Needs

Definition

In the context of acting and character development, needs refer to the fundamental desires or motivations that drive a character's actions and choices throughout a performance. Understanding a character's needs is crucial, as they directly influence how the character interacts with others and pursues their objectives, creating depth and authenticity in their portrayal.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. A character's needs can be both physical, such as the need for food or safety, and emotional, like the need for love or acceptance.
2. Understanding a character's needs allows an actor to create more believable and relatable performances by exploring how those needs shape behavior.
3. Characters often have multiple needs that can evolve throughout the story, adding complexity to their development.
4. The portrayal of needs can change based on circumstances within the plot, showing how characters adapt and respond to challenges.
5. Identifying a character's needs helps actors analyze relationships with other characters, revealing motivations behind interactions.

Review Questions

• How do a character's needs influence their actions and relationships within a performance?
  • A character's needs are central to their motivations, guiding their decisions and behaviors in pursuit of specific goals. When actors understand these needs, they can portray authentic interactions with other characters, as the dynamics of relationships often stem from these fundamental desires. For example, if a character has a strong need for acceptance, they may act differently toward those who offer it versus those who challenge them.
• Discuss the relationship between needs and objectives in the context of character development.
  • Needs and objectives are closely interconnected; while needs represent the underlying motivations driving a character, objectives are the specific targets they aim to achieve in each scene. A character's objective is often a direct response to their needs. For instance, if a character needs love but feels isolated, their objective might be to seek out connection with others, thus illustrating how these two elements work together to shape narrative action.
• Evaluate how understanding a character's needs contributes to an actor's ability to convey complex emotions on stage.
  • Understanding a character's needs allows an actor to tap into deeper emotional layers, making performances more nuanced and impactful. When actors recognize how these needs evolve over time and influence behavior, they can embody the internal conflicts and struggles that arise from them. This not only enriches the portrayal of the character but also resonates with audiences who connect with these shared human experiences, ultimately enhancing the overall effectiveness of the performance.

Related terms

Objectives: Objectives are specific goals that a character aims to achieve in a scene or throughout a play, often fueled by their underlying needs.

Superobjective: The overarching goal or desire that a character seeks to fulfill throughout the entire narrative, which encompasses their various needs and objectives.

Conflict: The struggle between opposing forces that arises when a character's needs clash with external obstacles or the goals of other characters.