Workshop
and rehearsal observations:
Which acting strengths have you been able to demonstrate today? How?
Today
I used breath control, I did this by learning how to use my diaphragm
correctly, i.e. breathing without shoulders moving, breathing from my stomach
(well metaphorically speaking).
I
also used spatial awareness to ensure that I was always in a part of the room
that enabled the rest of the room to be equally balanced. I also tried my best
to keep the distance of people around me at a constant radius.
I
used characterisation; I kept in character whilst exploring Sephy's emotions
and relationship with Callum. I did this by changing her personality ever so
slightly each time my partner and I rehearsed the script.
Which
acting skills do you need to develop based on the workshop today? Why?
I
need to keep focus and control my movements so that I make a decision and stick
with it which will then enable me to look more natural on stage. I would also
like to use my voice in a naturalistic way in order to accompany my movements
and create an overall confident but natural performance.
I
would also like to keep my energy at a constant level so that I can contribute
to the lesson as best as I can. I know that is hard for others and myself to
stay 100% focused over a 3 hr lesson however I want to prove that I can pay
attention all of the time.
Set
yourself three targets:
1. I
want to be able to use
projection so that I both
exercise my diaphragm and so that I am easily heard clearly by everyone.
2. I
would like to discover a
better understanding of my characters objective as I am slightly unsure of what it
means let alone what my character's is.
3. I
will try to keep my energy
levels up so that I can get
the best out of each lesson.
Reflect
on the targets set: Have they been achieved? How?
1, I
projected my voice throughout the lesson., I did this by 'throwing my voice
across the room', I made sure that my voice travelled to the other side of the
room by pretending I was talking to someone in a train station, from one
platform to another however I was not shouting.
2. I
learned that Sephy's character objective is to hear Callum tell her that he
loves her. All she wants is for him to tell her that everything is going to be
okay and she wants to hear that is the form of 'I love you'. This was
achieved when I inferred the script and read between the lined.
3. I
managed to stay energized by staying pumped, focused and engaged with my
partner, I did this by using a lot of eye constant and not slouching at any
given moment (I remained in neutral).
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Which acting strengths have you been able to demonstrate today? How?
I showed
strengths in learning lines which then helped me to further develop my lines
vocally. For example I used tone and colour to experiment with how I wanted a
line to be received by the audience.
I was more
relaxed this lesson after warming up my body and then my vocals before getting
to know my partner better which made me feel more comfortable around him and
also actually know a bit more about him as we had never really spoken before.
Which acting
skills do you need to develop based on the workshop today? Why?
I need to
develop gestures on stage. I find it really easy to go into awkward mode and
either do too much with my arms and hands or fiddle constantly because of
nerves. When this happens I also tend to feel very static, almost as if I am
not allowed to move, like if my feet were cemented to the ground or if I were
to be trapped inside of a box.
I would
like to be able to explore the space confidently using every part of the stage to
convey a message to the audience. I also want to be able to use gestures in a
naturalistic way so that my performance can be as realistic as possible.
Set yourself
three targets:
1. Stay 100% focused - do not come out of role.
2.Stay
100% professional - You are acting, never forget that. You don't
use your emotions, you use the emotions that your character is feeling.
3. Use naturalistic gestures - Don't be afraid to use your hands,
just make sure that when you choose to do something that you follow it through
and chicken out as it will look messy and unrehearsed.
Reflect on the
targets set: Have they been achieved? How?
This week I
managed to stay in focus throughout the lessons and I also continued to stay in
role.
I also took on
last weeks target and was able to be very professional and take everything very
seriously as there is not an awful lot of time before the performance.
I also
incorporated a variety of subtle and naturalistic gestures, however I still
think that I can push myself to add more gestures into the piece and make them
a bit more noticeable.
This week I
think I achieved all of my targets and worked to the best of my ability.
Which acting
strengths have you been able to demonstrate today? How?
Today I was
able to to demonstrate a better understanding of Sephy (my character) and her
surroundings.
During today's
performance I was able to carry on when I got stuck on one of my lines, in fact
I may have just about been lucky enough to get away with it because I
improvised and acted as if I was thinking.
I was able to
be relaxed and in doing do I was able to project my voice clearly using tone
and vocal colour appropriately.
Which acting
skills do you need to develop based on the workshop today? Why?
I still think
that my gestures could improve however I do think that there was a huge
improvement from last lesson because I did attempt my target and in doing so I
received a positive outcome and feedback.
I am also going
to try and be less harsh on myself because based on today's lesson I realized
that when I did one thing wrong (i.e. forgetting my line) it then impacted the
whole lesson and I felt as if I didn't get the best out of that lesson as I
didn't feel like I was good enough. I need to give myself more credit and
believe in myself a bit more.
