Dee Cannon – In-Depth Acting – I
Dee Cannon’s approach to acting, as outlined in her book “In-Depth Acting,” emphasizes the importance of thorough preparation, understanding of character, and the use of specific techniques to achieve truthful and connected performances. Here are the key points and detailed examples of exercises from her approach:
Key Points:
Know Thyself: Understand your own emotions and characteristics to better connect with your character.
Training: Invest in acting training to develop skills and techniques that enhance natural talent.
Character Development: Create a detailed backstory and biography for your character to understand their motivations and behaviors.
„On the contrary, I strongly believe that training enhances your natural instincts and backed up with technique makes you a fully rounded and equipped actor.“
Objectives and Actions: Identify clear objectives (what your character wants) and actions (how they try to achieve it) for each scene.
Personalization and Substitution: Use real-life people and situations to relate to your character’s experiences and emotions.
Sense Memory and Emotional Memory: Recall personal sensory and emotional experiences to bring authenticity to your performance.
Physical Preparation: Use physical exercises and animal work to find the essence and physicality of your character.
Rehearsal Techniques: Focus on playing verbs and actions rather than just memorizing lines to keep performances fresh and connected.
Detailed Examples of Exercises:
1. Personalization Exercise:
Objective: To connect with your character by basing them on a real person.
Method: Choose someone you know who embodies the characteristics of your character. Think about their mannerisms, voice, and behavior. Use this image to inform your portrayal.
„In some circumstances you could even base your character on a picture that you found that embodies the image of what you need for your character.“
2. Substitution Exercise:
Objective: To evoke genuine emotions by substituting personal experiences.
Method: If your character is upset about a specific event, substitute it with a similar event from your own life. For example, if your character is grieving a loss, think about a time you lost something or someone important to you.
„In this instance the ‘Magic If’ should kick in and you should use your imagination; ‘What if’ I lost my own mother, father, brother, sister, boyfriend, cat, dog… You would probably be devastated and you should use this ‘What if’ scenario to get the desired emotion, feeling and belief for the scene.“
3. Sense Memory Exercise:
Objective: To recall sensory experiences that can be used in a scene.
Method: Close your eyes and vividly recall a specific sensory experience, such as the taste of a lemon or the smell of the ocean. Use this memory to inform your character’s reactions in a scene.
4. Emotional Memory Exercise:
Objective: To access deep emotions needed for a scene.
Method: Recall a significant emotional event from your past. Relive the experience in detail, focusing on the emotions it evoked. Use this memory to bring authenticity to your character’s emotional state.
5. Physical Preparation Exercise:
Objective: To embody the physicality of your character.
Method: Choose an animal that represents your character’s traits. Spend time moving and vocalizing like this animal to find its essence. For example, if your character is aggressive, you might choose a tiger and practice moving with its strength and intensity.
6. Rehearsal Technique:
Objective: To keep performances fresh and connected.
Method: Break down your script into beats and assign a transitive/active verb to each beat. Focus on playing these verbs fully in rehearsal, ensuring that your actions are clear and intentional.
By integrating these exercises and techniques, actors can achieve a deeper connection to their characters and deliver more truthful and compelling performances.
In Dee Cannon’s approach to acting, the concept of “transitive/active verbs” is central to creating dynamic and truthful performances. These verbs help actors define their character’s objectives and actions in a scene, ensuring that their performance is driven by clear intentions rather than static emotions or general behaviors.
Summary and qoutes out of Dee Cannon´s book – In-Depth Acting by Bloomsbury