Bits (beats) or Units of Action

Bits (beats) or Units of Action

Drama is conflict. Highs and lows. Light and dark. A bit is a section of text (a few lines up to a page) in which mini 

Objectives are pursued and attained or blocked, changing the dynamic of the action. Bits are often marked by:

. The entrance or exit of a character

. Change in subject matter

. Silences or moments of inaction

. Changes in character behaviour e.g. From reactive to proactive. 

When Bits/units are pieced back together they should flow seamlessly and make a strong structure. They will in effect create "a score" just like the different sections of a piece of music make up the symphony. 

Objectives, Obstacles and Actions

Objectives, Obstacles (counter objective), and Actions
 

Objective – Pertaining to the object or end. Something aimed at or striven for.

The main purpose of establishing bits/units is to unlock the motivation of the character. Why they do what they do and say what they say. I.e. What they want/desire/dream.

At the heart of every beat lies a character’s objective and that objective must be encapsulated by a verb, (a doing word). The best way to express an objective is like this:

E.g. Antigone: "I want to honour our brother”

If you want something, you have to do something to get it. Hence Stanislavsky’s phrase: "every objective must carry the germ of action".

Obstacle- That which stands in the way or opposes; a hindrance, an obstruction to one’s progress.
 

All drama is conflict so you cannot have an objective without an obstacle.

You might not achieve your objective as someone else's objective might directly counter yours. Hence someone else's objective becomes your obstacle. So Antigone’s, "I want to honour our brother” is countered by Creon’s objective, "I want Polynices to pay for his crimes".

Your objective must be exciting and passionate not cold and un-emotional. It must burn and you must pursue it until you either drive it home or it changes.

Action – The doing of something; being in motion or operation. The influence or effect of something on something else. A series of events forming the subject of a play.

An action is what you must do to get what you want - this is most usefully expressed by a transitive verb - something you do to someone else. So, if Antigone’s objective is to bury her brother what is she going to do to achieve this?

She attacks Creon

She blanks Ismene

She seduces Haemon

A different action can be played on every phrase or line of text in an attempt to achieve your objective. This process helps actors to keep their performances fresh, truthful and reactive. Your objective will stay fixed but your actions may change allowing you to make your performance different every single time.

HOMEWORK - 9 QUESTIONS

CHOOSE A CHARACTER AND A MOMENT FROM THE PLAY AND ANSWER THE FOLLOWING 9 QUESTIONS:

1.  WHO AM I?  

(All the details about your character including name, age, address, relatives, likes, dislikes, hobbies, career, description of physical traits, opinions, beliefs, religion, education, origins, enemies, loved ones, sociological influences, etc.) 

2.  WHAT TIME IS IT?  

(Century, season, year, day, minute, significance of time) 

3.  WHERE AM I?  

(Country, city, neighbourhood, home, room, area of room) 

4.  WHAT SURROUNDS ME?  

(Animate and inanimate objects-complete details of environment) 

5.  WHAT ARE THE GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCES?  

(Past, present, future and all of the events) 

6.  WHAT IS MY RELATIONSHIP?  

(Relation to total events, other characters, and to things) 

7.  WHAT DO I WANT?  

(Character's need. The immediate and main objective) 

8.  WHAT IS IN MY WAY?  

(The obstacles which prevent character from getting his/her need) 

9.  WHAT DO I DO TO GET WHAT I WANT?  

(The action: physical and verbal, also-action verbs)