Lesson 4 - 25.9.14

DIARY ENTRY AS CALLUM

Dear Diary,

Honestly, I think I'm bipolar.

One second I'm telling Sephy that I hate her and want to 'smash' her, the next I'm spending the night in her room. I do hate her, I think, but I love her. But friendship, let alone LOVE, can exist between a nought and a cross. Everything I thought before about equality, and making a change in the world, I now know is all rubbish.

Jude was right, my dad was right, those Daggers are only thinking for one thing, no matter what they tell you. Themselves.

But Sephy. Sephy is different. She cares, doesn't she? I don't know anymore. She told me she loves me but how am I supposed to know this isn't some stupid trick?! She was all part of my dad being put in jail, she must have been because she could have easily stopped it.

Maybe I do love her...

Callum


SUBTEXT EXERCISE

In our lesson on thursday we had to do an exercise where instead of saying the actual scripted line we had to work out the subtext (what the line ACTUALLY means) and say that instead. I think that working out the subtext helped because you can work out what your character really means instead of just what your character is saying. Personally I think this has changed the scene from my point of view because once I thought about it I understood what Callum finally meant.

Unit 3 Acting Skills Audit: Benji Lord DATE: 25.9.14

Throughout your blog you will be marked on:

P2 Present an on-going review of acting skills, describing strengths and areas to develop

M2 Present an on-going review of acting skills, describing strengths and areas to develop, setting achievable targets for improvement and reviewing progress

D2 Present an on-going review of acting skills, describing strengths and areas to develop, setting achievable targets for improvement and evaluating progress

Workshop and rehearsal observations:

Which acting strengths have you been able to demonstrate today? How?

Today I managed to demonstrate my line learning when we rehearsed our scenes. This helped me also show how much better the scene is made when you learn your lines. My focus was much higher in todays lesson because I was much more adamant to get the scene polished.

Some key words: 

articulation      

projection      

breath control      

learning lines   

pitch, inflection and modulation 

tone and vocal colour        

phrasing             

pace                

use of pause              

gesture  

facial expressions     

characterisation         

staying in role             

balance                   

coordination 

movement memory       

spacial awareness       

weight placement        

focus and control 

relaxation                              

pace, energy and dynamics 

Which acting skills do you need to develop based on the workshop today? Why?

Set yourself  three targets:

1. To characterise my words so that I can come across to the audience as if it's the first time I've heard what the other character is saying.

2. To focus on what my character wants to achieve and make sure I stay in character throughout the whole scene.

3. To articulate and pace what I am saying so that it suits how my character feels and what my character wants.

Reflect on the targets set:  Have they been achieved? How?               

I achieved my first target this week as I was much more used to my script and my lines therefore I was able to portray as if it was the first time my character had heard what the other character was saying. This helps me with my scene as now my I know my lines better I can delve deeper into my character and what my character is really feeling.

I achieved my second target as I used the subtext exercise we did in our previous lesson where we had to perform our scenes but only say what the character was really thinking. This helped me achieve my target because I could really channel what my character was thinking through my lines.

I achieved my third target because every time I rehearse and perform I think about the objective exercise we did in the previous lesson and it helps me really get to the bottom of what my character is feeling. I also know my lines much better so I can really  what I'm saying instead of just rushing and worrying about getting my line out.

Date of review: 7th October 2014

Lesson 3 - 18.9.14

Lesson 18.9.14

Character Profile:

My long term target:

To be aware of what's around me (use spacial awareness) and to know where I have to be on stage and try not to pace.

Unit 3 Acting Skills Audit: DATE:  24.9.14

Throughout your blog you will be marked on:

P2 Present an on-going review of acting skills, describing strengths and areas to develop

M2 Present an on-going review of acting skills, describing strengths and areas to develop, setting achievable targets for improvement and reviewing progress

D2 Present an on-going review of acting skills, describing strengths and areas to develop, setting achievable targets for improvement and evaluating progress

Workshop and rehearsal observations:

Which acting strengths have you been able to demonstrate today? How?

I have showed good articulation and projection. I managed this by making sure my mouth, tongue and throat were all warmed up and ready for speaking. I also feel my pace and use of pausing was very good as I have studied the script very closely. Some other important things I kept in control were: Gesture, focus and control, staying in role, characterisation and using my character's objective to drive my emotions in the piece.

Some key words: 

articulation      

projection      

breath control      

learning lines   

pitch, inflection and modulation 

tone and vocal colour        

phrasing             

pace                

use of pause              

gesture  

facial expressions     

characterisation         

staying in role             

balance                   

coordination 

movement memory       

spatial awareness       

weight placement        

focus and control 

relaxation                              

pace, energy and dynamics 

Which acting skills do you need to develop based on the workshop today? Why?

Something I need to work on is gesture because during our rehearsals I was finding my gesturing very limited. I think is because I was holding a script so once my lines are learnt I will make sure they improve. I also need to improve on my spacial awareness because sometimes I may be cramped with whoever I'm acting with on one side or one particular part of the stage. I also feel I need to work on my stance as sometimes I tend to slouch or stand in a position that may not fit my character or my character's mood.

Set yourself  three targets:

1. To be aware of what's around me and be aware of who and what is on stage with me.

2. Think about my character's objective and use those thoughts and feelings to project through my role.

3. To pace my words so that I can come across to the audience as if it's the first time I've heard what the other character is saying.

