Write at least 1 paragraph (4 sentences or more) responding to 1 of the questions below. Then write at least 1 paragraph responding to another student's response to 1 of the questions.
Questions from Chapter 1:
1. "Carrying a spear makes you a different person." Give a specific example of what your "spear" was onstage, what was its purpose, and how did you use it as a performer.
2. Stella Adler speaks about the importance of aims in regards to acting. Discuss 1 of your aims.
3. "He must learn to see the difference between different reds-the red of a racing car, the red of a hibiscus, and the red of blood. They're three different reds. They mean three different things." Give a specific example of a certain color, what its purpose was, and how you used it as a performer.
2) One of my aims for this upcoming year is to be completely consumed in my character. In the past few years, when I am off stage, I immediately break character. My goal is to remain in character, so I can form a strong connection to her. That way the audience will believe my performance.
ReplyDeleteMakenna:
DeleteThat is a really good aim. If an actor/actress becomes fully engulfed in their character, the audience and even the cast on stage won't see you as "Makenna, the high schooler on stage." but a character in a live story. In the book, Stella brings up a story of how a man was in his dressing room and right before he leaves, he looks at himself in the mirror. But when he looks in the mirror, he doesn't see himself but instead sees his character staring back at him. I find this really interesting, and consider this as one of my aims as well. :)
I think that's a great goal and a great aim. It's so easy to break the second your scene's off, but to the audience, the show's still going. So even if you're not there, in the mind of the audience, your character is off doing something "still in character." So when you stay in character completely the whole time, it makes it so there's no breaks in the scene either in the beginning or end, but even more importantly I think it makes there be no breaks in the story.
DeleteOne of my aims next year is to continue to top every single one of my performances. I want to be constantly improving, evolving and adapting. I want to be the best actor I can possibly be. I want my performance to spark energy into the crowd.
ReplyDeleteYou make a good point, and I like how your aim isn't entirely selfish due to your mention of the crowd. I think that is a definite aim for most actors. It's refreshing to hear it in terms like that though. I can't wait to see what you do to improve :)
DeleteI couldn't agree more with your focus on "evolving". A lot of the time, as actors and - brace yourselves folks - even actual people, we forget to adapt to our environments as they change around us... We are stubborn creatures, but to work at shifting our viewpoint to a different landscape can truly open up an entire realm of possibilies. While it's important to maintain our sense of self as an actor, it's just as important to be able to understand where anyone else is coming from.
DeleteThis is my goal for next year (better worded). I like to think that by the time Into the Woods came around, I was actually doing a decent job at being funny and snotty like my character was supposed to be. I am so excited for all of the shows we are doing this year, so I can learn from each one and get better and better and hopefully lose some of my stage fright along the way. I really like Emily's point about evolving in the real world as well, because I think that's a part of being an actor, is being aware of what you are like outside of a character and making sure you're a decent human.
DeleteI definitely understand Makenna. The audience is there to be entertained. Breaking character ruins the illusion that theatre provides. I will be more professional moving forward.
ReplyDelete2. One of my aims is to use all of the fundamentals of acting that I've learned in these past 3 years, and the new things I learn as time goes on to make every performance unforgettable. Even the little things that have been taught to me make a huge difference between a good actor, a great actor, and a performer. I want to showcase all of the hard work and effort I have put in to my acting, and show the audience what I'm made of. I feel that the audience will notice and appreciate how much effort an actor has put into their character and in the performance as a whole. When an actor/actress tries their best, it brings out their best. Utilizing all of the experiences and fundamentals will keep everyone enticed, wanting more. I hope to have this attitude so that not just the audience are feeling electrified, but the cast/crew on and off stage to feed off on the high energy. If this happens, then eventually everyone will be feeding off eachother which will lead to a never ending loop of energy in the whole auditorium.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Aaren because all actors should be on stage, not for themselves, but for the audience. Leaving the audience wanting more should be a goal for every actor in theatre. What a lot of actors fail to do these days is being able to address the whole world on stage. By Aaren addressing what he has learned throughout his years in Drama, I believe a lot of these methods are self-taught more than being taught by someone else. A teacher can always give critique on an actors acting skills but it does not have the power to change how the actor acts. It is more advice than anything else. An actor must be able to transform themselves into the actor they want to be.
Delete2. I think my main aim this year when I am acting is going to be to try to either A)constantly improve upon what I have been doing or B) thoroughly entertain the audience. I've been greatly trying to improve upon my acting since about Sophomore year. This year I'm hoping that with every singly role I can improve, and not put a glass ceiling over my abilities. At the same time, acting isn't directly for the actor, it's for the audience more than anything, and while I aim to get better, if I'm doing it entirely for myself, then the audience can't be entertained as well. The audience is the performance's main focus.
