carrying on from lesson two...PART THREE AND FOUR

TASK THREE


What is a backstory?

Whatever the character is, there is always something that happens before they go on set, we needed to think about their backstory, what is going on in their lives perhaps? Family life, the way they think, act, why?



Why is it important for an actor to know their characters backstory?


It is important to know your characters backstory because then it is easier to play them in a more naturalistic way and be able to connect with them knowing what they may be thinking and what may have happened before hand.



What did you create as a snapshot of your character’s world? Describe what you did and link you choices to the play.


My character was Adam, as a snapshot of his life we portrayed his character as very disturbed. He has a difficult family life, having an abusive step-father, a vulnerable mother and sisters who made his life hell. Adam had voices in his head controlling him, possibly a mental illness and no real friends. We made these choices as perhaps a link and indication to the play where Adam does the barbaric things he is told but other characters in the play in a desperate attempt for real friends.




What did another group create? Was it effective? Why?


Other groups consisted of: Brian, Leah and Phil.
They created pieces quite different from ours, whereas we thought more to what 'could have been', the other characters related more to what we knew and assumed from the script. The other pieces were very effective because we were able to immediately understand which character it was and the link to the way they acted during their part in the play.






TASK FOUR


Are we a product of our environment?
yes or no...


I believe that both are the answer to that, we are a product of what we chose to be a product of, it's also a part of our life influences and what we chose to be a part of. Though our surroundings can make a big impact on that decision for us.