DOMINIC BENJAMINSCREEN TEST with NOTESScreen Test

For my AS level Film Studies portfolio I have decided to make a creative artefact in which I explore how the protagonists in action films are represented, my plan is to make a 2 minute sequence based around the ideas that I explored in my essay when analysing the films, the 2 minute sequence is predominantly based around the protagonist from Rush Hour 3, Carter; a confident, sometimes clumsy but aggressive protagonist who through numerous camera angles and shots is made to look powerful in parts of the film.

After realising that these are the ideas that I wish to convey in my creative artefact I decided that I needed to find a Black/Asian male lead actor who had all the qualities that Carter [Chris Tucker] had in his protagonist role in the film, he needed to be confident, arrogant and intimidating. I based this off the scene where Carter is interrogating a man with information about the triads, he is using violent and profane language in order to get what he wants and threatening the man with a gun, this presents him as powerful and demanding.

I got my actors to read a monologue so I could gain a proper idea of how they would perform on set, it would help me understand their confidence, expression and tone of voice:NICK: I am arresting you for the suspicion of Terrorism. You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you say may be given in evidence.

Actor #1 Adi Mohammed for the role of protagonistAGE 18 BUILD AVERAGE HEIGHT & STOCKYHEIGHT 56WEIGHT approx. 140lbsOCCUPATION Student PERSONALITY Funny HOBBIES None ETHNIC BACKGROUND AFRICAN [Somalian/Kenyan]Actor 1 performed the script with elements of his own style and personality which I did not like, he did not follow the script well though he fitted the superior protagonist type, he was not aggressive at all and was not a good match to Carter in terms of aggression and power.

Actor #2 Leon Fontaine for the role of protagonistAGE 17 BUILD TALL & ATHLETICHEIGHT 510WEIGHT approx. 140lbsOCCUPATION Student PERSONALITY Funny HOBBIES Basketball ETHNIC BACKGROUND Black Caribbean

When viewing actor 2, he shared the same confidence and arrogance Carter has in his protagonist role. He wasnt too awkward and he was enthusiastic when performing the lines of the protagonist Michael in my 2-minute sequence. But Im not sure if he had the aggressiveness that I wanted my protagonist to have to make him stand out and to emphasise his superiority to everybody else in the sequence. Regardless I felt he could connect with the audience as I wanted the actor to have a comedic value as well like my two protagonists do in their respective films. He has the qualities and the physique that would make him the perfect protagonist; if his aggression when reading his lines were better his role in my sequence would be ideal.Actor #3 Vyshnavan Jenathan for the role of protagonistAGE 18 BUILD TALL & ATHLETICHEIGHT 62WEIGHT approx. 140lbsOCCUPATION Student PERSONALITY Funny & TalkativeHOBBIES Football ETHNIC BACKGROUND Sri Lankan Tamil

In comparison to the other actors, Actor 3 performed the script the best, alike to the actor 2 he shared the same confidence and arrogance has in his protagonist role. As he achieved an A in GCSE Drama he took on the role of the protagonist quite well, and he had the physique that matches the stereotypical protagonist/hero.

He followed the script well and was a good match to Carter in terms of power and aggression. When this particular actor read the extract I knew he was one of the strong contenders as he shared the same aggression as Carter from Rush Hour 3.

To further my understanding of how the actors would perform when it came to filming my creative artefact, I gave them an extract/monologue to read to see if they shared the same conviction and personality the protagonists from my analysed films had. This was important as from their readings I was able to separate the good readers from the bad ones thus meaning that I was able to choose the best actor for my protagonist role. I got the actors to read police rights which is a small extract at the end of my script:

Set Monologue for the role of antagonist: MICHAEL: Yeah sir, the bomb has been planted, the whole of London is gonna feel this one, no no no its that new sh*t in from Korea. Yes, detonation in 19 hours, No Ive still got the bag; Im going to dispose of it in due time boss. No, I tipped of that stupid agent miles back. He wont find me now. I honestly cannot wait for the news tomorrow, its gonna be good.

Actor #4 Alexander Masha for the role of antagonistAGE 19 BUILD SHORT, SKINNY & ARCHED BACKHEIGHT 57WEIGHT approx. 130lbsOCCUPATION Student PERSONALITY MoodyHOBBIES Watching AnimeETHNIC BACKGROUND Nigerian Actor 4 had little confidence and performed the provided extract with little conviction though he would seem to be a good match to the criminal but he didnt seem to fit the bill as he lacked the vital acting skills necessary for the role. His body type was ideal for the role as he is rather small in comparison to the protagonist and this is what I wanted. He read the script well but he lacked personality so he wasnt a strong contender for the role. Actor #5 Rumman Choudhury for the role of antagonistAGE 17 BUILD SKINNYHEIGHT 57 WEIGHT approx. 120lbsOCCUPATION StudentPERSONALITY Moody HOBBIES Football ETHNIC BACKGROUND Asian [Bangladesh]Actor 5 had little drama experience, he performed the extract from the script with little confidence and he stuttered a lot when reading the script. His build was a good match o the kind of antagonist I wanted but he was not as good as Actor 4.

Actor #6 Nikunj Mandalia for the role of antagonistAGE 17 BUILD SMALL & SKINNYHEIGHT 56WEIGHT approx. 110lbs OCCUPATION Student PERSONALITY Funny HOBBIES GamingETHNIC BACKGROUND Indian Actor 6 played the role of antagonist really well, he performed the script well and with great confidence. His small and skinny body frame made him suitable for the role of antagonist as he made my chosen protagonist actor look superior. The monologue I had provided was performed well and he suitable facial expressions to add to the key frames.

FINAL DECISION: At the end of the character audition I chose Actor 3 for the role of the protagonist as he performed the monologue best, he performed it with the most confidence, this emphasised his aggression and his power making him similar to the protagonist from Rush Hour 3, Carter. He matched Carters physicality and he also fit the bill in terms of a being a menacing figure in the key frames. As he had experience because he was a GCSE Drama student I felt this made him suitable for the role of protagonist. Actor 1 ProtagonistAdi MohammedAnd for the antagonist role I chose Actor 6, he was the best match for my antagonist as his small body frame made my protagonist look strong, he performed the set monologue well and with confidence.4 | Page