As a self-proclaimed cinephile, this class and next week's are a dream. I was happy enough when I learned we would be performing scenes from the Coen Brothers' cult classic Fargo. Then, I learned we would be taking a closer look at both story and character arcs. What more could I ask for? As a writer at heart, I love diving into film structure, performing act breakdowns, and really peeling back the layers of a story. I hope you are as excited as I am.

Before I jump into class, let's break down some of the topics we will be covering. Typically, a screenplay operates under the formula that one page ≈ one minute of screen time. This can vary depending on if the script is more dialogue or action-heavy. More reputable writers in the industry, say, Christopher Nolan, for example, can have screenplays over 180 pages because of their successful track record. All of this is to say that stories for the screen, and their characters, will follow a skeleton formula.

In any great story, characters (at the very least, the protagonist) start in one place, and by the end of the events of the story, end up in an entirely different place. This can be literal in some cases, but more often than not, it will include the way in which they see the world or behave from then on out.

The best movies and tv shows feature talented writers that leave little nuggets that may seem unimportant to the character or story at the time they are introduced, but end up having a great pay-off in the final act. Some fantastic homework for any actor would be to watch one of your favorite movies while reading along with the script. See if you can identify the points of change for certain characters.

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Our Fargo adventure would start with focusing on the "bad" guys and what they are up to in act one. Mark carefully selected several different scenes that would allow us to inhabit these characters during the first act of the film. For my scene, the character I played is someone who is way in over their head but cannot truly see the bigger picture. They are so sure of their plan, yet they present zero confidence when he introduces himself to the even more "bad" guys who intend to carry out the plan.

Of course, we all know the plan is going to fail miserably, but our characters do not. Understanding where the mentality of a character in act one while knowing where they end up can allow you to add nuance to elevate your performance. For example, during my scene, I

played my character with a nervous energy, but whenever he was questioned about how thought out the plan was, I would fill my performance with an ironic level of confidence. This decision will, in hopes, make the inevitable demise of the character all the better because of this small seed of confidence placed in act one.

What I took away most from this class was how while we should be very present in the current scene, we must also be thinking about how our decisions will impact the rest of the story. Saying your lines are one thing, but how you say them and the way you present yourself could significantly alter how later parts of the story feel for the audience. We want every scene to be great on its own, but if it does not fit as a piece of the large story puzzle, then it can take away from its impact.

At the end of class, Mark reminds all of us that we need to let emotion lead. It is important to remember your lines, but it is even more critical that you convey the emotion behind the lines. A fun activity to work on that acting muscle is to find a scene and perform without using the same words. The goal is to convey the same message and emotions but move the focus away from memorization and onto performing and reacting.

Finally, a little update on my call back with the agency. The audition is only a few days away, and I'm filled with nervous excitement. It is important to remember, however, that no matter how it goes, it is a huge milestone to get to this point. They already saw something in me that piqued their interest. The acting journey is long and arduous, and if we don't celebrate the little breakthroughs, there is no way we can stay with it long term.

With Mark in my corner and my audition with the agency looming, I am finally starting to feel confident in my skills. No matter what happens, the only way to go is up.