The Power of the Actor by Ivana Chubbuck

Author:Ivana Chubbuck [Chubbuck, Ivana]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 2005-08-17T14:00:00+00:00

DOINGS spark mannerisms, unique affectations and quirky behavior.

Directors often workshop their scripts in class before they go off to shoot or stage their productions. Screenwriter David Marconi, who has written blockbuster movies such as Enemy of the State, brought a scene from a feature that he was about to direct called The Informer. The scene he put up in class was a necessary expository scene to establish the backstory. The character of Iverson, a handsome and sexy FBI agent, tries to convince Tulsa, a young, gorgeous, drug-addled model, to go undercover to help him discover which wrongdoer killed her best friend. In order to do this, Iverson must explain the case’s history, including who he is and why she would be the right person for the job. The scene takes place after Iverson has spent the night at Tulsa’s place—she was so drunk and stoned and in trouble with the cops that he chivalrously brought her home and tucked her in (it doesn’t go there yet—he slept on the couch). The first time the scene was performed in class, it was static. Basically, we watched two people sitting on a couch talking. I told the actor playing Iverson, Rod Rowland, to take off his socks (his character had been wearing them for a good twenty-four hours) to get more comfortable. Rod did this as he relayed the details of the case. As soon as he had his socks off, he noticed a smell, as did Sarah Brown, the actress playing Tulsa. Rod’s socks stank. Embarrassed, he teasingly put them in front of her face. Sarah’s face soured and then she giggled. Then, still talking about the case, Rod put one foot to his nose and realized that his socks - weren’t the only things that reeked. Sarah laughed. These simple DOINGS bonded Rod and Sarah, along with their characters. They now shared a private joke, and the humanity and trueness of the moment made a dry expository scene absorbing.

The characters of Tulsa and Iverson end up together at the end of the movie, so these simple DOINGS served as an original way to establish their intimate relationship. And the DOINGS were so effective that - David Marconi not only added them to his script, but also went back through the story and added more DOINGS to the scene, including Iverson finding some moldy old cheese under the couch, which is also smelling up the joint and that he has to throw out. David also had Tulsa smoke a joint throughout the scene. As a result of including these DOINGS, David was able to communicate who his characters were through their behavior.

Through DOINGS, the audience learns that Tulsa:

• Is a slob

• Prioritizes drugs over cleanliness

• Is bold, showing no fear of doing something illegal in front of a law enforcement agent.

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