Symbiosis System of Acting

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Symbiosis System of Acting, a revolutionary system for film acting.

[edit] Introduction to a revolutionary system for performance

The Symbiosis System of Acting, developed by writer/director J. Kristian O'Daugherty, has its origins from various sources including Stanislavsky, Meisner and other founders of acting theory. This system is grounded in theories of psychology and studies in human behavior, resulting in richer texture in the actor's performance. Unlike most methods that have been developed for acting, Symbiosis System is designed exclusively for film and television acting.

The emphasis of this system of acting is to create performances that focus on believable moments that captivate the audience through body language, facial expressions, eyes and the inflections of the voice, all the indicators of the actor's belief in the moment he is existing in during performance.

While most theories of acting propagate the notion that the actor should apply his own sense and emotional memories to his character, this system contradicts that suggestion by theorizing that to achieve a true performance the actor must apply the sense and emotional memories of the character, not the actor. To accomplish that ability naturally, the actor must allow the character to come to life and journey along his life experiences through a series of improvisational scene behaviors that create pivitol events in the character's life.

[edit] The System

The System is a structured process intended to provide the actor a deep understanding of who their character is.

Step #1: Establishing the Director/Actor partnership. This is critical to the success of this process. There must be both a bond and trust existing between these two.

Step #2: Establishing who the character is: First the actor and director must establish who the character is based on information provided in the script, or through notes from the screenwriter. It should be important to recognize that the writer knows the character more than anyone else and has probably already established the back story. The actor and director should use this knowledge to develop an understanding of who this character is and where he's come from. It should also be noted that the script represents the character in the present... it's up to the actor and director, possibly in conjunction with the writer, to determine the backstory that forms the character's present personality.

Step #3: Establishing the Character Chart: The actor should sit down and complete a detailed character chart of his character.

Step #4: Psychological Profile: Complete a full psychological profile on the character. This will be important during the process of establishing a history of the character that will help develop the character's personality.

Step #5: Timeline of Pivotal Events: The actor, with the help of the director, should draft a chronological timeline of pivotal events from the character's life. This will be the building blocks of life experiences that will become vital to the workshop phase.

Step #6: Workshop Objectives & Improvisation Timeline: Once the foundation for character study is established, the next step will be for the director (or a designated coach) to establish the specific objectives for the workshops. Part of this plan will include drafting a timeline and description for each improvisation that details the specific relationships involved, the objectives, and the life experience that the character is establishing. It is suggested that specific scene-behavior be discussed as well. Although the actor will not know the specific objectives or actions, at this time the Director should discuss any extraordinary situations that the actor may be subjected to, such as intense verbal or physical abuse. Safety guidelines should already be established at this time.

Step #7: Starting the Workshop: Before beginning the actual improvisations, the actor and director must discuss and establish all safety guidelines to be used in the scene behaviors. Safety for all participants must be a priority.

Step #8: Improvisations: Each improvisation will include an objective that the actor must reach before continuing to the next scene. The director (or the coach) will start each scene by providing the actor with the character's age, setting, description of other characters involved (including the relationship to the character), and any other relevant information the actor will be required to have knowledge of to perform the scene and scene-behavior. The actor will not be provided advance notice of the objective. It will be left to the director to guide the actor through the process of reaching the objective.

Step #9: Summarization of Scenes: At the conclusion of each improvisational scene, the actor shall remain in character while discussing the previous scene with the director. The actor will be provided specific experiences from the scene that he will carry forward through the next scene. These experiences will be stored in the character's memory.

Step #10: Aftercare: At the conclusion of each session (or each day), the director will conduct an aftercare session to help the actor process his experiences and any negative residual emotions that may remain. It is very important that Aftercare is conducted after each session, otherwise the actor will be left alone to process his residual emotions, and potentially damage the relationship between the director and actor.

[edit] The Importance of After Care during Workshops and during Performance

After Care is used to help bring the actor out of the emotional state of mind associated with performing a scene, whether scripted or improvised. In ideal circumstances, this process should be conducted between the actor and the director, although the actor's coach would suffice. Following a performance, the director and actor would sit down together to process the emotional experience the actor just went through. After Care is intended for the actor, but the benefits translates to both the actor and the director, as well as any other participants of the workshops.

Workshops, or even a performance, should never be concluded without incorporating the After Care process. An actor should NEVER be left to deal with residual effects of scene-behavior on his own. It's disrespectful to the actor, and leaves the actor with the risk of becoming traumatized after an emotionally difficult scene.

A benefit that After Care introduces is the bond and the trust that develops between the director and the actor. By participating in this process, the director instills in the actor a sense that the director genuinely cares about him and is willing to serve as his support system throughout the process and the production. This encourages the actor to be willing to challenge himself much further, thus giving the director even more impressive performances.