You’re Not Just Playing the Part—You’re Owning It.

As acting and character movement specialists, Jean-Louis Rodrigue and Kristof Konrad work with actors in the crucial preparation phase before they arrive on set. The actor’s body is their instrument and must be “in tune” before beginning work. The process begins with focusing on body awareness, balance, and ease via the Alexander Technique. This foundational work helps actors stay grounded, embody the character’s emotional and physical tensions (without carrying their own habits), and navigate the role’s physical demands with greater resilience and precision.

Both Jean-Louis and Kristof thoroughly analyze the script from multiple perspectives to interpret the information into the character’s physicality and behavior. This deep dive allows them to interpret the character’s movement, physicality, emotional and psychological qualities, as well as the piece’s genre, period, rhythms, and themes. This research also informs the animal studies work that is pivotal to all of their preparation with actors. They examine the character’s archetype, socio-political, cultural, religious, and educational background, as well as family dynamics, considering how these factors influence their development both as children and as adults. Special physical requirements, such as disabilities, military training, or genre-specific elements like science fiction and special effects, are also key considerations.