Test your basic knowledge |

Acting Basics

Subject : performing-arts
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Relinquishing too much effort - chronic physical tension - a false voice - preconceptions about the work - personal fear - and most importantly who you already are.






2. The event itself. It is not 'about' something.






3. This occurs when: Everything the actor does as the character should grow directly out of the needs of the character - so that the 'inner' world of the character and the 'outer' world of the performance are unified.






4. Relinquishing too much effort - chronic physical tension - a false voice - preconceptions about the work - personal fear - and most importantly who you already are.






5. Stanislavski's classic question. If I were in the situation of the character - and if I wanted what the character wants - what would I do?






6. Singular - Immediate - & Personal. (SIP)






7. Although it has a literal - physical dimension - being in a state of________ implies a unified sense of self that allows actions to involve the whole body and be well focused.






8. The great unifier of body - mind - and voice.






9. The ability to function on more than one level of awareness at a time. Ex: A character pursuing his or her objective simultaneously observing and adjusting the performance for the sake of the spectators.






10. Believed the qualities of a good play and a good actor should be: 1) Believable 2) Connect with the audience in a personal way. AKA Empathy 3) Immediacy 4) Communicate 'truthfulness'. Present experiences in a meaningful way relative to the audience.






11. Something a character lacks or wants that drives him to pursue an action to satisfy that lack or desire.






12. The ability to function on more than one level of awareness at a time. Ex: A character pursuing his or her objective simultaneously observing and adjusting the performance for the sake of the spectators.






13. Stanislavski's physical approach to acting.






14. Meyerhold. The fusion of mind and body; teaching the 'body how to think'.






15. He developed a presentational and overtly theatrical style of acting.






16. A unit of action with it's own specific conflict and crisis. In each one a character has a single objective. They are formed of interactions and flow to create the underlying structure of a scene.






17. An actor devoted to searching for the truth of human behavior. The craft of working 'from the inside out'.


18. _____ causes an _____ directed toward an __________






19. The event itself. It is not 'about' something.






20. The ______ is what his or her character does to try to fulfill a need by attaining some objective. Stanislavski spoke of both spiritual (inner) and physical (outer). Note that speaking is one of the most common forms - in other words speaking is doin






21. The condition of relaxed playfulness that some psychologists say allows for maximum creativity. When the inner parent allows the inner child to come out and play.






22. An actor's ability to put himself in the place of another person - both for purposes of observation and for applying the Magic If to a role. It is possible to empathize with someone without sympathizing with that person.






23. The acceptance of responsibility for your own development through systematic effort.






24. Becoming the new version of yourself by needing and doing what the character needs and does.






25. Everything an actor does in a performance has to be _______ by the character's internal need.






26. Actresses began to appear on stage.






27. The physical form of the action of the scene expressed in changing spatial relationships between the characters and their environment.






28. The great unifier of body - mind - and voice.






29. The goal of a character pursues through action to satisfy a need. It is best identified using a transitive verb such as - 'to persuade him to give me a territory in town.'






30. Something a character lacks or wants that drives him to pursue an action to satisfy that lack or desire.






31. Showing the audience something about the character instead of simply doing what the character does.






32. The reduction of self-consciousness from the total engrossment in a role.






33. Immediate and urgent needs cause actions in the pursuit of objectives within given circumstances.






34. German word for power. The actor's physical and vocal tools.






35. The key to almost everything in acting. For an actor - _______ is not a reduction of energy but rather a freeing of energy and a readiness to react. AKA Restful Alertness. The first step in Letting Go. Awareness is at a high level.






36. A person fully committed to an important objective.






37. Although it has a literal - physical dimension - being in a state of________ implies a unified sense of self that allows actions to involve the whole body and be well focused.






38. Meyerhold. The fusion of mind and body; teaching the 'body how to think'.






39. The quality of an action or performance that makes it seem to be happening right now - before our eyes - as if for the first time.






40. Recalling a significant moment in your past to fit a character. WARNING: Must be appropriate for the character.






41. Finding in the character's situation some need or objective that has true personal significance.






42. The job a character was created to perform within a story.






43. Showing the audience something about the character instead of simply doing what the character does.






44. Heightening the drama of an action or scene by making it more significant or urgent.






45. Singular - Immediate - & Personal. (SIP)






46. A person fully committed to an important objective.






47. Our relationship to ______ implies internal states to the audience. Ex: Willie Loman with a bent back is hopeless and defeated and losing his battle with _____. In musical theatre it is convention that lovers actually defy _______ by skipping - as if






48. The physical form of the action of the scene expressed in changing spatial relationships between the characters and their environment.






49. Finding in the character's situation some need or objective that has true personal significance.






50. Believed the qualities of a good play and a good actor should be: 1) Believable 2) Connect with the audience in a personal way. AKA Empathy 3) Immediacy 4) Communicate 'truthfulness'. Present experiences in a meaningful way relative to the audience.