From the course: Creating a Short Film: 04 Working with Actors

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Interpreting the script

Interpreting the script

- All of the choices actors make are based on what is in the script. Writers, actors, and directors all understand that what we see on the page is really just a small fraction of these character's lives. So, actors usually benefit from putting those pieces in the script together, and then filling in the holes in order to get a more complete idea of who a character is. So, how do you do that? Everyone has a different approach to breaking down a script. For me, as an actor, I like to read the entire script a few times, start to finish. My comprehension isn't as good as most people's, so I like to make sure that I understand the overall big picture and how my character fits into the story. I also learned a great trick from Eva Jane, the actress who plays Hope Ta'ani in The Assurance. When we worked together on my short film, When Harry Made Sally, she taught me about how she approaches roles. She'll, of course, talk in more detail about her process later on in this course when we look at…

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