Mark Travis' Interrogation Process

Abstract

This thesis examines Mark Travis’ Interrogation Process as a new directing tool for professional Directors working with Actors today, in the digital age. As a methodology developed in the 21st century and aimed primarily at film Directors, Mark Travis’ Interrogation Process allows the Director to bypass the Actor’s thinking mind by interrogating the Character, with the objective of triggering authentic responses through the Character’s emotional memory. This thesis provides an in-depth, step-by-step guide and analysis of the Interrogation Process, as well as critical reflection on its historical roots and its potential use in the work of professional Directors today. This research extends to Zoom interviews with professional Directors and Actors who are already familiar with, or have used, the Interrogation Process in their work with Actors, as well as a personal (Zoom) interview with Academy Award winning Director Agnieszka Holland, to establish a counterpoint between Mark Travis’ Interrogation Process and other contemporary approaches to directing Actors for film.