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Marilyn Horowitz

Marilyn Horowitz

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Give Your Character A Signature Look

July 23, 2010 by Marilyn Horowitz

 Sherlock Holmes had his pipe and Dracula his cape and fangs. My assistant has a friend who only wears short pants regardless of the weather.

Shelly Winters and Marilyn Monroe, who were roommates at the time, went shopping. While in the dressing room, Shelly was practicing a breathy laugh and speaking voice. Marilyn asked her about it and Shelly said she was using it in a scene study class. Marilyn asked if she could have it and the rest, as they say, is history.

As an exercise:
1) Determine what sets your character apart. Think of Angelina Jolie’s lips, Woody Allen’s thick-rimmed glasses, Hitchcock’s girth.

2) Once you figure out what your character’s signature look or behavior is, interview and write a story about how they got it. You will learn interesting details about their past and present.

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Thank you. If it hadn’t been for you Marilyn, I don’t think I would have made the Woodstock film which… Read more “Nancy C.”

I’m very grateful to be able to learn from Marilyn, Her focus on the psychological and spiritual foundations necessary to… Read more ““…grateful to learn from Marilyn””

Marilyn’s techniques helped me stop overthinking and start writing! She gave me exercises to take the pressure off beginning a… Read more “The Word of the Day”

You are always a light. Thank you.

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“Working with Marilyn Horowitz has challenged every aspect of my creative process from conception to preparation, and most importantly, execution.… Read more “– Larry Lowry”

- Larry Lowry
Writer/Producer, Nickelodeon
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