ON ACTING: A Scene's Conflictual Tactics

Conflictual tactics in a scene are varied and multidimensional: they are both (and simultaneously) overt (physical: words, movement, etc.) and inner (emotional).

Emotion must be seen as just another tactical phenomenon (albeit inner): it is the actor-as-character’s inner physical body in operation toward his/her goal; and we 'feel' it in operation. Hence we use the term 'feelings'.

A character's tactics are not always direct. They are more often indirect (like most of human behavior), back-tracking, circuitous, lateral.

But they always originate, and are fundamentally meant to operate, as forward propelling human instrumentality in the challenging ongoing struggle of each character toward their respective objectives.