Today was the day my greatest set design was ever born!
After spending half an hour yesterday planning my set design, i had this afternoon to realize it!
Here is a picture of my fantastic set! hahaha. i'm proud of it, really proud.
After spending half an hour yesterday planning my set design, i had this afternoon to realize it!
Here is a picture of my fantastic set! hahaha. i'm proud of it, really proud.
I also improvised and added a few things here and there which were not planned. But all in all it contributed to the effect of a messy, oppressive and almost crazy room and it got great feedback from Mrs Kamal! I wanted to add more things to the design but Mrs. Kamal said it would be too overboard to do so as the set looks fine now.
Having done well for my design, we went straight into the performance. At the starting of the rehearsal she asked me questions to find out the motivation behind the lines and clarified most of my thoughts for me by asking me questions and making me think in character. It was like hot seating mixed with forum theatre, an experience i really enjoyed as it was purposeful and meaningful. I now now exactly how to transit from emotion to emotion and from phase to phase in my character smoothly. It is just refining and perfecting the acting bit.
Next problem we faced was the quotes. What was established was that the quotes were important for the performance as they clearly state why the character hates dreams so much. However, the problem was the quotes were not embodied enough. For one, the character's tone of voice - which shows his reaction to the quotes, is not intense enough and the research behind the figures of fame saying the quotes is not done so that the tone and the reason and context is not set properly for my character to react. in short, the quotes lacked a personality and feeling.
But fear not! Research is being done and will be updated asap!
Lastly was my use of my set. I had weights around which Mrs Kamal felt were underutilised and the ladder as well. We quickly solved the problem by incooperating such items into the performance by means of changing the stage action to still suit a purpose and yet add another layer of depth beneath the performance by giving the stage actions meanings and attitudes. Such things do not come easy and i'm very happy to have been able to realize them.
Today i learnt (or rather, found out) a few things:
1) Downstage is the STRONGEST position
2) Status is depicted by the blocking and the levels at which the character is at.
3) Emotions can have parallals to help the actor remember them.
4) The set can really be used to set the atmosphere and mood of the performance
5) The best way to solve a problem regarding dramatic realization is to talk it out
6) Visual images and symbols can cause a big impact
7) Research is very important in putting up a performance =X
I felt like I had a very purposeful session today and achieved much more. I also have some other issues to think about (ie. the ending and the lines) as well as much trying out to do. I'm looking forward to such a lesson again!
The actor froze at 1:50 AM
Hello hello!
I'm here to update my drama journal about the session we had during the holidays. (i'm about a week late, ONLY). Was busy studying for exams but the drama bit is still clear in my head as crystal.
Okay, during the last week of the holidays, we had a session with Mrs Kamal to showcase our performance for the individual monologue which i devised.
Basically I thought of possible blocking methods to use the space and different levels as i went about my day, thinking of my lines and all. I had some ways of rehearsing it, alone in the bathroom at least. I found methods to intonate properly. And it was finally time to put it all together... i was a nervous wreck.
Thankfully, I was not alone. Most of the performers had came even unprepared.
However, with some character preparation and simultaneous rehearsals, we more more prepared than before and decided to go ahead with the showcase.
During my performance, things went rather smoothly without me forgetting much lines. I did forgo the part on Practicality killing dreams, however, it did not affect my message or my performance and it felt weird later on when i tried to put it back inside. Other than that, the use of space and my emoting of the lines went well.
Some feedback given by my peers was that:
Good points
-There was focus in the character
-There were funny bits
-Feelings for character are drawn
-Good movement
-Dream quotes worked
Bad points
-My intention is not clear
-The starting needs to be more powerful
-The writing in the air does not make sense
-I stomp around too much
-Ending is abrupt and weird
-Need to recognize the audience more
-Frustration of character not shown clearly
-Cannot sense the passion for the essay writing
With these feedback from my friends, i can relook at my devising process and see which parts i might have left out and fill up for my intention. Obviously the good points will be kept and those bad points will be reminded.
I have more ideas for the performance which i will show mrs kamal tomorrow. One of which will include music and more movement to make the piece clearer. The fustration will be showen and the ending will be even more crazier than it was.
I intend to use the piece of music that I began drama with, symbolic, powerful, a boost to my performance.
Mrs Kamal also talked to me about enhancing the set design which i worked at and found many ideas and ways. Tomorrow will be a good rehearsal!
The actor froze at 5:40 AM