Formula for Creating a Character or a Life

Formula for Creating a Character
The characters that you play as an actor are looking for the same things as you. Character types come from an internal position of value that is either based on being selfless or selfish. That core belief system will determine whether the character’s internal motivation is positive or negative. A character that appears to be open and nonthreatening from his external presentation has a light cover (presentation). The character that appears to be intimidating or superior from the external presentation has a dark cover (presentation). They first come from a point of reference both emotionally and physically. This, as you know, is a presentation of expected value.

If the character’s internal motivation appears to be selfless, then his operating beliefs or his core is light (nonthreatening). If the character’s operating belief system appears to be selfish, then his core is dark (threatening). These are character qualities that you will deal with. There will be clues in the script to guide you to this knowledge of the character. There will also be clues that the casting director or director will give you to help guide you to the core/cover choice you will make. The four cover and core combination possibilities are: Dark on Dark, Dark on Light, Light on Dark and Light on Light.

Your ability to create and play characters, with a strong point of reference for the audience, has a great deal to do with your physical and presentational clarity. There are two types of characters from the presentation position. The first are those characters that appear to be nonthreatening by their external physical and emotional presentation. This physical presentation includes both non threatening physical characteristics and non intimidating choice of dress. These elements constitute a light cover position. There are also those characters that appear threatening and intimidating from their external physical presentation. This includes the physical characteristics and their choice of intimidating clothing. This constitutes the dark cover position.

Your physical reference point will help guide you to what acting jobs you might be best suited to seek and what areas of storytelling you most comfortable fit. Many actors or aspiring actors choose not to clarify their type (including stock and stereotypes). This lack of position of play clarity may keep one from finding an agent or business representation. Unfortunately, in many cases the truth of the presentation is counter to the actor’s grasp on reality.

The first major way to know what characters you are best suited to play is if the character is liberal or conservative. Most people don’t want to deal with this kind of apparent discrimination. They feel it is unfair and prejudicial. And of course, it is unfair and prejudicial. That’s part of the purpose of story telling. Story telling shows the audience how we class each other and strive to be better than each other even within our own race and subcultures. Presentation of style and affluence is primarily an effort to convey a class distinction. For example, certain class distinction indicates that the character values education, elitism, style, affluence, breeding, culture, propriety… etc.

You should use your understanding of creating a character to help you find your own quality traits and values both good and bad. You need to know your strengths, weakness, talents and fears that make you who you are. Not being aware of these will keep you from being the person and the actor you wish to be. In your own life this is also true. Finding your values and qualities to achieve the goals for your life need to be as clear to you as it is for any character you are creating.

Formula for Creating Yourself

There is a formula for creating a character. That formula is A + B = C. The A is the actor, the B is the book/script, and the C the collaborators. All of these elements constitute the creating of a character. The book refers to the script’s clues or suggestions given by the director. The director’s clues come from the literal as well as his vision of the script. Later clues come from the contribution of the other creative collaborators.

By understanding this formula you will serve yourself as a storyteller. Without this blend of your qualities and the needs of the script you may well serve the character in the play but not serve yourself playing the character. Knowing how to make the blend will serve you as someone the audience loves to see telling stories from one of the four cover/core presentational styles. The knowledge of the blend will make you special and get people to pay attention to you and therefore, it will provide financial security.

You also want to be able to translate a director’s interpretation and script clues for a character. You want to recognize the character traits and physical presentation that the director lifts from the script and the ones he brings from his own vision. You can then take that knowledge and blend them with your understanding of your own core and cover combination.

As you strive to create your own acting career, what you are really starting is your own company. And, if that company is successful you will be responsible for the income of others. While you’re working to become a successful professional actor it is important that you are accepting that you’re going into business for yourself. And, like anyone who owns his own business, you need to believe you can do it well. You must believe you have the spirit and ability that makes you a competitive business in this diverse industry. You must make sure the rules you have set for yourself are based on beliefs that support your true abilities to be successful.

You want to know how to translate the rules that others play by. With this knowledge you can interpret their physical dark or light cover presentation as well as interpret their selfish or selfless core motivation. Knowing the purpose of the core /cover combination used by others in relation to you will give you an advantage in the choices you make.

But, it depends on what you really want. It would be wonderful if seeking this career gives you a feeling of importance and accomplishment. It would be wonderful if this career makes you proud knowing that your work affects lives and makes things better for your audience. It would be wonderful if your time with an audience removes them from their personal pain. It would be grand if a reason to pursue this career was to heal others. It would be awesome if these were your reasons. But the real reasons may be more personal and complex.

It is said by many self help advocates that life is not a destination, it is a process. If you do not enjoy the process you will not enjoy the destination. Life is to be lived and the living is filled with ups as well as downs. It should be filled with the excitement of the adventure. If the trip isn't fun chances are the memories won’t be either. Beliefs that are not matched with responsibility and intelligence are more than likely going to result in your possible unhappiness. Therefore, you want to make your beliefs pleasure oriented. Make sure your belief’s support your priorities (true and desired).

Make sure your beliefs support your pursuing a successful professional acting career. Make sure your beliefs or rules for living are not interfering with your ability to achieve a successful professional acting career. Assess those beliefs that are working against you.

If you want to be successful begin by feeling as if you are successful. If you can fool other people, chances are you can fool yourself. Catch yourself whenever you are holding on to beliefs that are nothing more than instructions to support a negative low energy vibration. Make sure your rules for living are not so difficult that you can’t pull away from negative thoughts in order to win the game of life. You must truly want to be successful in this business. Circumstances will happen that create a detour from your set goals. It is not the event of the detour that will change your fate. It is the belief that you attach to the event which will determine the power of the detour.

If you believe you can or you believe you can’t you’re right. And, remember, beliefs are not permanent unless they go unchallenged.

Have a great week.
I wish you well.
Russ