may happen as a character
begins to take initiative. A power play that results in one character dominating the others may
also determine whose scene it is.
TACTICS: A tactic is a choice a character makes in order to try to achieve their objective.
OBSTACLES: An obstacle is something that stands in the way of a character achieving their
objective. An obstacle may be physical, emotional, intellectual or spiritual.
Change nouns into verbs:
I want a wife.
Change to ---- I want to WIN Gloria’s heart.
I want peace.
Change to ----- I want to ELIMINATE distraction in my life.
I want attention.
Change to ----- I want to FASCINATE everyone.
I want order.
Change to ---- I want to ORGANIZE this mess.
Or change adjectives into verbs:
I am angry with her.
Change to ---- I want to DESTROY her.
I am nervous.
Change to --- I want to FOCUS my attention.
I am frustrated.
Change to --- I want to FIND a way out.
I am in love.
Change to ---- I want to TAKE CARE of her forever.
I am being charming.
Change to --- I want to DAZZLE the guests.
I am confused.
Change to --- I want to FIGURE OUT a solution.
I am giddy.
Change to --- I want to CONTAIN my rapture.
I am drunk.
Change to --- I want to PRESERVE business as usual.
I am arrogant.
Change to --- I want to BELITTLE him.
Common Verbs for Acting
I want to HELP
I want to ENCOURAGE
I want to SEDUCE
I want to PREPARE I want to IGNITE
I want to ENLIGHTEN
I want to BUILD
I want to ANNIHILATE
I want to HURT
I want to GET EVEN I want to AWAKEN I want to OVERWHELM
I want to MOCK
I want to REASSURE I want to CRUSH
I want to BOMBARD
I want to INSPIRE
I want to SUPPRESS
I want to DESTROY I want to BELITTLE I want to INCITE
I want to LAMBAST I want to TEASE
I want to ANNOY
The Ultimate List
of Acting Verbs
“Objectives”
abase
abet
abolish
absolve
abuse
accept
acquaint
acquit
addle
address
admonish
affirm
afflict
affront
aid
ail
alarm
alert
allow
allure
amaze
amend
amuse
anger
antagonize
anticipate
ape appeal
approach
arouse
arrange
assess
assist
astound
attack
authenticate
baby
badger
baffle
bait
bear
beckon
befuddle
beg
beguile
belittle
berate
beseech
bewitch
bid
blame
bless
bluff
boost
brainwash
bribe
buck
bushwhack
cajole
calculate
call
catch
caution
censure
challenge
charge
charm
chastise
cheat
check
cheer
chide
clarify
cloak
coax
coddle
coerce
collude
command
commend
con
conceal
concern
conciliate
condemn
condescend
confide
confirm
confound
confuse
consider
consign
contest
convince
correct
corroborate
court
cover
criticize
crucify
crush
curse
damn
dare
deceive
declaim
deduce
defame
defraud
defy
delight
delude
demean
denigrate
denunciate
deny
detect
deter
devastate
dictate
direct
disconcert
discourage
discredit
disencumber
disgrace
disgust
dishearten
dispirit
displease
dissuade
distress
divert
divine
dodge
dominate
dramatize
draw
duck
ease
educate
elevate
elicit
elucidate
embroil
enchant
endear
endure
enflame
engross
enkindle
enlighten
enmesh
ensnare
entangle
entertain
entice
entrap
entreat
entrust
eradicate
eschew
estimate
evade
evaluate
excuse
execute
exploit
facilitate
feed
force
frame
free
frighten
frustrate
fuddle
gag
gauge
gladden
goad
graft
gull
hallow
harangue
hassle
help
henpeck
hoodwink
humble
humiliate
humour
hurt
hush
hypnotize
imitate
impair
implicate
indict
indoctrinate
induce
indulge
insinuate
inspire
insult
interview
intrigue
invite
judge
lambast
lampoon
lead
lecture
libel
liberate
lure
magnetize
malign
maneuver
manipulate
marshall
mask
mend
mimic
mislead
misuse
mobilize
mortify
motivate
muffle
muster
mystify
nag
nauseate
negotiate
notify
nullify
obliterate
offend
oppose
organize
orient
orientate
overlook
panic
parrot
patronize
perform
perplex
persecute
peruse
placate
plan
please
pledge
pontificate
pose
pray
preoccupy
press
prevail
prick
prod
promise
promote
prompt
propagandize
propel
propose
propound
prosecute
provoke
purge
purify
pursue
quash
quench
query
rack
rally
ratify
ravage
rave
read
rebuke
recreate
rectify
reiterate
reject
rejoin
release
relegate
remedy
renege
repel
reprehend
repress
reprimand
repulse
resist
retract
revolt
ridicule
sanctify
satisfy
scheme
scold
scrutinize
sedate
seduce
settle
shake
shame
shroud
shun
sicken
simplify
slander
slur
smother
snare
sober
somber
soothe
spellbind
spoil
spur
spurn
squash
squelch
startle
still
stir
stretch
strike
strip
study
stymie
substantiate
suffer
suggest
summon
supplicate
support
suppress
surprise
swindle
tantalize
