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 gentle behind the eyes … after which all of a sudden they snap into motion as in the event that they bear in mind their purpose for being. Regardless of how good the next 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 instructed 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 performing during which actors think about the circumstances earlier than a scene begins. These circumstances could also be affected by the previous plot, the atmosphere of the story world (akin to a catastrophe or vital occasion) or the person journeys of the characters. Using The Second Earlier than can grant a scene a larger sense of fact, because it hints on the context of the motion and the motivations of the characters.
On this article, we’ll define the fundamental idea of The Second Earlier than, utilising examples with a pattern scene. We’ll offer you every thing you must 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 device for an actor—is its capacity 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 instructed them to do. With consideration of the second earlier than, they’ve a purpose to take action.
It may very well be a narrative occasion, akin to a battle the king has simply fought and misplaced. It may very well be environmental, akin to acid rain that causes the characters to burst in and strip off their post-apocalyptic jumpsuits. The Second Earlier than may be an emotion: the sorrow a widower feels having simply come residence from their accomplice’s funeral. It helps to set the tone of a scene: it masses 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 best method to drill this idea is to follow with A/B Scenes—quick, context-less scripts that enable loads of inventive wiggle room for actors. Now we have a whole article dedicated to A/B Scenes For Actors it’s best to 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 a lot that may be finished to raise this quick 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 dropping his vintage pocket watch.
A: The place is it?
B: It’s right here someplace.
A: Assist me search for it!
B: I’ll!
Abruptly, 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 dropping his vintage pocket watch, which was dropped by them and now not works. Now, the performances don’t simply carry a way of urgency, however an emotional state: one in every 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 atmosphere of the scene. This may be useful to get your characters working in the identical world, with the identical parameters. However it’s limiting when you think about how thrilling and sophisticated an A/B interplay will be. Strive 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 dropping his vintage pocket watch, which was dropped by them and now not works. This time, Character A’s Second Earlier than is he was instructed if he doesn’t discover the watch, their father is sending them each to army college. This offers 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 larger:
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 stable reminder that good performing can elevate a mediocre scene. It could 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’ve gotten extra info to construct from. Learn the script by and perceive the context and circumstances of the place your given scene ‘suits’. This gives you clues as to what The Second Earlier than is perhaps.
Typically, it’s urged by a earlier, written scene: like on Web page 10, the place you have 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 essential for display performing, as you seldom benefit from capturing in chronological order. Know your character’s story and the place they’re at bodily and emotionally in every scene: this may assist your efficiency tie collectively within the modifying room, knowledgeable by their earlier escapades.
Widespread Moments Earlier than
As a further useful resource, we thought we’d embody this listing of Second Earlier than prompts to get you began. Keep in mind to experiment with every scene you might be performing, and be sure that the second earlier than suits with what the textual content suggests to you in script evaluation. There’s nothing worse than a Large Dramatic Second Earlier than that doesn’t match with the precise story. An viewers will see by 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 detrimental 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 explicit scene? (Instance: mourners return from the funeral of an expensive buddy, lifeless too quickly.)
- Relationships. Are you able to map out the relationships between your characters? How would possibly 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 will you contextualise the scene with what has come earlier than, or what is going to come after this? (Instance: within the earlier scene, the characters have been instructed that if they’ll’t resolve their variations, they’ll each discover themselves banished from the dominion.)
- Goal and motion. What does your character need? How do they plan to get it? What would possibly your character have finished to attain their goal on this scene earlier than it even begins? (Instance: two flatmates argue about going out to a celebration, when one in every of them at all times drives drunk. The opposite, earlier than the scene, has hidden their keys for their very own security.)
Experiment And Apply
Admittedly, issues don’t look too good for our two, watch-looking brothers. However it doesn’t should go down that means: we will 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 follow modifying scenes with it. Choose a bit, decide 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 method to do in an performing class or a scene examine group: have everyone decide the identical scene, however with completely different Moments Earlier than. You’ll be shocked what number of methods you possibly can squeeze blood from the stone of a easy script!
Whenever you get actually good (learn: comfy) with The Second Earlier than, making use of it and altering it up will develop into like a recreation. That is what you’re capturing for—as it’s best to with each performing method. Be taught a ability, follow a ability, make it part of your actor’s course of. After which deal with it like play.
Good luck!
