Finding Your Characters

Lesson 4: Finding Your Characters

Lesson Objective: Students will be able to develop a story telling character and perspective by participating in a character press conference and character walk.

Materials

None

Warm Up: Voice and Diction

1. Review voice elements with students.

1. 1. Diction
   2. Projection
   3. Dialect
   4. Quality
   5. Pitch
   6. Tone
2. Say the tongue twister and have students repeat back to you after each line.

To Sit in Solemn Silence

In a Dull Dark Dock

In a Pestilential Prison

With a Life Long Lock

Awaiting the Sensation

Of a Short Sharp Shock

From a Cheap and Chippy Chopper

On a Big Black Block

3. Go through it a couple of times having the students focus on different vocal elements.

Transition

1. Explain that, now that their voice are warmed up, today they are going to work on developing their characters they chose last class.

Activity: Press Conference

1. Each student will assume the role of their chosen character.
2. We will play a game called press conference.
3. The goal will be to get to know your character through improvisation and discover the physical qualities of their voice.
4. Each character will be interviewed in a press conference by the other characters.
5. They can ask anything they want that will help them get to know the character better.
6. Have students take a minute and write 3 questions they could ask other characters. Such as…

1. What was a defining moment in your life?
2. How do you feel about interacting with others?
3. How do you feel about love?
4. When I say the word friendship what do you think of?
5. Who do you look up to?
6. What is your favourite dance style?

1. Model an example of what the press conference should look like using a character all the students will know.

• Wednesday Addams

1. Katniss
2. Hermione
3. Bella

1. Introduce your name in character and call on students to ask you their questions.
2. Have the students ask any questions they have about the activity.
3. Split the class in two to save time and allow them to start their press conferences.
4. Remind students that each character should be interviewed for 3-5 minutes.

Transition

Explain that now that they have gotten to know their characters and their voice it's time to discover their characters bodies.

Activity: Character Walk

1. Ask students to start moving around the room in soft focus.
2. Ask them to slowly turn into their character just moving around the room, not interacting with each other.
3. Ask them to explore the way their character moves. Use some prompts to help.

1. What do their faces look like when they are stressed?
2. How does body language feel when they are happy?
3. How do they react to a dangerous situation?
4. How do they move when they are greeting a friend?

Closer

1. Hand out character worksheets for homework.
2. They will be due at the beginning of next class.
3. Students should get as detailed as possible so they really get to know their character.