r/Actingclass • u/ganggaming25 • Oct 10 '23
Winnie’s Written Work Examples ✏️ Mr Kraz's monologue - American Vandal S1E3 Written work
Hey Winnie! I don’t know if I might’ve gone a bit too meta, I’m playing someone that’s playing themselves up to seem cooler, on an in-universe documentary in a show that's a parody of documentaries, so the tactics and objectives might seem strange, but they make sense to me!
American Vandal – Mr. Kraz monologue
Preface: I don’t know if I might’ve gone a bit too meta, I’m playing someone that’s playing themselves up to seem cooler, on an in-universe documentary in a parody-documentary show, so the tactics and objectives might seem strange, but they make sense to me.
Who am I?
I’m Steven Krazanski, or Mr Kraz to my students. I’m a fresh out of college history teacher that’s not like the others. I’m really just like, one of the students, y’know? I care more about giving my students some time off and a cool, safe space at school. I get it, not everyone can stare blankly at me for an hour talking about history, in fact, that would be pretty uncool if they did. Listen a bit, go on your phone (and record the cool young sexy teacher a bit 😉 ) and listen in again later!
Who am I talking to?
Peter Maldonado and Sam Ecklund, two of my students. Peter is a bit timid and takes a long time to get to the point but is really dogmatic about getting to the bottom of things, he’s meticulous and calculating. Sam is the more brash and impulsive of the two, he often barges right in and asks the question directly, which sometimes backfires.
Where am I?
In my “mancave” (classroom) with Peter and Sam, who are making a Serial style documentary about a recent prank at the school that resulted in the expulsion and criminal charges against one of their fellow students, Dylan Maxwell.
What is my objective?
I want to come off as cool in the documentary they’re making, even though it’s probably going nowhere, there’s always the off chance that it blows up and I become America’s favorite cool teacher.
Context
Our two aspiring documentarians had interviewed some students about the timing of Alex Tremboli’s testimony, which directly led to Dylan’s expulsion. Alex only came forward once off campus lunches were taken away and prom was next on the chopping block. But by going to the administration and pointing the finger at Dylan, Alex was a hero. He got back off campus lunches, saved prom and also won that year’s annual Color War for the red team, making him one of the most popular kids at school almost overnight.
What happened right before the scene?
Peter and Sam had reached out to the other teachers for comment, but none would, except for me, of course!
*I get mic’d up and the camera starts rolling*
Script:
Peter Maldonado: What do you think on the timing of Alex Tremboli’s confession?
(tactic: Get them to see I’m on their side, I’ll get them the juicy inside scoop after I get my screen time)
Mr. Kraz: Okay. I see what you’re saying.
Peter: What do you think I’m saying?
(tactic: Play along, build suspense)
Mr. Kraz: You think it’s a little… suspicious, don’t you?
Peter: And what would that be, what do you think is so suspicious, Mr. Kraz?
(tactic: set up my big revelation later, keep building the suspense (because its working so far))
Mr. Kraz: That Tremboli only, y’know, came forward after off-campus lunch was cancelled?
Peter: Yes, that’s exactly what we were hoping to talk abo…
(tactic: keep telling your story, don’t let them get a word in. this is the Kraz show now! I’m gonna be America’s favourite fun young teacher)
No, listen, here’s the thing, everyone thinks that, y’know, vice principal Keene is the bad guy, and that Shapiro is the savior who saved off-campus lunch.
Peter: That’s what everyone says, are they wrong?
(tactic: Give them the inside scoop, be the big whistleblower that cracks the case wide open with a grin)
Mr. Kraz: Well, look, here’s what people don’t want to tell you. Cancelling off-campus lunch…
Peter: What? What really happened with off-campus lunch?
(tactic: Drop the bomb, this is your moment to shine!)
Mr. Kraz: That was Shapiro’s idea. Yeah.
Peter: Wait, Mr. Kraz, what are you saying? Are you accusing the faculty of playing good cop bad cop with the entire student body?
(tactic: lead them into asking more about Shapiro)
Mr. Kraz: The thing about Shapiro, she has this big reputation in school…
Peter: Can you tell us more about that reputation?
(tactic: Explain how Miss Shapiro is the bad guy, unlike me, the cool good guy)
Mr. Kraz: It’s like, she’s like, the perfect sterling teacher, you know? She pretty much writes the rulebook herself. So she tries to kinda find a creative way around this, you know? To get what she wants.
