How to FIND SUBTEXT as an ACTOR | How to read subtext in 4 steps

Learn how to find subtext as an actor with these 4 steps! Includes examples, definitions, and how to analyze a script in order to find the subtext for your characters. 00:00 Intro 00:27 Step 1: Grasp 01:16 Step 2: Get Comfortable 01:51 Step 3: Explore 03:17 Examples 05:17 Step 4: Commit 06:01 Outro & Outtakes Intro & Outro music: Lofi Mallet by Kwon    • Видео   Link to audition video:    • ANSWERS to all your AUDITION QUESTIONS | H...   In the video link above, I stated one of the ways to make strong choices was to read the subtext. I got a few comments asking how to go about doing that, so we're going to cover how to read subtext in this video. Step 1: Grasp When I say "grasp" I mean to grasp the context. Before you can read subtext, you have to understand the circumstances of the world within which your character lives. Contextually, you have to understand what is considered normal for your character. Now, I think subtext can be broken down into two types; circumstantial subtext and emotional subtext. In order to make strong decisions about either, you need to grasp the context of both first. Circumstantially, these are a few key things to consider: Wars or revolutions Artistic and scientific ideals Societal roles concerning culture, status and gender The emotional context of a scene is a bit harder to define, but we'll come back to it later. Step 2: Get Comfortable For a performance, this means being memorized. It's harder to go deeper than surface level if you're worried about the words. Don't memorize until it's right - memorize until you can’t get it wrong. For a callback or audition this isn't always going to be possible, but I always like to at least get the words in my mouth. I'll read the lines out loud, and if I find any words or phrases that are tripping me up, I'll segment those words and repeat them out loud until they are comfortable in my mouth. This should help you from getting tripped up during the audition/callback. Step 3: Explore This is the key step for reading subtext, and I think it's one of the most fun parts of being an actor. Just ask the question, "What follows?" In other words, what is the smallest logical leap you can make in order to fill in the blanks? What’s the smallest logical leap after that? You need to be careful here, because the bigger the leap you take, the more buy-in you’ll need from your audience in order to maintain the suspension of disbelief (the audience's willingness to suspend logic in order to enjoy a work of fiction). This is particularly hard in an audition/callback, because you have no buy-in from the audience. Step 4: Commit Once you've grasped the context, feel comfortable with the words, and have explored the subtext, all you've got to do is commit to your choice. Don’t be afraid - your personality, your thoughts, your feelings, and your experiences will provide you with a totally unique lens that no one can replicate. Once you’ve made your decisions, keep them in mind and commit, and that can look like a lot of things. Some actors write their subtext right next to their line, some actors like to think of their subtext while saying their line, you can find whatever works for you. The best way to learn subtext is to live life and pay attention. The people you know, the experiences you have, and the cultures you're exposed to will give you a pool of knowledge that you can draw from when making choices about subtext. Hey friends :))) Welcome to The Martial Actor! I'll cover tips and tricks for martial artists, actors, and ESPECIALLY people interested in fighting on film and stage. John here! I'm an actor with a degree and 13 years of experience, a martial artist with a second-degree black belt in Shaolin Kung Fu, and a certified stuntman. Uploads are every Tuesday @ 10AM MT. Follow me on the socials: Twitter:   / themartialactor   Insta:   / just_johnsense   TikTok: @themartialactor