We are lucky to work in an art and business that is all about playing with others. Of course, we think of collaboration when it comes to our team in production. We build performances with fellow cast mates and our director, but collaboration begins even before we walk into the room. As actors, when we read a script, our imagination immediately begins building a character. Whether it be drama or comedy, the first collaboration is with the writer and the blueprint they have given us. When receiving a script, you should think of it as a source of clues and inspiration to take the writer’s idea to a whole new level. Here are a few tips to take funny ideas on the page and turn them into fleshed out funny characters.
1. Look for clues. The first thing you want to do is read carefully through your script. Search for any clues that tell you something about the character. This can be something your character says or something that is said about your character. Even a slight mention of something like, “and they brought me a bag of peanuts” can send your imagination on a roller coaster. Perhaps your character brought a bag of peanuts because they were raised on a peanut farm and they were raised to always show up to any
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