We took it in turns in pairs to each be given a scenario to improvise and act out to the rest of the group.
Josh T and I were first, our piece was set on an aeroplane heading to Australia and thats all we were given. I was a passeger terrified of flying and Josh was an air steward. The scene automatically went comical and was really funny to act, pretending to have turbulence and need an alcoholic drink to calm my nerves. Josh was really nice and helpful to me, but you could tell he just wanted to get away when i wouldn't let go go his hand, for me to finally fall asleep and him to get soem peace and quiet.
I love improvisation as i feel that is where the best material is produced, as its not thought about or pre rehearsed. It's there live in the moment and you just go with whatever comes to mind. We were given feedback and everyone gave ideas to what they think we were and what our characters were like. I was a business woman aged around 35 on a business trip, Josh was steward who had been in the job role for at least 5 years, aged around 29.
We ran the scene again given this new information about ourselves. I think the scene went well either way, but with that little bit more background information you kind of try to show it more, as i was terrified of flying there is no way i would purposely volunteer to travel on a 24 hour flight, so it must be for business.
Sunday, 20 January 2013
Friday 11th January 2013
We looked at a section of True and False by David Mamet on auditions. This was really interesting to read as I appreciate his honesty and complete rawness towards the industry and how it works. It really opens your eyes and makes you realise that auditioning is pretty much black and white. It's hard but simple at the same time in terms of what is asked of you as an actor on paper can seem so easy and straight forward but putting that into practise and actual technique is a completely different thing altogether.
The "audition technique" is putting yourself in that mind frame that this monologue or piece of text you are performing is the be all and end all. This isn't the audition this is the performance, take all the background noise, casting directors, the audience and their opinions and be there to deliver a believable speech and character. You shouldn't be thinking of anything other than you are here, and you have a job to do as an actor. Which i think is so difficult to do, because how can you not think about the pre conceived judgements and what they're thinking of you whilst your performing. It's the one thing that destroys us as actors, what other people think, self belief and good practise is what can help you drive through that fear as you could say and give a performance that is worth stopping casting directors from writing and looking at you.
You need to build a hard shell to be successful in this business, as you will get more no's than yes's and at the end of the day everyone has a job to do, the directors, the agents, producers so you need to take the "personal" out of it and know that you are not what they're looking for, but the next role you come across may be just what they're looking for.
The "audition technique" is putting yourself in that mind frame that this monologue or piece of text you are performing is the be all and end all. This isn't the audition this is the performance, take all the background noise, casting directors, the audience and their opinions and be there to deliver a believable speech and character. You shouldn't be thinking of anything other than you are here, and you have a job to do as an actor. Which i think is so difficult to do, because how can you not think about the pre conceived judgements and what they're thinking of you whilst your performing. It's the one thing that destroys us as actors, what other people think, self belief and good practise is what can help you drive through that fear as you could say and give a performance that is worth stopping casting directors from writing and looking at you.
You need to build a hard shell to be successful in this business, as you will get more no's than yes's and at the end of the day everyone has a job to do, the directors, the agents, producers so you need to take the "personal" out of it and know that you are not what they're looking for, but the next role you come across may be just what they're looking for.
Thursday 10th January 2013
We talked about the "five truths" practitioners and the differences between each of them, their techniques and methods. We watched a piece each based on their acting styles with the same scenario and saw how they differed from each other. It was really interesting to see how simple and naturalistic Peter Brook's directing style was compared to how Growtowski's style was more about the body and how each limb moved one by one and had a purpose. It really made you think how different the same piece can be if you just change the technique, it gives it a whole new meaning altogether.
I had to research a bit about Peter Brook, it was really fascinating to see how his style and beliefs change the way he sees a performance. If the audience don't believe what you're saying or feeling as a character what's the point? He's all about being truthful and stripping everything back, as he believed that traditional theatre had lost it's meaning.
Wednesday, 16 January 2013
Wednesday 9th January 2013
We watched Daniel Sullivans Directors and Directing and their experiences on working in the theatre. It was really interesting because a lot of their opinions and basis was about the actors and the audience. About having respect for your actors, never talk down to them, have respect for them and have an open mind when it comes to new ideas that come from within. Collaboration is with the actors in the rehearsal.
