Tuesday, 22 October 2013

Blog/log things you should be writing about...

Blog/Log things to write about…

 

You should think of your blog/log in three ways:

 

RESEARCH – newspaper article, Internet, photos, drawings, following people, anything you need to do to understand the play, text, themes and character better.

 

TEXT PREPARATION – thinking script, annotations, objectives, actions etc.

 

REFLECTION  - a diary of your rehearsals. Reflect on what happened in the rehearsal, what you discovered about the play or your character. Reflect on the challenges and the things the aims you need to set yourself for the next rehearsal. Reflect on what your director has asked of you.

 

Rehearsal process-

 

Exercises that we have done in class and the impact of them on your learning. Ensure you describe and reflect on these in detail. We are focusing on the use of Stanislavsky’s work to develop your acting skills. What are you learning about the practitioner too?

 

Write down the key words you have learnt this week, and explain what they mean.

 

Write down the main aims of the week’s sessions, andexplain how you think you have achieved these.

 

The strengths you are developing as an actor. How do you know you are making improvements?  Identifyand describe 3 strengths or successes of your performance in these sessions, and explain why?

 

The weaknesses you want to improve upon. Ensure you write yourself targets throughout the process and address how you have met these. Identify anddescribe 3 weaknesses of your performance in these sessions, and explain why?

 

 

Things you should reflect on…

 

Week 1

Initial response to the text and to your character after the read through.
What questions did you write that you want to find out about the play/characters?

 

Week 2  - World of the play

You created a timeline for the text.
Presented research on Camden.
Discussed the characters.
Laban – reflect on the lesson  - using the Laban forces – how did it help with finding your character physically and vocally?
Discussed the sheets I gave you on units, objectives etc.

 

Week 3 –

Visit to Camden – reflect on the what did you find out from the visit? Did you answer some initial questions that you had?
Grace Savage – reflect on the beatboxing workshop with Grace.

 

Week  - Blocking the play

We have blocked the whole play – give a general reflection of the lessons  - think about the use of space, how you are developing your role etc.

 

This is the hw sheet I gave out two weeks ago:

 

The Frontline  - Homework

1.
You need to have read the play at least 4 times by week 8 when we start blocking Act 1.

 

2.
In the moments of overlapping lines please write whoyou think you are talking to.

 

3.
Write 2 lists. A) Everything that you, personally, share with the character. B) All those elements of the character that are alien to you or different from you.

These lists are for you to help develop character. For list B you will need to do some additional research to help you understand some of the alien things.  There should be a track of this in your log.

4.
Answer the questions on the back of here for your character.

 

5.
Make sure you have reflected on lessons so far – stuck in annotated sheets given.

 

6.
Start creating your SUPER-OBJECTIVE, OBJECTIVES for scenes and UNITS for ACT 1. We will be thinking about actioning soon.

 

7.
You should have a section in your log about the world of the play, next Tuesday will help with this when we visit Camden. You should have photos, pictures, facts etc. Please create a list of things you want to discover from the trip to Camden – we aren’t just going on a jolly!

 

 

THIS TEXT PREPARATION IS CRUCIAL FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND TO ENSURE YOUR ACTING BECOMES INSTINCTIVE.

 

 

WANT! DO! FEEL!

 

In its simplest form Staninlavski’s system is: WANT, DO, FEEL…

 

want something. Therefore I do something. Consequently I feel something.

 

What I WANT is an OBJECTIVE. What I DO is anACTION. What I FEEL is an EMOTION.

 

Questions The eight questions, or W's, to ask about your character are:

 

WHO AM I?

WHERE AM I?

WHEN IS IT?

WHAT DO I NEED?

WHY DO I NEED IT NOW?

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF I DON’T GET WHAT I NEED?

WHAT DO I DO TO GET WHAT I NEED?

WHAT MUST I OVERCOME?

 

WHO AM I? What kind of person am I? How do I perceive myself? What is my background, my upbringing, influences, experiences, perceptions,accomplishments, attitudes, likes and dislikes, education, occupation, relationships and characteristics? How might my attitudes be influenced by social custom and habits that are part of the era in which I live and the world in which I move? I must make all these decisions personaland particular to me so that I can identify myselfwith my character in every possible way.

 

WHERE AM I? What kind of place is it? Is it indoors or out- doors? What sort of furniture is there? What colours, smell, or sounds? What does it mean to me? What objects are there in this place? Are they personal to me? What is the weather, temperature and climate?

 

WHEN IS IT? What time of day? What season, year?

 

WHERE HAVE I COME FROM? What has happened previously? How did I get here? What have I brought with me? Where am I going afterwards?

 

WHAT DO I NEED? This is my ACTION. It is what I will strive for. It is my motivating force, my desire, wish, and intention.

 

WHY DO I NEED IT? This is my justification for my Action. I must have a strong reasons for needing my Action.

 

WHY DO I NEED IT NOW? Answer the questions: Why now? Why not later, or before? I must justify why I need my Action now. All Actions are immediate.

 


Sunday, 29 September 2013

Invisible song...


Here is a quick mock up of possible style for the opening song  - Invisible


Jesus Gave Me Water

At the start of the play Beth sings ‘Jesus Gave Me Water.’ We explored creating the song as an ensemble. 

Meet the cast...