Reflect on the targets set:  Have they been achieved? How?               

I achieved my first target by learning my lines which then helped me to know where I needed to be on stage at what time. I also used some directing from Miss Bailham to help me so that I was in the best place I could be.

I achieved my second target in an exercise that Miss Goodall gave us to do. We had to write down what our character really meant from their line so we could really get through to what the character was really feeling. And then we had to perform our scenes but instead of saying our scripted lines we had to say our subtext lines.

I don't feel I've reached full enough potential to get my third target as I was fairly new to learning my script in this lesson so all I really focused on was getting the words right. This is something I will work on in upcoming lessons and at home.

Date of review:

Lesson 2 11.9.14

Lesson 2    11.9.14



In this Theatre lesson we did a variation of physical warm ups that focused on certain parts of the body. We also did a warm up called 'Clear The Space' inspired by Frantic Assembly (pictured below)



In this warm up, we would walk around the room Miss would say a number, if she said:

1. Touch the floor
2. Jump
"Wall": Touch the wall
"Door ": We had to go to the door and all try and look underneath it.
"Centre" We all had to go to the centre of the room and lay our head on the person next to us' shoulder.

This exercise helped me warm up because it makes you focus exactly on what you need to do and it helps you be aware of the space around you.
Actors need to warm up because even though Theatre isn't counted as a sport it is still a physical activity so you need to warm up your muscles, mouths, tongues etc...
After the warm up I felt nice and loose and ready to act!

We also explored a range of vocal warmups. During these warmups we would use humming, and making continuos noises (ranging in the pitch) with our voices to warm up our vocal chords. The voice is an important tool for actors because a lot of acting includes using your voice and if your voice is not warmed up then you could get a sore throat or your vocal chords can get raw.

After our warm up, we explored the concept of status. In my opinion, I think status is the concept of someone having a higher or more prestigious role or position. We studied a scene called "Hello".

HELLO 

A: Hello

B: Hello

A: Are you coming then?

B: No, I don't think so

A: Oh, OK

(PAUSE)

B: Well I'll see you then.

A: Yes.

B: OK bye.

I created my scene with Connor and we established our scene in a way where A had a higher status than B (Connor was A and I was B). I was positioned sitting on the floor and Connor was on his feet. Connor started with a demanding "HELLO?" and throughout the scene I used eye contact to show that I was aware of the status difference. So instead of looking him in the eye I would look at his shoes or the floor. I also used a more timid voice and Connor's was very loud.
Other pairs showed status successfully by being creative with levels, where they think the scene was set, and voice.


Finally we explored a scene between Callum and Sephy. My partner was Rosebee who played the part of Sephy and I played the part of Callum. We had to stay focused on the subject of status. Rosebee and I showed status succesfully by having a sort of status shift in the middle. It would start off with Sephy being demanding and loud, and then Callum suddenly explodes in anger as well and by the middle of the script they are both shouting at each other. Then, towards the end, Callum becomes stern and stubborn and forces Sephy to promise to never call him a blanker again.
We also had to think about our character's objective and what they wanted to achieve. My character wanted to get a point across that he thought was important, he also wanted to be dominant in the argument and eventually win it.


We were asked to add some notes on other pairs' work on this scene:

TASK 2

One of the most obvious themes in "Noughts & Crosses" is racism. Crosses 

are black, wealthy and powerful. Noughts are white ,have poorly-paid jobs (if 

they can get a job at all), and have far fewer chances to do well in life. 

Crosses look down on noughts as a completely inferior group. 

Identity is another key theme in this play. Callum and Sephy are able to be friends because they see each other as individuals, not just 'a nought' and 'a Cross'. In their friendship with each 

other, they're able to put asde the prejudice and segregation most people in their world experience. 

Love and relationships is another key theme that is touched upon in the play. The relationship between Callum and Sephy is opposite to the relationship between most noughts and Crosses. Their friendship is warm and intense, and despite occasional arguments and the problems they face, they stay close right until the end. 

Acting Skills

NAUGHTS AND CROSSES

4th September, 2014: Unit 3 Acting Skills


Here are some acting skills that I think I already possess:

I think my line learning is fairly good as I can learn monologues quite fast. I find that learning specific lines from a script where there are other characters' lines in-between is a bit more of a challenge but I can still manage to learn them fairly quick.

My projection is something I find I have particular skill in because I know when to speak from my diaphragm, chest, throat and head. Depending on what character I play then I will adjust the area of the body I will get the power of my voice from. For example if I was playing the part of an Army Sergeant, then I would project from my diaphragm or chest for a booming voice, or if I was playing the part of a small child then I would project my voice from my throat or head for a higher pitched voice.

Something I feel I may have to work on is my spacial awareness on stage. If I'm performing a monologue I have the tendency to pace and get on the wrong part of the stage. But I know it's something I need to work on.

I believe that a good actor needs to have insight into human behaviour. You need a clear motivation so that you can effectively convey the emotions that influence one's actions. I think my conveying of emotions is good because if I need to act as a character who is sad, I will search through the script for a motivation as to why the character is sad.

I think an actor needs to be very professional about every situation they are put in. If I am put into a slightly awkward or uncomfortable scene I feel that I can be mature about it and deal with it professionally. I do not suddenly become shy, or act immaturely because there is a certain topic being discussed that may not be something I'm comfortable with, I deal with it professionally and maturely.