A guide to actor's script annotation.

1. Script Annotation For Actors

2. Why Annotate? Purpose of Script Annotation: Helps Actor understand the character’s motivations Helps actor’s characterization be more believable Helps actor memorize lines contextually

3. Parts of Annotation Intention Action Subtext “Beats” Blocking

4. INTENTION Intention: What is the OVERALL GOAL for your character in the scene? “I want to convince him I love him” “I want to persuade the jury” “I want to caution this character against a foolish decision” ---all examples of INTENTION

5. ACTION Action: What does your character WANT at any given moment? Always stated as “I want” or as action verbs “I want him to listen” I want her to go away” “I want to kill him” “I want to figure this out” ---all examples of ACTIONS

6. SUBTEXT Subtext: What your character is ACTUALLY THINKING, as opposed to what he/she is actually SAYING Hitman: “What time do you close?” (subtext: what time can I come back and kill you?) Storekeeper: “Now. We close now.” (subtext: please get out, I’m afraid you might kill me!)

7. “BEATS” Beats: Units of action in dramatic text (from Stanislavski’s “bits”). Notated in the script with this symbol: / Example: “I left no ring with her, what means this lady?/Fortune forbid my outside have not charmed her!/She made good view of me…so much so that sure methought her eyes did lose her tongue, for she did speak in starts distractedly/”

8. Annotation WHERE DO THEY GO IN A PAGE OF SCRIPT? INTENTION is written at the top, so you are always reminded of it ACTION in the left margin SUBTEXT in the right margin BEATS written in the text

9. Blocking Blocking: where your character MOVES on stage Left and Right are abbreviated “L” and “R” Downstage is “DS” “DC” “DL” “DR” Upstage is “US” “UC” “UL” “UR” When “crossing” (moving), use the letter “X”, such as “X DR to table”

10. IMPORTANT: ALWAYS WRITE YOUR ANNOTATION IN PENCIL! Your notes/directions will change! BRING A PENCIL TO EVERY REHEARSAL!