GOTE: The four basic elements

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GOTE The four basic elements
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What?

• GOTE is an easy to remember acronym that stands
  for and brings together the four basic elements
  to consider while preparing a character for the
  theatre.

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GOTE Creator Robert Cohen

• Robert Cohen, Professor of Drama at University of
  California at Irvine, created the GOTE method.
• His Acting One textbook has been said to be one
  of the most common beginning acting textbooks
  used on college campuses.
• He teaches master acting classes in New York
  and as a guest teacher at various conservatories.
  

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Why?

• Actors use a GOTE by actually trying to do what
  their character is doing, at least on the level
  of actions.
• Once an actor figures out the GOTE for the
  character ("getting the character's GOTE"), they
  find a greater understanding of the character and
  hopefully will begin to make discoveries about
  tone and style and giving them a language to talk
  to the director.

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Why?

• Actors use a GOTE by actually trying to do what
  their character is doing, at least on the level
  of actions.
• Once an actor figures out the GOTE for the
  character ("getting the character's GOTE"), they
  find a greater understanding of the character and
  hopefully will begin to make discoveries about
  tone and style and giving them a language to talk
  to the director.

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G Goal

• Often times this is also called OBJECTIVE. This
  is what the character WANTS in a scene or play.
  Usually a character has the same objective
  throughout the entire play.
• I want _______(to-verb)_____________

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O Obstacle

• The obstacle refers to anything that is stopping
  the character from achieving their goal.
• Drama needs (both in terms of practice and the
  need for interest) conflicts, which arise not
  only from the goals but from fighting against
  obstacles to achieve those goals.
• The obstacle, however, should not be "played." In
  other words the actors should pursue their goals,
  rather than looking whiny about their obstacle.

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T Tactics

• Tactics are what we use to get what we want.
• Tactics can range from totally threatening to
  wholly inducing, and usually actors should use a
  wide variety to create believable interactions.
  If an actor has, for instance, the goal "to
  threaten" then various tactics might be used to
  threaten. One might threaten the character, the
  character's family, livelihood, etc.

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Tactics

• Strong, actable verbs
• That go through the other person
• We use to get out the objective/goal
• When one doesnt work, we switch and use another

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E Expectation

• Expectation refers to one's expectation of
  succeeding in achieving goals. If one did not
  expect to achieve one's goals then one would not
  pursue them. Ultimately the script may have the
  character fail but the actor should always act as
  if they believe they can succeed. Expectation can
  also involve the character's journey.

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In Summary

• In theatre, we call getting a characters GOTE
  the way we prepare for the characters we are
  playing.
• Some actors actually take pen to paper and fill
  in a GOTE worksheet to help them organize their
  character.
• Characters from a script are sometimes easier
  because you can find their GOTE in the
  playwrights words.

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REVIEW

• G Goal
• O Obstacle
• T Tactics
• E Expectation