We have managed to block all of our scenes and they look amazing!
I've thought more about the subtext of my character as well as contributing to others;
I will post scans of small annotations I have made during our rehearsal process.
I have also used assessment sheets, to talk about my peers which I have actually lost (sorry :( )
But I will carry on giving encouragement to my class in what we are doing.
Saturday, 5 January 2013
Sunday, 9 December 2012
STAGING
An advantage of using this stage space is that it's easy to communicate with the audience and more people can be fit around the space.
A disadvantage to this type of staging is that your blocking has to be very careful so everyone in the audience can understand what you're doing.
As an actor what do I think are the challenges I will have personally whilst being directed in this space?
I will have to be able to position myself so that all of the audience can see me and if not move around suitably.
I will have to familiarize myself with some of this vocabulary.
Friday, 30 November 2012
WHO IS STANISLAVSKI?
Name: Constanin Stanislavski
Date of Birth: 17-1-1863
Date of Death: 7-8-1938 (aged 75)
Place of Birth: Moscow, Russia
Occupation: Theorist, Director, Actor
Memorable work: An actor's work, My life in art
Other:
*to be added throughout the weeks*
Workshop 4
What was my experience in participating in the workshop, what characters did I try, why?
I loved the workshop experience, it was really interesting seeing everyone in my class try for different roles and seeing what they were capable of. I tried only for the character of Danny, I chose this character because I thought it was well suited to my academically ambitious personality. Originally having wanted to play Leah, and reading through the play I thought Danny would fit me better.
What was my experience of observing the workshop, who was I most impressed by and why?
My experience of observing the workshop was amazing, like I mentioned it was amazing to see how capable my class were. The people that impressed me most would have to be Daniel and Elouise.
Elouise's memorization skills were amazing, and considering her dedication to the role learning the entire monologue and staging it before even knowing whether she would be cast.
Daniel played both parts he auditioned for (Brian and Adam) beautifully and managed to adapt himself to either role in a very natural way.
I loved the workshop experience, it was really interesting seeing everyone in my class try for different roles and seeing what they were capable of. I tried only for the character of Danny, I chose this character because I thought it was well suited to my academically ambitious personality. Originally having wanted to play Leah, and reading through the play I thought Danny would fit me better.
What was my experience of observing the workshop, who was I most impressed by and why?
My experience of observing the workshop was amazing, like I mentioned it was amazing to see how capable my class were. The people that impressed me most would have to be Daniel and Elouise.
Elouise's memorization skills were amazing, and considering her dedication to the role learning the entire monologue and staging it before even knowing whether she would be cast.
Daniel played both parts he auditioned for (Brian and Adam) beautifully and managed to adapt himself to either role in a very natural way.
Workshop 3
Why did we want to create truth on stage?
To portray a more naturalistic form of acting
We started playing a game called- 'I don't believe you'
In this game, certain people had been given an event that had just happened or is happened and they had to play their response as naturally as possible.
Why did we play this game?
To find out the 'truth' within our acting and be able to use it in actual pieces. So we could resist over acting and exaggeration.
What did I learn from watching it?
From the observations I made, it isn't easy not to over act and try to be natural on stage.
When TJ had been part of the game, he was having to show how he would naturally respond to finding everything in his room was missing/stolen.
What situation did they enter the room in?
He entered in a very neutral, calm manor.
How were they able to show truth?
They thought about how they would personally react to the situation.
What did they change everytime they entered the room?
The different ways they could have reacted to the stimulus.
Were they successful in creating a truthful performance?
I think they were, because knowing the person's personality it's more imaginable than an under acting performance that could have been given. Thinking about TJ's personality being big and dramatic it all made sense for his naturalistic performance to be over the top.
After the break, we explored breaking bad news using using non-verbal communication.
What is non-verbal communication?
Non verbal communication is being able to show or say something without using words or sound, just body language and facial expressions.
What scene did I create and who did I work with?
I worked with Elouise, and the scene we created involved a fairly happy person being eventually approached by someone else and immediately being able to tell what was going on-my character was in pieces and we both sat against the wall awkwardly towards the end.
How did we make sure our scenes were truthful?
By completely staying in character all the way through and have it planned, considering our natural responses to bad news as well.
What other pair did I think were successful and why?
I thought Ursula and Tyler's group was very successful because they did something different to the rest of us.
To portray a more naturalistic form of acting
We started playing a game called- 'I don't believe you'
In this game, certain people had been given an event that had just happened or is happened and they had to play their response as naturally as possible.
Why did we play this game?
To find out the 'truth' within our acting and be able to use it in actual pieces. So we could resist over acting and exaggeration.
What did I learn from watching it?
From the observations I made, it isn't easy not to over act and try to be natural on stage.
When TJ had been part of the game, he was having to show how he would naturally respond to finding everything in his room was missing/stolen.
What situation did they enter the room in?
He entered in a very neutral, calm manor.
How were they able to show truth?
They thought about how they would personally react to the situation.
What did they change everytime they entered the room?
The different ways they could have reacted to the stimulus.
Were they successful in creating a truthful performance?
I think they were, because knowing the person's personality it's more imaginable than an under acting performance that could have been given. Thinking about TJ's personality being big and dramatic it all made sense for his naturalistic performance to be over the top.
After the break, we explored breaking bad news using using non-verbal communication.
What is non-verbal communication?
Non verbal communication is being able to show or say something without using words or sound, just body language and facial expressions.
What scene did I create and who did I work with?
I worked with Elouise, and the scene we created involved a fairly happy person being eventually approached by someone else and immediately being able to tell what was going on-my character was in pieces and we both sat against the wall awkwardly towards the end.
How did we make sure our scenes were truthful?
By completely staying in character all the way through and have it planned, considering our natural responses to bad news as well.
What other pair did I think were successful and why?
I thought Ursula and Tyler's group was very successful because they did something different to the rest of us.
Monday, 26 November 2012
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.
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.
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