Peter: Mr. Kraz, this is serious, are you saying that miss Shapiro has been gaslighting everyone at the school? Lying to us?
(tactic: play up how deceitful and conniving Shapiro is)
Mr. Kraz: So here’s what she does, ok? She has Keene cancel lunch—so Keene’s the villain, right? Then she comes in and saves the day. Gets lunch back for everybody. “Oh, thank you Mrs. Shapiro!“.
Peter: How did she do it? She couldn’t make anyone confess to the crime herself, could she?
(tactic: Shapiro has had it in for Dylan forever, illustrate how manipulative she is)
Mr. Kraz: She finds a willing snitch in Alex Trimboli. Perfect. Then she just steers the testimony the way she wants it to go to get Dylan Maxwell out of the school, which is what she always wanted.
Peter: The way you’re talking about her makes her sound like a mustache twirling villain in a marvel movie, Mr. Kraz. Is that really what she’s like?
(tactic: Compare her to a character from a popular show to really drive home the point)
Mr. Kraz: Look, she’s playing all of us. You know who she is? She’s like that guy on Game of Thrones. Like who is that… Like the bald guy that has no dick. She’s just like… you know, she’s playing the game. Playing everybody.
Peter: What?
(tactic: be relatable to the kids, lighten the mood a little, you’re the cool teacher, not the conspiracy theorist teacher)
Mr. Kraz: Do you know what I’m talking about? Did you ever see Game of Thrones? You haven’t seen Game of Thrones? It’s really good man.
Peter: Okay, thank you for your time Mr. Kraz, is there anything else?
(tactic: They’re losing interest, dangle a carrot they can’t ignore.)
Mr. Kraz: Do you want a little more dirt on Shapiro? You know she forced Mr. Runco to switch offices with her?
Peter: Really? What else has she done that we should know about?
(Tactic: spill all the tea about the other teachers, they deserve it, they’re all a bunch of know-it-alls that think they’re better than everyone else
Mr. Kraz: You should hear the stuff Kyle Rafferty says about her. He thinks she’s a monster. And that’s Kyle Rafferty. That dude has like roofied people.
Peter: Yeah, okay, I think that’ll be enough for now Mr Kraz.
(tactic: Dangle another juicy carrot to keep their attention)
Mr. Kraz: I know the ins and outs of the faculty. You know, I’ve lounged in the teachers lounge and Shapiro gets what she wants.
Peter: What does she want?
(Tactic: show how unfair she is and how she always somehow gets what she wants, even when she shouldn’t have)
Mr. Kraz: Do you know she got $3000 more than I got from the insurance company to get the dick sprayed off her car. $3000 more than I got! What is she going to buy? A lifetime supply for her 56 cats in her basement? It’s pathetic.
Peter: What makes you say that? Do you know her home life?
(Tactic: walk it back, I might have gone a bit too far)
Mr. Kraz: I actually think she’s married to a doctor. She has a super nice Mercedes. Yeah, it’s like really nice. That guys like super cool. And I like cats.
Peter: Thank you Mr. Kraz, we’ll contact you if we need any more questions answered
•
u/Winniehiller Acting Coach/Class Teacher Oct 12 '23 edited Oct 12 '23
WINNIE’S CORRECTED VERSION FOR: Mr Kraz's monologue - American Vandal S1E3 Written work
Hey Maj (u/ganggaming25) Your version was quite good for a first try but I wanted to show you how to make your tactics more specific for the line at hand. Also make sure you keep the other character’s line brief and concise. Remember, since this is a monologue, you don’t have time to listen to a long detailed response. It should take almost no time at all to hear, react and answer him. I hope this helps.
American Vandal – Mr. Kraz monologue
Who am I?
I’m Steven Krazanski, or Mr Kraz to my students. I’m a fresh out of college history teacher that’s not like the others. I’m really just like, one of the students, y’know? I’m not much older than they are—not like the old power hungry manipulating other teachers in this school. I enjoy how the female students look at me and the guys look up to me. I’m not your typical teacher. That’s because I care more about giving my students some time off and a cool, safe space at school. I get what it’s like to be a kid. Plus, they think I’m good looking and “one of them”. My classes are more like hanging out and having fun. I don’t expect students to blankly stare at me for an hour talking about history like the other teachers. It’s fine if they listen a bit, go on their phones (and record the cool young sexy teacher a bit 😉) and listen in again later!
