Drama II – Actions / Objectives – Mr. Davis
Actions (or “objectives” as they are often called) are the bread and butter of acting. If you do not
like a performance you see it is probably because the actor has either not chosen any actions or
chosen weak ones. If you are unhappy with your own performance or you are not getting good
responses to your work – it is probably for the same reason.
Each character has a Super Action. An overriding need that they strive for through the entire
play. For example, Romeo might be played with a super action of “To be Loved”. Every scene
in the play has it’s own sub action that must support this super action, every line or beat has it’s
own action that supports both the scene’s action and the super action. The action does not have
to be something that the character ever achieves, but it must be something they strive for
throughout the play.
When choosing your action, follow some simple rules to help get a strong one.
1. Use a strong verb. The difference between an “actable” verb and one that is useless is
minute. It can best be summed up as an idea that any actor could push against for ten
minutes straight. If your verb is too weak to sustain that kind of effort – pick a new one.
2. The test of your action is always in the other person. Do not chose actions that are
internal ex: “I am in action to succeed”. This will lead you nowhere. “I am in action to
eliminate the competition” is much stronger and will lead to a much better performance.
3. Make sure that your action has a response you need to get from the other person. Their
correct or incorrect response to your action will lead to the next action you take and so on
and so on. If you fail you can try again differently, if you succeed, what is the next step
your character will take to get achieve their super action?
Below is a list of commonly used actable verbs:
CONVINCE
PREPARE
HURT
TEASE
DAZZLE
REASSURE
ENSNARE
MANIPULATE
CONQUER
PRAISE
ENCOURAGE
ENLIGHTEN
AWAKEN
CONTAIN
MOCK
PERSUADE
JUSTIFY
SURROUND
TYRANNIZE
INVIGORATE
SEDUCE
OVERWHELM
INSPIRE
WIN
BUILD
EXPLAIN
DEVASTATE
DOMINATE
VICTIMIZE
IMMORTALIZE
DESTROY
SUPRESS
CRUSH
FACINATE
ANNIHILATE
ORGANIZE
OBLITERATE
POSSESS
FLATTER
ELEVATE
A well structured actable action should possess an actable verb, a receiver for that verb, and a
desired response from that receiver. For example:
VERB
RECEIVER
DESIRED 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.
Use the following page to come up with a super action for your scene and ten supporting actions.
Drama II – Actions / Objectives – Mr. Davis
NAME:_________________________________
SCENE:_________________________________
CHARACTER:_____________________________
SUPER ACTION (aka: Super Objective)
VERB
RECEIVER
DESIRED RESPONSE
RECEIVER
DESIRED RESPONSE
I want..
SUPPORTING ACTIONS
VERB
I want..
I want..
I want..
I want..
I want..
I want..
I want..
I want..
I want..
I want..