Nice work, everyone! Have a wonderful summer. ~Prof. Jenn
Showing posts with label nicole g.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nicole g.. Show all posts
May 15, 2011
May 2, 2011
Apr 23, 2011
Apr 16, 2011
clownin'!
This was so much fun and I learned a lot about physical comedy as well as clowning. The first group was the clown race. This was so cute and hilarious! The music choices were great and everyone really got their body involved in the comedy. There were specific characters and I liked the costume choices. They had some really specifc cute moments like with the candy bar, and tripping each other to win the race. It was a good length as well, not to long but just long enough. I though it was a pretty neat idea, I don't think I could have thought it up. The next group was black swan. Aside from not realizing it was supposed to be ice dancing, it was quite hilarious. Some of the movements could have been cleaner and more specific, but overall it was really great to watch to fight between the two ladies. Matt being stuck in the middle was really funny. This was another good one to showcase full body comedy. You can't only ben half active and have this kind of thing work out. The way they coordinated with the music was really nice too. My group was the tightrope walkers. Ours took a little time to get it up on it's feet, but once we got going there were a lot of great ideas. I think we could have tried playing with a taped line on the floor to really be specifc with our walking. I know it's a not an olympic sport, but clowns would definiely have this in their olympics. I really liked the different characters we came up with. Christae being the scared and over cautious one, me being the dumb kind of flitty one, Zak being the kind of el-capitano one, and Jenn being the level headed one. It gave us good dynamics to play off of each other with. I think if we did it again we could try having some music. We thought about having some but then decided it would work without it. It could add a nice element. Overall this unit was really fun and I feel like I learned some great new stuff!
Apr 1, 2011
Buster Keaton
I was excited to research a physical comedian because they are really interesting actors as well as people. I love the silent film era, and I am a huge Charlie Chaplin fan. I decided to go with another actor I didn't know as well, so I chose the great Buster Keaton. I've seen a couple of his short films and he is also very fun to watch.
Buster lived from 1895-1966 and is American born. He was born into vaudeville family which explains right away why the bug of acting bit him. The myth about his name is that when he was a young child he fell down some stairs and suffered no injuries. Buster has stuck with him since then. That reminds me of the show Mythbusters, which has a stunt dummy dubbed Buster. Actors like Keaton and Chaplin had a real knack for falling and sliding and not hurting themselves. It is a mix of natural instinct, grace and smarts about the human body. He started performing in a family group called The Three Keatons. In his young years in this act he really honed his talent for falling and not getting injured. At one point he was marketed as, "The Little Boy Who Can't Be Damaged." It's said that now and then people would confront his parents about child abuse, which could always be disproved by lack of bruises or broken bones.
As he got older and left the vaudeville scene he started doing theater. He was in New York and was slowly making a name for himself in the theatrical scene. He moved on from there to film. Wikipedia says that he did not serve active combat, but he was enlisted during World War I. He suffered somedamage to his ear and hearing because of this.
His first silent film was called The Butcher Boy. This
image is of Buster Keaton and Fatty Arbuckle in that film.
One aspect of his technique that he is famous for are his great dead pan expressions. This is a really useful technique in comedy because it really shows that you are in control of your acting. Cracking up at your own jokes makes the audience laugh less. Keaton was very smart kid and noticed this while performing with his parents in The Three Keatons. He noticed that when he would get caught up and laugh along with the skit the audience would laugh less. He was finally dubbed "The Great Stone Face."
Some of Keaton's most famous and notable films include Steamboat Bill Jr., The General, The Navigator, Seven Chances and The Camera Man. One thing he also did that led to his famous aesthetic are the pork pie hats he wore. One is seen in the above photo (also showcasing his dead pan face.) He liked to fashion his own and they are directly linked to how people remember him. He was a very committed actor when it came to falling and sacrificing his body. Although he was skilled at not hurting himself, he did suffer some pain while making some of his films. It's said that during the filming of Sherlock Jr. he fell against the railroad track and broke his neck. He didn't even realize it until a year later. He was very lucky while doing some of the stunts in his films. They are even stunts that would be scary and tricky nowadays with film's modern technical advances.
Watching clips of Buster's movement really makes me think back to when you taught us how to fall correctly. He makes it look so effortless and real. He is a great example to watch for pratfalls and physical joking. He said that being limp helped him not to get hurt. I think he is a shining example of someone who was born to be a comedian. I like using all the technique you showed us in class on how to fall correctly. It is useful however, to watch him and try to emmulate how natural he makes it look. It is much rarer today to have an actor that can do his own stunts, and set up the "special effects" for it as well. Silent movie actors really sacrificed themselves for their art.