ReplyDeleteIt's great that you have general goals, but pick at least one specific goal that you can attain and say "yes, I have improved in this area." If you keep your goal general it is difficult to tell whether you achieve that goal or not; it is difficult to measure general.
Delete2) It is hard to choose just one aim for myself because there are so many things that I am aiming for next year. I guess the real question is: What is the most important aim to succeed in my acting career? I could say that I need confidence in what I do, that I need to not be so hard on myself, that I need to develop my body language and work on mind, and etc. Reading this chapter has brought up very good points; some of which I will take into consideration for next year. The one quote that really stood out to me was "My aim is to be independent from Miss Adler or anybody else. I know this as well as you do, and in the sense that I know it as well as you do, I don't need you." INDEPENDENCE. In the musical, Into the Woods, I was too worried about whether or not my character was what the director wanted and I always thought it was not good enough for the directors tastes. I was too hard on myself for thinking that I did terrible. I was asking for help when really I should be able to fix things myself because my character is who I want it to be. I looked towards the Into the woods broadway show and videos I watched on youtube but after reading this chapter, I realized that the theatre really does not need imitation of what was already done. The reason for putting on a production is to create a whole new character and put it on stage; but I was trying so hard to be the original character, that I ended up being nervous because I had initially thought that I let every one down. Now that I think about that production, I am proud of what my character was able to accomplish on stage. I was able to look in the mirror and see my character looking back at me. From there I was able to create a character that was psycho in a tolerable way. Rapunzel was full of emotions and during the productions, I was Rapunzel and I showed the audience how she felt. I am proud of what I have accomplished over the past year and I know that next year I will work on my own originality and that I will create characters that will stand out from all the past productions. That's what art is; you are supposed to be unique and create something that no one has ever created before.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that there is a lot of pressure to have a role that is so well known. On one hand you should keep the essence of the character and on the other you should make the character your own or it will look like a sad immitation. I think that its important for every actor to find confidence in themself and to be brave enough to put their whole out there in order to become a unique character. I feel like the audience is often happily surprised to recieve these fresh new characters. In all truth, every person is different and I think if you make the character believable, the audience is able to accept that character as another different individual unlike themself.
DeleteThe thing about Rapunzel is that for the most part all she did was sing "Ahh." I told you to focus on what her subtext was when that is all you could say. Hopefully this allowed you to create your character -- you just needed to be confident in your decisions. If you are unsure look at the script and see how your character is written/the interaction -- this will clue you in on if you are staying true to the character.
DeleteI agree and that's where the key of imagination comes in. Really being able to believe in what you're saying. Nerves can take a lot from a character.
Delete2) One of the main aims that I will focus on this upcoming year is to step out of my comfort zone... In other words, be able to remove myself from my own thinking and recognize, acknowledge and understand the viewpoints of the audience, any character I may be playing, and especially the writer who penned it all. I will take in stride the criticism I receive from my peers and instructors and really make it a point to be more involved both with the program and my characters. From a less personal viewpoint, I'd really like to see our drama family stay close as always, but truly work together as a TEAM.
ReplyDelete2) My main aim this year in drama is self-improvement. I was new to drama last year, and honestly had no idea what I was doing when the year started. Emily and I were about ten seconds from quitting the first time we had to do improv, and now look at us! I think I improved a lot last year, but I could have applied myself much more and learned more from it. Thus, my goal this year is to apply myself 100% in every project that we do, so I can do my best and learn more about acting!
ReplyDeleteIt's difficult to narrow it down to what one or few things I aim to do this year in drama, but I beleive aims and goals to be the same. As an actor I aim not to be Ryan Fielder, but to be who ever my role is. I do not wish to be acting, but I wish to be going about my day on stage as the role I am bringing to life. Since I am new to acting I wish to be better than my best, to not try, but to succeed. Proving myself is a goal for this year, but my main aim is to not act, but become the role.
ReplyDeleteWhat can you specifically do to become that character?
DeleteI could invision myself as that character, and use the role playing stuff we do to really turn myself into a new person so that i'm not acting, but being that person.
Delete1. "Carrying a spear on stage makes you a different person." I think this is absolutely true. 90% of communication is non-verbal, even in acting. So what you carry - and how you carry it - says a lot more about you than your words. I think an example of this would be during Actor's Nightmare, I was one of the extras but I carried a margarita glass with me on stage everywhere. It's not a spear or a weapon, but its purpose wasn't to be a weapon, it was to give more insight into my otherwise vague character and let the audience fill in the blanks. I didn't mean it apparent that I was an alcoholic or anything, but I had it with me at all times and I would toast other characters on stage and use it to interact with people.
ReplyDelete1. This last year I was the bookseller in Beauty and the Beast, so my book was somewhat obviously my spear. For the majority of the first scene the audience doesn't really see my character except for through the window of my shop. Because of this when Belle came inside, it was important that I established my character. By holding books I was able to not only show that I was a bookseller, but also show the love I have towards my books. I held the books gently and with care as if they were made of glass. I wanted to show that I treasured my books. In that way, it made my giving Belle a book more meaningful.
