Emotional Transfer

Two characters start the scene with contrasting emotions, and by the end of the scene their emotions have reversed.

Ask for an emotion, then ask for a second emotion which contrasts strongly with the first.

As with the game Emotional Transition, it’s important to get a strong contrast between the two emotions. It may help to ask for a “positive emotion” and then a “negative emotion”.

The players start the scene playing the emotion very strongly. Don’t “ease into it”, or find a reason to get there – it makes the game slow and cerebral.

As the scene continues, each player’s emotion changes and they gradually take on the other player’s emotion at a stronger and stronger level. If Bill starts with “angry” and Joanne starts with “serene”, she will become increasingly angry as the scene progresses, while Bill’s anger will fade and he will become more serene.

Some people look for reasons to undergo the emotional shift, but it usually works better if you “lead with the emotion” – play the emotion first and then justify it. This is surprisingly easy to do, and looks natural.

Each gradual shift should be an immediate response to something the other person has just said or done.