tarnish
tease
tempt
terrify
thwart
tickle
titillate
tolerate
torment
torture
trammel
trick
trouble
tyrannize
unburden
understand
uproot
urge
vacillate
validate verify
victimize
vilify
vindicate
warn
wheedle
woo
worry
worship
wrangle
Verb List is from :
Playing: An
Introduction to
Acting. Kuritz, Paul,
Prentice-Hall. 1982
Ultimate Acting Adverb List
Abruptly Absentmindedly Absurdly Accurately Acutely Adamantly Admirably Adroitly Adventurously Affectionately Aggressively Alarmingly Ambitiously Amusingly Analytically Antagonistically Anxiously Appallingly Appealingly Apprehensively Approximately Arbitrarily Ardently Arrogantly Articulately Astonishingly Attractively Audaciously Auspiciously Authoritatively Awkwardly Bashfully Beguilingly Benevolently Bitterly Blandly Blatantly Bleakly Blithely Bluntly Boastfully Boldly Boorishly Brashly Bravely Brazenly Briefly Briskly Brutally Callously Calmly Candidly Capriciously Carefully Carelessly Casually Categorically Caustically Cautiously Ceremonially Charmingly Cheaply Cheerfully Childishly Churlishly Civilly Cleverly Clumsily Comically Compassionately Competently Conceitedly Confidently Conscientiously Coolly Cordially Courageously Courteously Covertly Cowardly Credulously Crossly Crudely Cruelly Cryptically Cunningly Curtly Deceitfully Deceptively Defiantly Deliberately Despondently Diabolically Diligently Diplomatically Discreetly Disdainfully Disgracefully Disparagingly Dubiously Dynamically Eagerly Ecstatically Egotistically Elaborately Elegantly Eloquently Emphatically Enthusiastically Enticingly Erotically Evasively Exactly Excitedly Extravagantly Falsely Faultlessly Fearfully Feebly Ferociously Fervently Fiercely Firmly Flippantly Foolishly Forcefully Formally Fraudulently Frigidly Furiously Gallantly Generously Gently Glamorously Glaringly Gleefully Glibly Gracefully Graciously Grandly Gravely Greedily Grimly Grossly Grotesquely Grudgingly Gruffly Guardedly Haphazardly Harmfully Harshly Hastily Heartlessly Heedlessly Hesitantly Hideously Hollowly Hopefully Horribly Humorously Hysterically Idiotically Illustriously Immaculately Immodestly Impatiently Impetuously Impolitely Impulsively Incessantly Indistinctly Indulgently Ineffectually Informally Innocently Inquisitively Insincerely Insistently Insolently Intelligently Intrepidly Irrefutably Irritably Jokingly Joyfully Kindly Knowingly Labouriously Lackadaisically Lasciviously Lavishly Leisurely Lewdly Lightly Lively Logically Lovingly Ludicrously Lustfully Luxuriantly Maliciously Meekly Melodramatically Menacingly Mercifully Methodically Meticulously Mockingly Monotonously Moodily Mournfully Mysteriously Naively Nervously Neurotically Nimbly Nonchalantly Obediently Obnoxiously Obscenely Obsequiously Obsessively Obtrusively Obviously Ominously Opaquely Openly Oppressively Ostentatiously Outlandishly Overconfidently Painstakingly Paradoxically Passionately Pathetically Pensively Pessimistically Petulantly Placidly Plainly Playfully Pleasantly Politely Pompously Preciously Precisely Prickly Professionally Profusely Properly Provocatively Prudently Quietly Quirkily Quixotically Radically Rancorously Rapidly Rashly Rationally Reasonably Rebelliously Recklessly Relentlessly Reluctantly Resentfully Respectively Restlessly Righteously Rigorously Romantically Roughly Rowdily Rudely Ruthlessly Sarcastically Saucily Savagely Scandalously Scathingly Scornfully Seductively Seemingly Sensually Sentimentally Serenely Seriously Severely Shamefully Sharply Sheepishly Shrewdly Shrilly Shyly Sinisterly Slyly Smoothly Smugly Snidely Snobbishly Softly Solemnly Somberly Soothingly Sorrowfully Sourly Spitefully Sprightly Staunchly Sternly Strenuously Strictly Stubbornly Stylishly Suavely Sublimely Subtly Suddenly Suggestively Sullenly Superficially Surly Suspiciously Sweetly Swiftly Sympathetically Tactfully Tamely Tastefully Tearfully Tenaciously Tenderly Tensely Tentatively Theatrically Thunderously Timidly Tiredly Tirelessly Tolerantly Tortuously Traditionally Tragically Traumatically Treacherously Trivially Tyrannically Unexpectedly Uniquely Urbanely Urgently Vacantly Vacuously Vaguely Vainly Valiantly Vehemently Venomously Vicariously Viciously Vigorously Violently Vivaciously Voraciously Vulgarly Vulnerably Warily Warmly Watchfully Weakly Wearily Wickedly Wisely Woefully Woodenly Worshipfully Wretchedly Zealously