ACTIONS OBJECTIVES 101

 CREATING AN ACTION

 

Having narrowed the focus of wants to the choice of specific verbs, let us take the first of two steps in refinement. An adequate expression of the want is a verb by itself. A superior, more subtle, and certainly more actable expression of the want will include the person to whom the want is directed and the response sought from that person so that a first-class actor expressing an individual want of the character would include all three elements:

 

                               VERB                 RECEIVER + RESPONSE

I want               to WIN              Gloria's  admiration.

 

I want              to AWAKEN       my father's enthusiasm.

 

I want              to REDUCE         my lover to tears.

 

I want               to IGNITE           the crowd to riot.

 

I want               to PERSUADE   Ann to kiss me.

 

 

The objective may be changed, modified, refined, or upgraded later, but, at least for now, we have:

1. a verb

2. a receiver

3. a desired response

 

 

 

 

Ball, William. A Sense of Direction. New York : Drama Book Publishers, 1984.