Like most actors and comedians, Buster had a bit of a tumultuous love life. He had several marriages and two sons. He also had a period of drinking and some rough times in his later life. He eventually died of lung cancer in 1966. He left an amazing legacy, and has influenced countless actors. His brand of physical comedy is so unique, and no one has been able to recreate it. He was truly an original and he is a great person to study if you are looking to get into slapstick or physical acting of any kind.
Mar 9, 2011
Rivals scene reviews
These scenes were actually really fun! As a class we all did really well and brought something unique to the language. Wearing a corset was morbidly fun for me, and trying to move in a completely new way was a cool challenge.
Christae and Sophia were a great way to start out the scenes. I liked how Christae had a very specified posture and was playing up the melodrama of Lydia's character. Sophia was fun to watch because she played Lucy kinda of sarcastic and tired. I'm sure being Lydia's servant is one hell of a task. I could have used more projection from Sophia. They both had their own specific characters and I liked the difference between the two. Energy wise it was cool to compare them. Overall it was strong. I think all the groups could have gone deeper into the subtext and innuendo of the jokes, but the jokes played well in general.
Zack and Mallory were just hilarious. I can see how this style kind of turned into melodrama, because the emotions are so ridiculous. They both had great detail in their movements and characters. The little funny comedic moments really added to the scene. The flower bit was just genius. Sometimes they were a little hard to understand because they were talking really fast and over-emphasized. I found it hard personally to slow down when using this language. It's so easy to rush and get caught up in the pace. They really did a good job. They made it ridiculous and funny, but not a joke. These were still real characters I felt.
Matt and Roberto did a good job with their lengthier scene. Even though there wasn't a lot of movement it kept my interest. You could tell they both worked hard on that awkward way of standing and revealing the calf muscle. Now and then the diction got a little sloppy, but other then that they seemed to have a really good idea of what they were saying. The sexual innuendo moments were just hilarious. Talk about mask and appetite.
Rachel and Taylor were hilarious. I liked that they added a lot of movement to their scene. It's so easy to get stuck just sitting, but they really moved around. Their energy was really high. I loved seeing the differences in this scene, because three different groups had parts of this scene. Everyone saw these characters differently. Sometimes they also were a little hard to understand because of certain vocal choices. That is probably my biggest thing for the whole class. I totally struggled with it too. Not going into my head voice and speaking ridiculously was challenging. That's the difference between playing the character or just playing the accent.
I really liked playing Julia. Being Lydia's best friend was a cool relationship to explore. One of my favorite aspects was working with the corset. It was terribly uncomfortable, but it really challenged me. My posture improved and I was forced to walk differently. I could feel my body fighting against it though, and I did still have some posture issues. It is something I will continually need to work on.
I also thought Danielle did a really good job with her movement. She was over the top, but it totally it. Jen was great with staying true to the period but being utterly annoyed by her lady. I got to watch them from the wings and it was fun to see them get more comfortable with the movement and language. I liked working with these two. We all were patient with each other wrapping our heads around the language and were were open to trying new things.
If I could do this again I would really try and get into the movement with my whole body. I would try and get rid of all my modern lazy gestures and stuff. It could take an actor a long time to perfect this!
Christae and Sophia were a great way to start out the scenes. I liked how Christae had a very specified posture and was playing up the melodrama of Lydia's character. Sophia was fun to watch because she played Lucy kinda of sarcastic and tired. I'm sure being Lydia's servant is one hell of a task. I could have used more projection from Sophia. They both had their own specific characters and I liked the difference between the two. Energy wise it was cool to compare them. Overall it was strong. I think all the groups could have gone deeper into the subtext and innuendo of the jokes, but the jokes played well in general.
Zack and Mallory were just hilarious. I can see how this style kind of turned into melodrama, because the emotions are so ridiculous. They both had great detail in their movements and characters. The little funny comedic moments really added to the scene. The flower bit was just genius. Sometimes they were a little hard to understand because they were talking really fast and over-emphasized. I found it hard personally to slow down when using this language. It's so easy to rush and get caught up in the pace. They really did a good job. They made it ridiculous and funny, but not a joke. These were still real characters I felt.
