Sample Curriculum
Creating Compelling Archetypes
Short Opening Lecture
- Defining Archetypes
- Why Archetypes are important for actors
- How to deliver our chosen Archetype(s) to the audience
Archetype Drill
Each student secretly picks an Archetype and performs an exercise that has been specifically created by our coaching team to train social acuity. This exercise is a modified form of improv in which each actor, as their Archetype, articulates the specific human element that is in play in that particular moment. The purpose of this drill is for the actor to acutely interact, assess, and express themselves, utilizing the social sensibilities of their chosen Archetype.
The rest of class tries to guess the performing actor's chosen Archetype.
The goal of this exercise is clarity; if the class is able to correctly guess your chosen Archetype, that means you were socially clear and, therefore, successful in your delivery of that Archetype.
Scene Work
You'll be given a scene and character and asked to determine which archetype(s) you believe best fit(s) that character. You will then practice the Archetype Drill as the Archetype/character in the situation.
You'll then populate your script with the human elements that emerged from the Archetype Drill and practice these elements with the scene.
The goal here is experiential practice. We're effectively training your instrument to subconsciously embody these human elements. Our proprietary on-script practice methodology, which we will demonstrate in-class, ensures this outcome.
Live Work
Witnessing and experiencing the benefits of our practice, each actor will perform their scene with the rest of class watching for the chosen Archetypes.
The goal here is twofold: clarity and objective observation. We want our performing actors to be clear in the delivery of their chosen Archetypes. We also want our observing actors to be watching the work of others for specific elements of the craft. This assessment affords them both an advanced articulation of the craft and an increased awareness of the demands of a successful and enduring career.
