The Followspot

Friday, July 18, 2008

Today after school, we got ready and did some hair and costuming to get ready for our performance. I had my hair combed backwards to give the nerd looking, surreal effect. My costume was a school uniform.

I was the first to perform and Mrs Kamal gave me my notes after that. I feel Afiqa's performance is the most entertaining and dramatically interesting piece, it captured my attention the most. I must aspire to be like her and fill the space with my energy.

My notes:

1) "What are you looking at?!" The feeling of irritation needs to be magnified and I need to feel the lines more, respond to them and feel the motivation to say them
I wish this wouldnt come, but it did. I will have to work harder and amplify the feeling of irritation i have now.

2) Talk to the audience, dont always stare at the paper.
I was nervous and was referring to my script. I wont have my script there on the actual day to reduce temptation to follow it.

3) You need more attitude towards the quotes
There was some attitude, as Mrs Kamal said, I will amplify it.

4) The post-its are too small and become weak images for the quotes.
I will write the quotes on big pieces of paper and stick them to my set. i can pull them off the set when i need them. That will be a more powerful image.

5)"That's it!" --> use this as a contrast, let a new thought move you and not you move a thought.
I looked overrehearsed that my "that's it" line with a new beat did not seem natural, i will have to make it look more natural and feel my lines instead of remember them.

6) there must be a growing intensity of madness
Noted. Development is important in a performance. i must inculcate this in. possibly with my tone of voice, my volume of voice and my movements.

7) We must see you when you say "STOP!"
I will have to do a good turn on the ladder way before the music ends in order to achieve the effect. My facial expression must also show that i want the madness to stop. this would mean more rehearsing to do.

8) The plate must break
The plate didnt break this time round. I glued too much and thought it too fragile. For my actual performance, whist grabbing the plate in my hand, i will bend it first to losen the glued edges, this will secure it's breaking.

Today i learnt a very important lesson; feelings are extremely important in acting. I need to feel the line and not rehearse it. And let the new feeling drive movement, not just blocking. The feelings will add depth and make the performance look more natural. This would make it more convincing and less rehearsed. a good point learnt!

The actor froze at 10:39 AM