Matt and Roberto did a good job with their lengthier scene. Even though there wasn't a lot of movement it kept my interest. You could tell they both worked hard on that awkward way of standing and revealing the calf muscle. Now and then the diction got a little sloppy, but other then that they seemed to have a really good idea of what they were saying. The sexual innuendo moments were just hilarious. Talk about mask and appetite.
Rachel and Taylor were hilarious. I liked that they added a lot of movement to their scene. It's so easy to get stuck just sitting, but they really moved around. Their energy was really high. I loved seeing the differences in this scene, because three different groups had parts of this scene. Everyone saw these characters differently. Sometimes they also were a little hard to understand because of certain vocal choices. That is probably my biggest thing for the whole class. I totally struggled with it too. Not going into my head voice and speaking ridiculously was challenging. That's the difference between playing the character or just playing the accent.
I really liked playing Julia. Being Lydia's best friend was a cool relationship to explore. One of my favorite aspects was working with the corset. It was terribly uncomfortable, but it really challenged me. My posture improved and I was forced to walk differently. I could feel my body fighting against it though, and I did still have some posture issues. It is something I will continually need to work on.
I also thought Danielle did a really good job with her movement. She was over the top, but it totally it. Jen was great with staying true to the period but being utterly annoyed by her lady. I got to watch them from the wings and it was fun to see them get more comfortable with the movement and language. I liked working with these two. We all were patient with each other wrapping our heads around the language and were were open to trying new things.
If I could do this again I would really try and get into the movement with my whole body. I would try and get rid of all my modern lazy gestures and stuff. It could take an actor a long time to perfect this!
Mar 6, 2011
Be still my actor
This was an interesting little chapter on being still onstage and the effect that it can produce. I have had to do this before when playing a statue in the musical "All Shook Up." It takes patience and focus, as well as confindence. To be compeltely still and have no way to "hide" from he audience can be unnerving. You know they can stare you up and down for minutes at a time. It takes focus too because you must remain exactly as you started and you can't let your mind wander. Keeping the energy throughout your whole body while being immobile is a challenge too. I think the longest I've had to be still was probably 3 minutes at the most, but it is definitely hard.
On page 28 it says, "such a technique implies a prepared, breathing, concentrated actor, with clear intentions, permitting the action to be sustained in the inaction." That sums it up so beautifully for me.
Tableauxs are fun and can leave a cool lasting impresion on the audience. It can be a picture during someone's monologue that really sends the message home.
It's just interesting because we think of acting as action action action. But inaction can be very powerful too. (Like the dummies Matt mentioned in Major Barbara :D.)
On page 28 it says, "such a technique implies a prepared, breathing, concentrated actor, with clear intentions, permitting the action to be sustained in the inaction." That sums it up so beautifully for me.
Tableauxs are fun and can leave a cool lasting impresion on the audience. It can be a picture during someone's monologue that really sends the message home.
It's just interesting because we think of acting as action action action. But inaction can be very powerful too. (Like the dummies Matt mentioned in Major Barbara :D.)
Feb 18, 2011
The Rivals and movement for actors
So I had to give The Rivals a couple tries before it started to sink in. The language is ridiculously hard. There are some weird words and expressions that I still don't get. On closer examination, parts of it are actually a little funny. I wrote down three quotes that got a chuckle out of me.
1) pg. 3 (referring to the books Lydia wanted) "but Lady Slattern Lounger, who had just sent it home, had so soiled and dog's eared it, it wa'nt fit for a christian to read."
2) pg. 4 (referring to Beverly) "Nothing at all- But I don't know how it was, we had never had a quarrel, and, somehow I was afraid that he would never give me an oppurtunity."
3) pg. 6 Mrs. Malaprop: "I don't know any business you have to think at all- thought does not become a young woman."
These things are so fitting for how I think of comedy of manners. Ridiculous standard, and social rules, etc. The language is still tricky, and it's somewhat hard to read. I found that it helped immensly when I read it out loud. I think it will be fun to use movement with though.
The reading out of the movement book was pretty interesting. I had never really thought about how few masters of period dance there are. People do kind of assume that all choreographers can just do a dance and it will fit the era of the show. Dances way back in the 17th and 18th centuries would be harder to come across. Yet, even plays and musicals from the 40's and 50's require knowledge of the era. I was in Guys and Dolls this summer, and the kind of berlesque, jazzy dance is definitely different than today. I think our choreographer did a great job, but how was I to know if she had really done her research.