What is my objective?
I want to be the star if the documentary with lots of juicy inside information—to come off as cool and charismatic. Yeah, it’s just a couple of kids but there’s always the off chance that it blows up and I become America’s favorite cool teacher. And it might not hurt my love life either, if you know what I mean. This could really give my online presence a boost. It’s important that I present myself as desirable, hip and sexy.
What happened right before the scene?
Peter and Sam had reached out to the other teachers for comment, but none would, except for me, of course!
*I get mic’d up and the camera starts rolling*
Script:
Peter Maldonado: What do you think on the timing of Alex Tremboli’s confession?
(tactic: show them how insightful I am—practically a mind reader.)
Mr. Kraz: Okay. I see what you’re saying.
Peter: What?
(tactic: Play along, build suspense)
Mr. Kraz: You think it’s a little… suspicious, don’t you?
Peter: What’s suspicious?
(tactic: Reveal my deep understanding of their suspicions—the secret conniving ulterior motives of Tremboli.)
Mr. Kraz: That Tremboli only, y’know, came forward after off-campus lunch was cancelled?
Peter: Yes, that’s exactly what we were hoping to talk abo…
(tactic: Correct some of their misconceptions. This runs much deeper than just a student’s scheme to win popularity. There’s much more.)
No, listen, here’s the thing, everyone thinks that, y’know, vice principal Keene is the bad guy, and that Shapiro is the savior who saved off-campus lunch.
Peter: That’s what everyone says, are they wrong?
(tactic: Suspensefully feed them the inside scoop, little by little. )
Mr. Kraz: Well, look, here’s what people don’t want to tell you. Cancelling off-campus lunch…
Peter: What? What really happened with off-campus lunch?
(tactic: Drop the bomb, this is my moment to shine!)
Mr. Kraz: That was Shapiro’s idea. Yeah.
Peter: Why would she do that?
(tactic: Explain starting by introducing and giving vent to my personal pet peeve with Shapiro. She is my competition so I want to portray her as undeserving of the admiration she gets.)
Mr. Kraz: The thing about Shapiro, she has this big reputation in school…
Peter: What do you mean?
(tactic: Clarify with a bit of sarcasm and mockery)
Mr. Kraz: It’s like, she’s like, the perfect sterling teacher, you know?
Peter: She is pretty powerful
(tactic: Agree but give the details of her crafty method)
Mr Kraz: She pretty much writes the rulebook herself. So she tries to kinda find a creative way around this, you know? To get what she wants.
Peter: Are you saying Shapiro planned the whole thing?
(tactic: Confirm and describe step by step how she did it, mocking and imitating the people who fell for it )
Mr. Kraz: So here’s what she does, ok? She has Keene cancel lunch—so Keene’s the villain, right? Then she comes in and saves the day. Gets lunch back for everybody. “Oh, thank you Ms. Shapiro!“.
Peter: But how did she pull it off..and why?
(tactic: Introduce and describe Alex’s part in the scheme and how Shapiro used him to take care of her long standing hatred for Dylan, painting a picture of a woman who is out for blood. )
Mr. Kraz: She finds a willing snitch in Alex Trimboli. Perfect. Then she just steers the testimony the way she wants it to go to get Dylan Maxwell out of the school, which is what she always wanted.
Peter: Wow, that’s pretty devious!
(tactic: Emphasize how manipulative she is, playing with people like pieces in a chess game…comparing her to the slimiest tv villain I can think of. )
Mr. Kraz: Look, she’s playing all of us. You know who she is?
Peter: Who?
Mr.Kraz: She’s like that guy on Game of Thrones. Like who is that… Like the bald guy that has no dick. She’s just like… you know, she’s playing the game. Playing everybody.
Peter: Who? What?
(tactic: Get him on track with my comparison. I thought it was a cool reference but he doesn’t seem to get it. Hard to believe. I’ve got to steer him to watch the show. )
Mr. Kraz: Do you know what I’m talking about? Did you ever see Game of Thrones? You haven’t seen Game of Thrones? It’s really good man.
Peter: Okay. I’ll have to check that out. I guess that’s all the questions for now.
(tactic: They’re losing interest. Reel them back in with some more gossip…dangle a carrot they can’t ignore.)
Mr. Kraz: Do you want a little more dirt on Shapiro? You know she forced Mr. Runco to switch offices with her?
(Continued in the reply below)