What A Character Wants: Exploring The Application Of Objectives | Electric Secrets

Electric Secrets: A Variety Podcast

Tactics & Objectives In Action

On this episode of Dedicated to the Craft, part of the Electric Secrets variety podcast, hosted by Scott Leon Smith, we dive deeper into the creative process. Building on the previous episode’s focus on using the "imagined energy of tactics" with specific action verbs (like "proclaim" or "comfort") to uncover character insights during rehearsal, this installment shifts to the concept of objectives.

Scott reads the scene in a monotone to avoid preconceived interpretations, then assigns each character a single tactic to "ride like a wave" through the scene: Red’s tactic is "hassle," and Blue’s is "deny." He re-reads the scene, adding a phone filter to Blue’s lines for clarity, demonstrating how vocal energy can reflect these tactics. Next, he introduces objectives using a "so that" phrase: Red’s objective becomes "hassle so that Blue apologizes," and Blue’s is "deny so that Red drops the subject." Another reading follows, showing how these objectives shape the interaction, even without specific context.

To explore tactical flexibility, Scott changes Red’s tactic mid-scene from "hassle" to "entice," keeping the objective intact, and notes how this shift might surprise Blue and reveal new character dynamics. He stresses that rehearsal is about experimentation—collaborating with scene partners and directors to discover what works—rather than performing for an audience.

Finally, Scott simulates active listening by playing pre-recorded lines for Red and responding as Blue, highlighting how real-time reactions drive realism and immersion. He encourages actors to try these exercises with open scenes and peers, promising deeper scene work in the next episode.

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Who Is Scott?

Scott Leon Smith has worked as a professional actor and director for nearly 25 years in a variety of genres. He earned his Master of Fine Arts in Acting at West Virginia University, where he studied under alumni of the prestigious American Conservatory in San Francisco. He honed his craft in Chicago as part of A Crew of Patches, a traveling theatre company that performed Shakespeare for students. Scott is CEO of Monstervox Productions, where he helps clients by providing specialized voice-over work for advertising, audiobooks, eLearning, & instructional videos.

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