Developing Physical Qualities and Attributes

1. Developing Physical Qualities and Attributes Size, Weight and Balance Mannerisms and Gestures Speech Patterns

2. Size, Weight and Balance An actor creates, communicates and sustains a unique character. He/She does this by developing that character’s physical qualities and attributes. Physicality refers to the way in which the actor envisions the character body movements, gestures and facial expressions and then present them. After you as the actor have identified these then the actor focuses on the voice of the character that is the vocal quality and the pace.

3. Size, Weight and Balance Once you as the actor have found the characters physical and vocal attributes you then must place your focus on the speech pattern of the character. Speech pattern refers to the way in which a person speaks. All of these are what the actor takes into consideration and uses to communicate emotions to the audience.

4. Size, Weight and Balance • Size and weight suggest: • The largeness (generosity) • Heaviness (sadness) • Smallness (meanness) • Lightness (Joy)

5. Balance Balance refers to the way in which an actor can control his/ her body in a tense situation where you could physically fall.

6. Mannerisms and Gestures Mannerisms and Gestures are physical actions that onstage actors use to communicate their character’s inner feelings. Mannerisms refers to a person’s odd or unusual behaviors that are acquired from observing others. For example: chin scratching, throat clearing, hair tossing, foot tapping, pen clicking, finger drumming, etc.

7. Mannerisms and Gestures Gestures are body movements that people make to communicate an idea. For example: sticking out one’s tongue, sucking teeth, cut eye, etc.

9. Speech Patterns A Speech Pattern is a person’s distinctive way of talking. Speech patterns are heard in accents and dialects, in language adjustment, among social groups and in persuasive language. Speech patterns are characterized by pronunciation, vocal quality, diction and articulation. Speech patterns are influenced by emotions, environment and status.

10. Accent and Dialect Accents are a distinctive pronunciation of a language associated with a particular nation,, locality or social class. Dialect or patois are a particular form of the language- the different pronunciation, rhythm and expressions of a certain region.