Citizens: Pilot Episode
Sarah Ruth for Augustine
-DESCRIPTION-
Augustine is a villain. There's no two-ways about it. She's done terrible things, she's currently doing terrible things, and she will continue to do terrible things. Augustine is also a psychopath. It is not a mental illness, it is a personality disorder. She isn't insane, or crazy. She is sadistic, but does not have that high-level energy mania that's often portrayed alongside the disorder. More on that a little down below, though.
Augustine is a manipulator, and uses empty emotions to get the response that she wants. There's a lack of passion to her words, but in its place is unwavering confidence. What little charm she has is superficial, and her position of leadership was paved through a series of bribes, alliances, and a staggering amount of death. She's a matchstick of a human being, 6' tall and as narrow as a spider's leg. Augustine was born without smell or taste, and eating doesn't give her much joy. She's a heavy smoker, though, and usually takes her cigarettes with a cup of coffee. She's as much of a caffeine junkie as she is for adrenaline. That's why she's often on the front lines, in the middle of the fire and taking part in the more 'exciting' points of her career.
-VOCAL DIRECTION-
Her voice has a few specific details. It is deep, and raspy. She's been a smoker for a long time, which has taken its toll but hasn't led to anything extreme. Her voice isn't gravely, or nasally, but needs a bit of a bite to it. Because of this, it may be acceptable if her voice sounds a little bit older than what's normal for her age (in her 30s during the pilot). Someone with a medium-low or low ranged voice will be ideal.
The best direction I can give towards acting as a psychopath is to quote a scientific source.
"Psychopathy is defined as a mental (antisocial) disorder in which an individual manifests amoral and antisocial behavior, shows a lack of ability to love or establish meaningful personal relationships, expresses extreme egocentricity, and demonstrates a failure to learn from experience and other behaviors associated with the condition." (From: 'Dominance and Aggression in Humans and Other Animals' 2017, By: Henry R. Hermann Ph.D.)
It's not as if she's a robot. If she gets shot, she'll scream with pain. If she's caught out in the rain, she's probably going to be annoyed. And she does act impulsively and irrationally. But there's a level of emotion in most humans that is absent in a psychopath. Rather, there is the illusion of emotion. There's the understanding of what emotions are, and how someone should react in that situation. It's not genuine. Approaching the lines with a level of understanding this is required. That's not to mean that they should be dramatic or theatrical to sound fake (or emotionless, on the opposite side of the spectrum). Read them calmly and confidently, relaxed with a 'can't do wrong' attitude. If anyone has any further questions, I'll do my best to answer them.
It's not your fault. You didn't choose to be dull.
If you think it's a good idea to undermine what I do, perhaps you should experience my work firsthand.
I have a full supply of people who want to live. That's a powerful thing, you know. They want to survive, but they can't lead themselves. They're inept. That's why they're here. That's why every last one of them will empty every shell in the building to keep me alive. Without me, they will die. There is no question.
I love the timbre in your voice! :D
Thank you so much!