Listen to your audience, see what they want to get from the piece you're creating, its your responsibility and your opportunity to find truth within the piece to tell the story. Creating the perfect setting and background to do that, help the audience to imagine a world where the play would exist. What would the characters logic be like? what language do they speak? what does this world look like? what does it smell like? Make the audience believe and set up an environment to be heard.
It was enlightening to watch and hear their opinions, because I have the same thoughts and feelings as a director would, though it comes from an actors point of view. It also gives you a new respect for what they do, as they have to collaborate with everyone, set designers, script writers, actors, stage hands. They go home and try and think about what scene they're going to work on tomorrow, which scene in a script needs to be edited or taken out. They pretty much sleep, breath, eat the whole production until it's over.
Tuesday 18th December 2012
Today was the 2nd part of Alex's presentation on 9/11, this was the practical part of the presentation.
I really enjoyed the task that Alex had given us, where we had to create a piece showing what would have gone on that day and the effect it has had on the world, in terms of what precautions are taken now, how airports are very security aware and how people are still affected today.
We included all the different people finding out about the attack in different ways, either by phone, hearing it on the radio, watching the news. Then we went to the after effect, clearing up the rubble, helping victims find somewhere to eat. The long term effects; airport security stopping people under suspicion, how others have no concern for this and its all just a load of hassle being stopped and searched with metal detectors. Even longer term effects; ground zero, the younger generation visiting and not understanding what it's there for and how important and saddening it is to see. Last we ended it with saying I love you, as so many people regret leaving the house in anger or in a huff and then finding out that is the last thing they have said to them.
We summed up in a word what you could think of when you hear 9/11 i said tragedy. It's something that is just tragic and has such a ripple effect on everyone, its a mix of emotions that just hit you.
The task was really enlightening as it gave you more in sight and made you think about what really happened that day and what people had to go through. You don't think about who had to sweep the rubble and still try and look for any signs of life. It really helped me understand, because it happened when i was really young you don't know the true extent of what a devastation it really was.
I really enjoyed the task that Alex had given us, where we had to create a piece showing what would have gone on that day and the effect it has had on the world, in terms of what precautions are taken now, how airports are very security aware and how people are still affected today.
We included all the different people finding out about the attack in different ways, either by phone, hearing it on the radio, watching the news. Then we went to the after effect, clearing up the rubble, helping victims find somewhere to eat. The long term effects; airport security stopping people under suspicion, how others have no concern for this and its all just a load of hassle being stopped and searched with metal detectors. Even longer term effects; ground zero, the younger generation visiting and not understanding what it's there for and how important and saddening it is to see. Last we ended it with saying I love you, as so many people regret leaving the house in anger or in a huff and then finding out that is the last thing they have said to them.
We summed up in a word what you could think of when you hear 9/11 i said tragedy. It's something that is just tragic and has such a ripple effect on everyone, its a mix of emotions that just hit you.
The task was really enlightening as it gave you more in sight and made you think about what really happened that day and what people had to go through. You don't think about who had to sweep the rubble and still try and look for any signs of life. It really helped me understand, because it happened when i was really young you don't know the true extent of what a devastation it really was.
Friday 14th December 2012 Historical Context
Today Alex did his historical context presentation on the 9/11 attacks.
We discussed what happened that day and what we were all doing at the time of the attacks, how it's a day we can all distinctly remember and recollect no matter what age we were. He had a lot of quotes from people who were there involved in the attacks, and writers who have written plays about the attacks but still say that after all these years it's still too soon.
I think the information is informative and interesting to hear peoples own views and experiences and how it has affected them. The performance that Alex asked us to watch which was performed by real victims of the attacks and people who helped out in that time of need was moving. It wasn't acted out it was just told for what it was without the need for a false force for sympathy.
We discussed what happened that day and what we were all doing at the time of the attacks, how it's a day we can all distinctly remember and recollect no matter what age we were. He had a lot of quotes from people who were there involved in the attacks, and writers who have written plays about the attacks but still say that after all these years it's still too soon.
I think the information is informative and interesting to hear peoples own views and experiences and how it has affected them. The performance that Alex asked us to watch which was performed by real victims of the attacks and people who helped out in that time of need was moving. It wasn't acted out it was just told for what it was without the need for a false force for sympathy.
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