There are few issues as irritating as watching an actor enter a scene with no motivation. It’s like a clip from The Strolling Useless: they shuffle into view, aimless, expressionless, devoid of vitality or mild behind the eyes … after which abruptly they snap into motion as in the event that they keep in mind their purpose for being. Irrespective of how good the following scene is, it’s laborious to shake that picture of an actor strolling on stage—not due to the story—however as a result of a director informed them it was their cue. Need to keep away from changing into a zombie-actor? Use “The Second Earlier than.”
The Second Earlier than refers to an idea in appearing during which actors contemplate the circumstances earlier than a scene begins. These circumstances could also be affected by the previous plot, the setting of the story world (reminiscent of a catastrophe or important occasion) or the person journeys of the characters. Using The Second Earlier than can grant a scene a better sense of reality, because it hints on the context of the motion and the motivations of the characters.
On this article, we’ll define the essential idea of The Second Earlier than, utilising examples with a pattern scene. We’ll provide you with every little thing you might want to know to place this idea into motion in your course of, in order that your scenes by no means lack a way of context—or the bigger, compelling story world.
What’s “The Second Earlier than”?
Within the easiest phrases, The Second Earlier than is what occurred earlier than the scene started. It’s the stimulus for the scene, as it’s what propels characters onstage and into the motion of the piece. What makes this such an fascinating idea—and a strong instrument for an actor—is its means to inject context, vitality and stakes right into a scene. With out consideration, actors come on stage or display as a result of that’s what the script informed them to do. With consideration of the second earlier than, they’ve a purpose to take action.
It might be a narrative occasion, reminiscent of a battle the king has simply fought and misplaced. It might be environmental, reminiscent of acid rain that causes the characters to burst in and strip off their post-apocalyptic jumpsuits. The Second Earlier than is also an emotion: the sorrow a widower feels having simply come residence from their companion’s funeral. It helps to set the tone of a scene: it hundreds the characters with plot and emotional baggage and pushes them out into the lights with function.
The Second Earlier than Instance: Two Brothers
Let’s check out an instance of The Second Earlier than in motion. The only solution to drill this idea is to observe with A/B Scenes—brief, context-less scripts that enable loads of artistic wiggle room for actors. We have now a whole article dedicated to A/B Scenes For Actors you must try. This one, titled Two Brothers, goes like this:
A: The place is it?
B: It’s right here someplace.
A: Assist me search for it!
B: I’ll!
Hardly The Crucible, we all know. It is perhaps a bit skinny by way of character, and shorter than your common haiku, however there’s lots that may be carried out to raise this brief dramatic piece utilizing The Second Earlier than.
Learn the piece once more, however this time with a Second Earlier than in thoughts: The 2 brothers have simply been yelled at by their father for shedding his vintage pocket watch.
A: The place is it?
B: It’s right here someplace.
A: Assist me search for it!
B: I’ll!
Immediately, the scene has a lot extra tempo and vitality. By granting the scene context, the boys now have a purpose to be on the stage. We might tune The Second Earlier than even additional: The 2 brothers have simply been yelled at by their father for shedding his vintage pocket watch, which was dropped by them and not works. Now, the performances don’t simply carry a way of urgency, however an emotional state: considered one of dread. Even when they discover the pocket watch and obtain their goal, their troubles have solely simply begun.
A Second Earlier than for Every Character
The Second Earlier than doesn’t simply apply to the circumstances or setting of the scene. This may be useful to get your characters working in the identical world, with the identical parameters. But it surely’s limiting when you think about how thrilling and complicated an A/B interplay could be. Attempt making use of The Second Earlier than to particular person characters: how do completely different circumstances previous to a scene starting modify it additional?
Let’s return to our two brothers. Do not forget that the they’ve simply been yelled at by their father for shedding his vintage pocket watch, which was dropped by them and not works. This time, Character A’s Second Earlier than is he was informed if he doesn’t discover the watch, their father is sending them each to army faculty. This provides him a stronger motivation to attain his goal within the scene.
