a course in creative process

Last Spring, I was asked to create a course at USC called “Character Acting.”

Over the next few days and weeks, I’ll be writing about the course here and on my blog.

Here’s what I know:

Over the course of the semester, we move through a series of creative "prompts" (animals; food; systems of belief; status; etc.) and create from them a character. The character exists in and is of the community we have created, but is created independent of text. Our final expression is a "recipe" which defines of what and how the character is made, a formal naming ceremony and an outing, in character. Last semester we staged a  salon; this semester, we're going bowling.

The course is an odd animal, curricularly speaking, in that as a lower-level course, it doesn't count towards the Theatre major. It meets once-a-week for 2 credits, and seems to attract seniors in all fields who have a couple of units to spare and always wanted to take a crack at acting. It also attracts animators, screenwriters and other filmmakers, who really get it.

I think it's invaluable for our BA actors. It's an opportunity for you to play in a wide-open arena, learn to trust not-knowing, and collect some non-linear tools to inspire the unexpected in their work.

Stay tuned, and if you have any questions, drop me a line:

chaiken@usc.edu