Here is a slapstick comedy short starring many Andrew Benne Actors Studio students and Faculty too…enjoy!

Here is a slapstick comedy short film Starring many Andrew Benne Actors Studio members and some Faculty too…

Andrew talking about calling behavior

Students calling behavior in the moment

May 27, 2009
Writing Tip: Calling Behavior
For several years I worked with an exceptional acting coach in Los Angeles, Andrew Benne (website here) who teaches a Meisner based acting technique. Andrew coaches consistently working actors and as a filmmaker, I wanted to dial myself in to the rhythms and voice of an actor. The result has been nothing but helpful in my editing career, directing craft, and storytelling ability. If you are a filmmaker, I highly recommend working with a coach like Andrew. It will help you see great performances in your actors and give you skills to help guide those performance when an actor is struggling with moment to moment work. Also for editors in non-fiction, this is very helpful in building dramatic scenes.

One of the basics of Andrew’s technique that can be extremely helpful to a screenwriter, is “calling behavior”. When you’re working on dialogue, a great way to stimulate conflict is to write dialogue that calls the behavior of another character. An extremely simple example: Say two people are sitting across from each other at a dinner table, the mood is sour…

CHARLES
Stop it.

MELANIE
Leave me alone.

CHARLES
You’re making that face again.

MELANIE
It’s just how I look.

CHARLES
Well I hate it when you do that. It’s like you’re hiding something.

MELANIE
Quit judging. You’re the one that called me.

Charles is calling the behavior of Melanie by accusing her of making a sour face. He’s calling her behavior. She’s calling his behavior and acknowledging his action by directing him to stop accusing her. He gets more specific and she’s put on the defence. He offers point of view “I hate it when you do that” and calls her behavior again this time accusing her of hiding something. She calls his behavior “quit judging” and gives us some more exposition.

It’s a very simple scene but has a ton of conflict. Every time a character calls behavior, the conflict escalates. It’s an effective technique if you need to punch up a scene. If you saw the movie I edited “Splinter” the word “firecracker” comes up between the characters Dennis and Polly. Dennis is calling his impression of the behavior of Polly. It instantly escalates the argument.

It’s important to note that it doesn’t have to be a serious scene either, you can call behavior in comedy or sad scenes. Friends can be sarcastic, worried, empathetic, or any number of emotional states and still call behavior. Give it a try on your next script.

For more information on Andrew Benne visit http://www.andrewbenne.com/

Posted at 10:05 PM in Acting, How To’s, Writing | Permalink

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Congrats Studio member and alumni Iqbal Theba for his series regular role , as Principal Figgins ,on the new Fox Hit Show Glee. Iqbal studied with Andrew Benne for several years during the early to mid 90’s

Our Los Angeles Acting Studio has its own very unique way of incorporating the best of the 20th Century Acting Techniques into the 21st Century.
Andrew Benne Actors Studio is rooted in the Meisner Technique, a truthful moment to moment connection with your partner, and realistic relationships with all the complexities . We really do believe in the What If ? Acting is the Reality of Doing! Behavior , Behavior , Behavior!

Andrew Benne also incorporates Meisner Moment to Moment with The great Uta Hagen’s Physical Destination. If an actor knows where they are coming from and where they want to go in the Imaginary Circumstances then that Destination gives a strong through line and Direction to Scene Study and Film Improv. Incorporating Hagen Destination with Meisner Independent Activity. Uta Hagen and Stella Adler were big on the use of the Imagination and so are we. The Actor must take what is truthful and personal to them and then Endow with the scripts given Circumstances.

The 5 Senses taught by many Method teachers are also taught but in a realistic non logical approach. If the actors body is in the world of the script of Course the 5 senses will be present. Mr. Benne believes that the senses can serve the Actor well in their emotional Preparation. Private moments are also often used .

Stella Adler who Mr. Benne had the privilege of Studying with when he was a younger , was a True Master at script Analysis. The script gives the Actor so much food to be eaten. All these Techniques are used in are Los Angeles Acting Classes, but from a very raw, primal and more Visceral approach. We Get out of our Heads and into our bodies. I have only scraped the surface of the amazing experience of Studying Acting with Andrew Benne.

Studio Stage Manager