ReplyDeleteWhile most would assume that the action of handing Belle the book was nothing more than a menial task designed to supply the focus of the audience's attention with a prop that would give her business to perform on stage , I think you are completely correct in your belief that it is significantly more important than that. Belle's interest in reading, learning, and implementing her imagination into her every day life differentiates her from the other women of the time period, and further along in the play establishes some similarities between her and the beast as people who are different. The book represents an idea and theme that are repeated throughout the entire play. Therefore, the physical presentation of the idea into the play must be enacted perfectly or it would present a momentary hiccup in the reality of the play which, no matter how small, would damage the integrity of the idea. And that would suck.
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ReplyDelete1) In our production of The Hobbit, my character, a dwarf, had two swords. When I was carrying those swords, I felt like a B.A, powerful, like I was certified and trained to use them, and to kill goblins and monsters with them. I used this energy to really get into my character, and feel looming and try to portray that to the audience. Their purpose was to look cool/realistic (that's what Dietz had in mind anyway), but in the end I also used them in the fight scene, against the Goblin King. They served both of their purposes- the swords helped me go deeper in Bofur, and gave me defense in the fight scene.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great example of how props can totally make your character. If you were holding flowers or feathers, you probably wouldn't have felt as powerful. Holding the swords helped you feel like your character, but actually using them in the fight scene helped you become your character. I felt the same way with my spout in Beauty and the Beast. It was always there, but sometimes holding my arm up in a scene became more of a habit or a chore than a vital part of my character. However, when I actually used the spout to pour tea, hit Lefou, etc,I remembered I wouldn't be Mrs. Potts without it.
Delete^that was me by the way, not 'anonymouse'
DeleteThat's a pretty good example. Those swords you wielded helped convey to the audience that your character was a tough dwarf. If your character had been wielding, say, a rubber chicken, or a pillow, it would've made your character seem very different. The audience would've assumed your character was weird or something, which would have gone against the original idea of the character of Bofur. Proper props really can make a difference.
Delete3.) In terms of how I used a color to my advantage onstage, in eighth grade I performed an excerpt from Richard III. I was the Hunchback (of course) dressed in full antagonist garb, complete with dark tattooed arms and a black coat stretching the length of my entire body. I was essentially a black-hole strutting around the theater sucking all of the joy and happiness out of the room with nothing more than the costume. While how you act with the color is important, even just the physical appearance of it brings something to the table in terms of how the audience feels about the scene you‘re portraying. That being said, the idea I got from the book when I read about the color exercise was that even though all of the objects were the same color, it didn’t make them the same objects. Also, even if some of the objects were identical, they could have different variation of the same color. Therefore, even though something about a scene might be the same as some aspect of another scene (for example, a character holding a spear), that doesn't mean the situations, emotions, and ideas portrayed are the same(a man holding a spear to run into battle versus a man who is handling an antique weapon), or at least they should never be treated as such.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me think of the background color dilemma we had in class the day after Christmas Carol opened. If I remember correctly, Canalia wanted the background in the spirit of Christmas yet-to-come blue instead of red, and Dietz had a cow and wouldn't change it because we had already used blue in the Ghost of Christmas Past scene. And although the blue was the same shade, I think Dietz might of failed to see that the blues meant two different things. The blue with the past scene was more serene, similar to the pensive blue in Harry Potter. However, the blue with The Spirit of Christmas yet-to-come was a cold, deathly pallor.
DeleteYes! I think Katie is completely right about that situation. As Stella Adler explains and as Keenan brought up, a color can make an object or a scene mean something different than if it were another color. Even blue as Katie said can range from sad and gloomy greyish to a cheerful baby blue. Just because its blue doesnt mean it represents one emotion. Another example of a color is the green light in Gatsby. I'm not sure about how much thought went into making that color, but green especially can mean money, greed, envy, or hope, so I would think it was important to get that color down.
Delete2) Aiming for something in acting is like setting a goal for yourself. One of my aims in theatre is to convey a message to the audience. Plays and musicals are written for a reason, whether for comedic or dramatic reasons, and the audience should walk out of the theatre feeling connected to the characters they just witnessed. Sometimes I find myself just reciting lines in a monologue, and I aim to dig deeper into the subtext of my future roles in order to connect to the audience.
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ReplyDelete1)In the Hobbit, I played a terrible carnivorous troll. Littered around the trolls campsite on stage was several body parts, and near the start of the scene I would hold a body part and pretend to eat it. That body part I was holding and pretending to eat was my "spear", as it showed that I was a man/hobbit/dwarf eating monster. This helped to show that I was a threat to our protagonists, as my character could and would eat them.
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