The Moment Before and The Button: An Actor’s Method To Start And End A Scene

By: Eddie Ramos | Feburary 10, 2022 3:30 PM

There are many methods to start and end a scene. In today’s world, actors use The “Moment Before” and The “Button” to help tell the story in an audition. Here’s how to utilize these in your work.

Have you ever thought about why Jack Nicholson’s warmup video for The Shining is so iconic? Or why ending an audition can feel like the awkward hug/shake mambo in Step Brothers. Well if you’re an actor who regularly goes out on auditions, you’ve probably heard of these two acting terms: The Moment Before and The Button. What are they? How do you use them? And why should you incorporate them in your next audition? Let’s break it down.

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The Moment Before

The “moment before” is a technical acting term that refers to what’s happening in the life of the character right before an actor walks out on stage or a director yells “action” in TV and film.

It is one of the parts of an actor’s toolbox that helps the actor explore the inner life of the character, by asking themselves what happened right before the scene starts.

As an exercise, actors can imagine what’s happened sixty seconds before the start of the scene, thirty seconds, ten seconds, and finally one second before. The reason for this is because the "moment before” is a critical part of the process for actors to perform the scene.

It contains events, emotions, thoughts, images, relationships, conflicts, physical conditions, objectives, and other mental and emotional information which the character is going through before the director yells “action.”

Actors can utilize the “moment before” by giving themselves a place to come from, both physically and emotionally. Create a “moment before” that has a different energy than the scene, it helps add Urgency and Raises the Stakes.

For example, you may be thinking about finally asking the girl you like out on a date. You spent the day mustering up the courage, going out to the mall to get expensive clothes, if you start the scene on an emotional high, you have more places to go when you’re confronted with the girl of your dreams telling you she’s interested in the school bully instead.

I recently worked with an actress on a comedic scene where she had to come in and act cool and natural at her new job. So at first, she played the scene cool, however, I told her to imagine that this new job was filled with all her favorite celebrities. So now, when the scene started she had to quickly adjust from drooling fan-girl to a competent employee which was the complete opposite and turned into a very hilarious moment at the top of the scene.

Lastly, the “moment before” is one of the only times, the energy of the scene can be directed inwards to the actor. It’s a “me” moment and the surprise of someone else entering our world catapults the energy of the scene into the classic dialogue and back and forth we’re all used to seeing.

The Button

Most actors are familiar with the “moment before” but what is often forgotten is the moment after or “the button.”

Your character had a life before the scene and will continue to have a life after the scene is done and that’s where “the button” comes in.

Often times actors are unsure how to end the scene and in most cases the last piece of text or beat is fine, however in certain circumstances using a “button” is a great way to show the full emotional range of a character.

Imagine an actor is fighting with their spouse in the scene over who ate the last muffin. At the end of the scene, the couple makes up but as a “button” the actress auditioning breaks into tears of frustration or tries to lighten the mood and make her spouse laugh with a funny face or “It wasn’t that good, don’t worry.”

The “button” tells casting directors that you are an advanced actor that understands where the story is heading.

“Buttons” come up a lot in commercial auditions, where the final moment is a reaction or the CD wants you to continue the action you began with.

Like the “moment before” an actors “button” is also a rare moment of “me” time and the actor can bring the attention inwards again.

The Actor’s Method

Both techniques are simply used to help an actor prepare for an audition and shouldn’t be woven into the audition too heavily. These tools should aid the actor and move the plot forward. Don’t make a meal of either of them.

In fact, be prepared for a director or writer to change the story or dialogue so it’s best not to get too married to a “moment before” or “button”.

The “moment before” and the “button” can act as a structure around your audition and help encapsulate the piece like a book. 📖

Do you use a “moment before” and a “button” in your audition process? Share a comment below!