Nonetheless, Character B’s Second Earlier than is he was the one who broke the watch within the first place—and has hidden it in his brother’s desk to border him. For our four-line dramatic epic, the stakes have by no means been increased:
A: The place is it?
B: It’s right here someplace.
A: Assist me search for it!
B: I’ll!
Correct use of The Second Earlier than is a strong reminder that good appearing can carry a mediocre scene. It will possibly excite, intrigue and flesh out the motivations and tales of the characters.
Making use of The Second Earlier than to Function Movies and Full-Size Performs
How does The Second Earlier than apply to an precise scene from a full size movie or playscript? Precisely the identical—besides you will have extra info to construct from. Learn the script by means of and perceive the context and circumstances of the place your given scene ‘suits’. This will provide you with clues as to what The Second Earlier than is perhaps.
Generally, it’s steered by a earlier, written scene: like on Web page 10, the place you had been chased by a clown and sprained your ankle. Different instances, the Second Earlier than lies within the particulars of the scene description: if it’s raining outdoors the pawn store the place you’ve simply walked in, how did your character navigate the climate, and the way did that contribute to their temper?
The Second Earlier than is arguably most vital for display appearing, as you seldom get pleasure from capturing in chronological order. Know your character’s story and the place they’re at bodily and emotionally in every scene: it will assist your efficiency tie collectively within the modifying room, knowledgeable by their earlier escapades.
Well-liked Moments Earlier than
As a further useful resource, we thought we’d embody this record of Second Earlier than prompts to get you began. Bear in mind to experiment with every scene you’re performing, and be certain that the second earlier than suits with what the textual content suggests to you in script evaluation. There’s nothing worse than a Huge Dramatic Second Earlier than that doesn’t match with the precise story. An viewers will see by means of that in 5 second flat.
- Location. The place have individuals come from? What was it like in that different location? What occurred there that impacts the scenario now? (Instance: two individuals stroll in from the rain, soaking moist, with all of the unfavourable emotions and moods that brings with it.)
- Emotion. What emotional baggage are your characters bringing in with them? How do they really feel coming into this specific scene? (Instance: mourners return from the funeral of an expensive good friend, lifeless too quickly.)
- Relationships. Are you able to map out the relationships between your characters? How may their shared historical past modify a easy interplay on the web page, with all that has come earlier than? (Instance: at an opportunity assembly in a espresso store, former lovers meet after twenty years of silence.)
- Plot. What has been taking place within the story earlier than this? How are you going to contextualise the scene with what has come earlier than, or what’s going to come after this? (Instance: within the earlier scene, the characters have been informed that if they’ll’t resolve their variations, they may each discover themselves banished from the dominion.)
- Goal and motion. What does your character need? How do they plan to get it? What may your character have carried out to attain their goal on this scene earlier than it even begins? (Instance: two flatmates argue about going out to a celebration, when considered one of them at all times drives drunk. The opposite, earlier than the scene, has hidden their keys for their very own security.)
Experiment And Observe
Admittedly, issues don’t look too good for our two, watch-looking brothers. But it surely doesn’t need to go down that means: we are able to change The Second Earlier than in a heartbeat and completely reinvent the scene. What in the event that they’re each in search of the important thing to the mysterious field they discovered? Or a gift their father has hidden of their room on Christmas morning?
Our last piece of recommendation on The Second Earlier than is to experiment and observe modifying scenes with it. Choose a chunk, choose the circumstances and the second earlier than … after which flip that piece on its head utterly and take a look at it one other means. It’s an awesome approach to do in an appearing class or a scene examine group: have all people choose the identical scene, however with completely different Moments Earlier than. You’ll be shocked what number of methods you’ll be able to squeeze blood from the stone of a easy script!
If you get actually good (learn: comfy) with The Second Earlier than, making use of it and altering it up will develop into like a sport. That is what you’re capturing for—as you must with each appearing approach. Be taught a talent, observe a talent, make it part of your actor’s course of. After which deal with it like play.
Good luck!