Set yourself three targets:
1. Try not to panic - if you mess up just carry on and
improvise, whatever you do, DO NOT blame yourself, just get over it and move
on.
2. Add in the extra detail - Focus on the little things, maybe
eye contact, a horrible habit or even
a twitch (which is not needed for Sephy but just bare in
mind)
3. Use gestures confidently - First of all choose the appropriate
gesture, then once you choose to do them, stick with then, DON'T BACK
OUT!
Reflect on the
targets set: Have they been achieved? How?
I handled
myself well today, managing not to panic by taking deep breaths and thinking
only positive thoughts/ words such as 'You can do it!' to try and build my
confidence and make me feel more relaxed and calm. Although of course I was
still very nervous but I think that is all part of the experience and to loose
those nerves would be a terrible thing indeed. It's also where you get your
adrenaline kick from. Plus I did mess up this week but I just carried on and
improvised without panicking.
I also used
more eye contact this week, partially because it was set as my target and also
because our teacher brought it up as something that the whole class needed to
improve on because it makes the scene more believable and really come alive. I
could really see how it benefited the scene by watching other groups and I feel
as if mine and my partners scene with eye contact added tension and built a
better atmosphere which changed the mood completely.
I added in some
more gestures which I performed confidently however I often find that I don't
know what to do with my hands and so I feel awkward even though I can hide that
feeling. I do that by simple acting as if I am 100% comfortable with the scene
and my body movements, in doing so I eventually either end
up believing it of I am lucky enough to get away with hiding
it.
Which acting strengths have you been able to demonstrate today? How?
I managed to
take on last weeks advice set by our teacher, changing my tone to a more
authoritative and exited one rather than one that consisted of a whiny, lower
status like voice. This made me seem less intimidated and set back by Callums responses;
instead I was willing to argue with him in order to get the response that Sephy
wanted although of course Sephy was still hurt by Callums blade like words.
I showed
strengths in projection today whiles we did an exercise in class and in the
lesson after that workshop. I learned how to deliver my lined in a clear voice
that could convey emotion and be received by the audience clearly. During the
workshop I also became more familiar with my lines as we repeatedly projected
our lined directly into the walls.
Which acting
skills do you need to develop based on the workshop today? Why?
I want to be
able to develop my response, I want my feedback to Callum to be as naturalistic
as possible which means that the audience needs to be able to believe that we
are having our conversation for the first time (which then contribute to my
facial expressions being sharp because of the reaction that my emotions give
due to the stimulus - being Callums words. I want each hurtful thing that
Callum says to feel like a dagger piercing my skin - almost along the lines of
Sephy being used as a weapon against her - because Crosses are known as Daggers
and because her help seems to be making things worse. For instance she would
not be arguing with Callum if it were not for her trying to help calm down the
crowd at school, accidentally slipping out the racist word 'blanker' which then
changed the relationship between Callum and Sephy completely.
Our teacher
also commented on projection so I want to try and make my voice travel across
the room.
Set yourself
three targets:
1. Voice - projection, articulation and tone -
use multiple tones to create tension and moods, use articulation to make
pronunciation crystal clear. Project so that even quiet and gentle words are
heard.
2. Facial expressions -
crinkling of forehead, crumple of chin, coiled face etc. - use facial
expressions to make the scene more realistic and to show
the excitement, pain and overall emotional roller-coaster that
Sephy embarks on from the star to the end of the play (well in my case the
start to the end of the scene but overall I would look at the play).
3. Listen and respond - it is the first time that we talk,
don't make the scene look rehearsed or predictable.
Reflect on the
targets set: Have they been achieved? How?
This week I used my
voice to make the journey of the scene more clear and smother. I really put my
all into this lesson as I want the final piece to be perfect so that I can get
the best grade that I deserve (I am personally aiming for a distinction however
I will be happy with whatever grade I get as long as I know that I have tried
my best).
All week I have
been practising my facial expressions, from looking at my
reflection on the kitchen window when washing up, to using my front camera
on the train as a form of Callum, to sitting in front of the mirror going over
my lines, this enable me to add in facial expressions. And by
doing these things I managed to use the rehearsed facial
expressions and put them into use throughout scene. I believe it impacted the
audience more as the pain was not just spoken but felt as well, creating a
realistic embrace.
In order for me to
use my facial expressions I had to listen to each of Callums hurtful words so
that I could react appropriately and use the right expressions.
Because of this it meant that I naturally managed to achieve my listening and
responding goal which then made the performance look more polished and ready to
be performed.
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