Friday, June 22, 2012

Friday Favorites

Tonight I had the Emotion Thesaurus by Angela and Becca sitting open by my computer (like it usually is), and my oldest started reading it out loud. 

Then my boys started to make it into a game. Someone would read out a physical signal and whoever showed it first got a point. Although I have to admit that a red face and molten skin were hard to act out. Then my oldest son read out the signs and we had to guess what expression it was.

It got quite silly when we exaggerated a shrill voice or invading someone's personal space. 

It was interesting to see the expressions in action, which got me wondering. Would it help to act our your scenes to give you a better sense of where the characters are and what they're doing?

What do you think? Have you ever acted out a scene? 

Hope you have a great weekend.


10 comments:

Jessica Nelson said...

That's cute. :-) I haven't done that a whole lot.

Wendy Paine Miller said...

I am so not an actress, but I do this all the time. It helps to make sure the expressions, etc. I choose for my characters are realistic and authentic.
~ Wendy

Southpaw said...

I have acted emotions out in my head, but sometimes the physical stuff is easy to just do so I know it's possible.

I think you found a new family night activity for everyone.

Cindy R. Wilson said...

This books sounds helpful. Sometimes I try to play out scenes in my head because I want to know what I character is doing with their face or hands. Maybe if I physically acted it out, it would help even more :)

Elana Johnson said...

We frequently act things out at critique group. But mostly in a "This wouldn't work, I don't think..." type of way! Ha.

Angela Ackerman said...

Ha, how awesome you posted about this, too! I think acting stuff out is naturally helpful. I learned a lot about showing from my years in drama in jr and sr high school. It's kind of funny, because this book is for writers, but this book is a. Good reference for actors, too.

Angela

Bonnee Crawford said...

I will shamelessly admit that I act out scenes and dialogue for the fun of it, as well as to help myself write.

Emotion Thesaurus for the win! :)

Felicity Grace Terry said...

Sounds like a fun game. No, I haven't actually ever acted out a scene but I do sometimes find myself reading spoken bits out loud in the voice I think the character has.

Misha Gerrick said...

Yes I have. In particular, action scenes. It's good to have an idea of who is where and what they'd have to be doing. :-)

LTM said...

I've never acted out a scene, but I love this idea! And I was giggling at the image of your sons acting out red face and molten skin. :D Fun times~