26.12.10
Guest Blogger No2....Jan Pearson
Jan is about to work with me on our third project together, so you know i'm a fan. Jan is the first to admit that she's not the most experienced of actors, but as far as preparations go, you simply wont find anyone as dedicated or hard working, so here she is, over to you Ms Pearson, who is talking about how she builds a character and discusses Florence, her role in 'The Dinner Party', (2010).
Following a meeting with a Director where I listen and pick up as much as possible what their vision of the character is I start to develop a character book. The meeting involves listening, making notes and then asking questions for clarification. Throughout all of the time after the initial meeting I think it is important to keep in touch by either, text, email or phone to ensure that the character is developing in the way that the Director thinks is correct for his film and the whole storyline that he knows and you may not. Whilst it is unerving initially to not have a script and the full story that creates a set structure, there has to be an acceptance of this is how real life is. So I made up my mind almost immediately that this is what I would do. When I have the basics I then like to write a back story and have a booklet that becomes a development manual purely belonging to the character. The booklet details such thing as my vision of their persona, mannerisms, sayings, etc. Also I might draw and design things such as their make up, clothes, accessories. At some point in time I know that I will think of an animal that I can relate them to. I feel that this helps me to develop
different mannerisms and looks that are not what I would be like or do. It's also incredibly helpful to have this in mind on set to have something very basic to go back to that then triggers the natural development process that has occured in the previous weeks whilst building up this person you have become so that the natural identity of the character shines through at all times.
As the days and early weeks progress I accept the way in which I feel and try to go with the flow of anything that may spring to mind or may come to me in the form of an article in a magazine or a person who is new that comes into my life. One of the things that happened when we talked on the phone was that I was reading a 'Woman and Home' magazine and in there were courses that cost hundreds of pounds to do. There was one half day pottery course for £25. You said that Florence was a potter - how amazing was that! So I accepted the fact that it was meant to be and booked myself on a pottery course. I designed something new, drawing it in the character manual and then made it too. That gave me the feeling of reality to her occupation and hobby. I researched things on the internet and also attended a pottery fair talking to as many different people in the pottery industry about clays, kilns, things they made and how they became a potter. Whilst out and about I would just suddenly think of what the character would do as a hobby. For Florence I thought she would crochet. So I bought a book on how to crochet and then disgarded this as that is what I would have followed and subsequently taught myself as the character how to crochet flowers. Remaining open and aware to feelings and new possibilities is crucial as things just seem to naturally happen when being in this state of mind. Something that was an incredible turning point was dressing up as the character and then walking through the city as her. Talking to people as she would and with all of the mannerisms. This was an enlightening process as it not only shocked me at how I was then treat but found it challenging to stay in character because of the different thoughts and emotions I had myself. As the time went on I would spend more and more time as her. Softening the way I dressed in the business world to wear some of the things the character would was again enlightening and shocking at the same time. It makes a difference to how people treat you! Be prepared for the change if you decide to go down this route. Recommended if you want to develop a 'thinking on your feet attitude when speaking as the character would'. Remain calm if the going gets tough. I can remember thinking late one night I can't do this, I've not got enough material, I don't know enough, etc. So took myself off to a late night supermarket and bought the characters underwear! Then the following day the ideas and thoughts just flowed again. Build up a suitcase of their things that are just theirs. Have different deoderant, perfume, etc that is theirs alone. Finally learning to love the whole process, going with the flow and accepting whatever feelings of excitement or confusion arise at a particular point in time as normal. The reason for this being that within a few minutes, hours or days a situation occurs and you think 'oh that's why that happened!'
So Basically...
- Create a backstory with the Directors vision in mind.
- Continually work with and develop the character with the Director over the weeks before filming to ensure you are on the right track.
- Research interest, beliefs, hobbies of the characters on the net, books, magazines, library and places of interest.
- Meet with people and discuss their feelings and ideas on subject matter that is part of and what makes the character who they are.
- Learn new things on a one to on basis, go on structured courses or just have a go at teaching yourself.
- Shop as they would, eat and drink as they would.
- Go out as the character, getting dressed and putting on make up as they would. Do this at home when doing all of the usual jobs of the day.
- Take pictures of the process to remind you of the process of the development and what they wear to see if you are comfortable with the look and how the
character is and how their life is building.
- Have a trigger that quickly teaches your brain that this is not me this is the character, i.e. a tap, a jump, a visual process.
- Be open to new ideas and people who may just come into your life. Go with the flow. Try it. If it feels right develop it if not let it go. Move onwards and
forward.
- Have structured times throughout the day to work on the character even when you may feel that there is nothing more you can do or learn. Something usually
springs to mind and develops, sets off other thoughts and generally builds up all of the usual things that you naturally do yourself without you even
realising.