The Guidepost Process

1
The Guidepost Process

• Audition by Michael Shurtleff

2
Michael Shurtleff

• Audition Everything an Actor Needs to Know to
  Get the Part
• Shurtleff was a casting director for many years
  and through this process he became aware that
  actors at times could not find the light.
• He crated 12 objectives that he perceived to be
  what actors that were successful were doing.

3
Guidepost 1 Relationships

• How does your character relate to the others in
  the monologue/duet.
• Look for the Facts
• Label the relationshipFather-Son
• How long has the relationship gone on?
• What are the details of the relationship?
• The Feelings Past and Present
• How do they feel about each other? Then and now?
• Where is the Love?
• What is the love? Love will guide to the next
  emotion.

4
Guidepost 2 Conflict

• There are two opposing sidesAll come from LOVE
  vs. FEAR
• What are you Fighting For?
• What is at stake?
• What do you want to gain?
• Make the Active Choice
• What tactics will you use to get what you want?
• Dont settle for less than your dream!!
• DREAMGOALDo what you can to obtain your goal

5
Guidepost 3 The Moment Before

• BEFORE the text in the monologue
• What is your Baggage?
• Like Jacob Marley from A Christmas CarolChains
• What has happened to lead up to this?
• Describe the Literal Moment Before
• What JUST HAPPENED?! to cause the scene?
• Write this in your script!
• Describe the Emotional Moment Before
• How do you FEEL right before?!?
• Write this in your script!

6
Guidepost 4 Humor

• Not a jokeNot laughing! That which without it
  we would have jumped off the bridge.
• HumorLevity
• Levity is a lack of seriousnesslightness
• Beginning of a DI should be full of Levity
• Lighten the Burden
• Not only for yourself, but also for the audience
• Discover the Light Moments
• Look for the subtle, funny stuff

7
Guidepost 5 Opposites

• Opposites create conflictconflict creates
  dramadrama makes it interesting
• Motivation?
• What is the motivation of the scene?
• There is an opposite to that find it!
• Now perform using that opposite emotion also
• Never Be Consistent
• Consistency is the heart of DULL ACTING!
• Dont be consistent when it comes to the emotions
  you are playing
• Discover Unlikely Opposites
• The more extreme the opposites, the easier it
  will be to act.

8
Guidepost 6 Discovery

• Figuring out something for the first time
  Whats New?
• About Your Character
• Dig deep to discover your character.
• What are they saying? Doing? Feeling?
• About the Other Characters
• What is the other character saying to you?
  Feeling about you? Trying to accomplish?
• About the Situation
• How does the situation affect you now? How did
  if affect you then? (in the pastMaybe)
• The more DISCOVERIES the more INTERESTING it
  will be!!

9
Guidepost 7 Communication Competition

• Acting IS communicating!!!
• Communication is the Key
• Communication is a CIRCLEit takes TWO to
  communicate!
• Have a feelingThen COMMUNICATE the feeling!
• Find the Competition
• We compete for everything
• There must be competition to create drama
• What are you competing for?
• Relationships Are Competition
• What are you competing for in the relationship?
• Who are you competing against?

10
Guidepost 8 Importance

• Playwrights write plays about the important
  moments, not the everyday stuff.
• Trust Must Be Interesting
• What is the Emotional Importance
• Important doesnt mean to others
• What is important to you emotionally?
• ADD IMPORTANCE!

11
Guidepost 9 Find the Events

• You need to focus on the emotions, BUT dont
  forget about what is happening in the scene
• Change
• The strongest eventcan be hidden or obvious.
  There are a lot of changes in a scene so pay
  attention
• What happens in the scene?
• What are the changes?
• Confrontation
• Confrontationa resultthere is a consequence
  attached
• Where is the confrontation?Answer and then
  create the changes
• An Emotional Eruption
• A major turning point for the character
• What is the CLIMAX in the scene?

12
Guidepost 10 Place

• Your audition will be on a blank stage. You must
  create the place.
• See the Place in Your Minds Eye
• Use your imagination to visualize the place
• Connection to the Place
• Pick a place you feel comfortable in and youre
  familiar with
• Reaction to the Place
• Its important how you feel about the place.
• Make sure the place fits the character and the
  action.

13
Guidepost 11 Game Playing Role Playing

• Not just make believethey are REAL. Roles are a
  way to deal with reality, not avoid it.
• What Game Are You Playing?
• What is the activity? What is the game?
• What is at Stake?
• What do people what from you and what do you want
  from them?
• What are you offering? What do you expect?
• What Role Do You Play?
• What role do you take on for the game?

14
Guidepost 12 Mystery And Secret

• Youve prepared your scene, now put in what you
  DONT know!
• Ad some wonderment about the others in your
  scene. There is always something you DONT know
  What is it?
• How can you make the audience wonder too?

15
Character Analysis

• Important!! Helps you know how to act and
  perform your character!!
• Who is your character?
• What is the background of your character?
• What is happening in the monologue?
• Why is it happening?
• Where is the monologue occurring?
• Why is your character like this?
• What happened before?
• What will happen after?