I also liked the idea of the 3 centers of the body for Shakespeare. I had never thought of it like this but it was a cool idea. If it's the mind, you could lead with your head..the heart and you can lead with you chest, or the sexual center could be leading with your pelvis. It could really change how you interpret a monologue. I haven't tried any of the exercises, but I will keep them in mind. I did actually write in some words for the sentences he wanted you to try. It's a cool idea to see what image your mind conjures up first and then run with it.
1) pg. 3 (referring to the books Lydia wanted) "but Lady Slattern Lounger, who had just sent it home, had so soiled and dog's eared it, it wa'nt fit for a christian to read."
2) pg. 4 (referring to Beverly) "Nothing at all- But I don't know how it was, we had never had a quarrel, and, somehow I was afraid that he would never give me an oppurtunity."
3) pg. 6 Mrs. Malaprop: "I don't know any business you have to think at all- thought does not become a young woman."
These things are so fitting for how I think of comedy of manners. Ridiculous standard, and social rules, etc. The language is still tricky, and it's somewhat hard to read. I found that it helped immensly when I read it out loud. I think it will be fun to use movement with though.
The reading out of the movement book was pretty interesting. I had never really thought about how few masters of period dance there are. People do kind of assume that all choreographers can just do a dance and it will fit the era of the show. Dances way back in the 17th and 18th centuries would be harder to come across. Yet, even plays and musicals from the 40's and 50's require knowledge of the era. I was in Guys and Dolls this summer, and the kind of berlesque, jazzy dance is definitely different than today. I think our choreographer did a great job, but how was I to know if she had really done her research.
I also liked the idea of the 3 centers of the body for Shakespeare. I had never thought of it like this but it was a cool idea. If it's the mind, you could lead with your head..the heart and you can lead with you chest, or the sexual center could be leading with your pelvis. It could really change how you interpret a monologue. I haven't tried any of the exercises, but I will keep them in mind. I did actually write in some words for the sentences he wanted you to try. It's a cool idea to see what image your mind conjures up first and then run with it.
Feb 12, 2011
Price is Right, and people watchin'
It's weird to watch these models caress and stroke the items. HA! They glide and are very smooth when they walk around. They definitely try to use motions that make toasters and blenders look super awesome and sheek. There is no potency in their movement. I noticed that moving in heels looks very natural on them. It reminds me how moving in all the 18th century clothing had to look natural and comfortable, when it most likely was not. It takes practice and pose to look nonchalant in heels. There is a grace and an ease that is so different from how people move in their every day lives. They definitely look happy and carefree, no other emotions. They are maintaining that image 100% of the time, which helps to showcase these items. I can almost picture putting the 18th century garb on them and having it fit quite well. I really like how they are having the models be vocal and talk now. It makes them seem like real people, which I personally find more attractive then robots. Although it seems like the easiest job ever, they do a remarkable job looking so freaking genuinly excited about these prodcuts, and not fake excited. No stove is that awesome, but they make you want it sooo bad.
Exercise one.
I think I will use a concert I attended as my observation. I got there pretty early so I had time to stand around and people watch. I naturally am just an observer of people, watching how people behave is endlessly interesting to me. I remember one man very vivdly. He was either slightly drunk or really trying to get noticed. The way he was dressed, the pitch and volume of his voice really made him stand out. Not to mention he shoved his way through the crowd with little regard for other people. He was there with his girlfriend who wasn't really noticeable standing next to him. So, he had a beard and was wearing a tan work jacket with casual pants and a scarf. Just the way he looked was enough to catch your eye. He wasn't neccassarily attractive, but striking rather. He voice was really loud and a little nasaly, and he was talking about himself pretty loudly. We had just gotten done hearing the opener and he was talking about his own music endeavors. He was noticeable because he was trying to be.
The girl who I found myself not noticing was standing a little ahead of me. She and her friend were taking photos and being excited. Her friend was quite noticeable because she had a glow about her. She look happy and fun and her facial features were interesting. She also reminded me of someone I know. She wasn't obnoxious like the other guy, but your eye was drawn to her. Her friend however isn't memorable at all. She was doing the exact same things as this girl, but I think she lacked a potency that her friend had. Her friend seemed very confident and steady. This girl just had a lighter aura about her.
I think if someone is standing in a crowd, just being comfortable and steady they are noticed. I've also noticed if somone is thinking about something very specific you notice them. Maybe because their energy is so focused, you feel a pull there. This crowd had a lot of young, kind of hip people all trying to make a splash. All the people I was standing around were interesting characters. Individuality is something that is accepted in this kinda crowd, so not many people were blending in. There were some very noticeable people. None so much as beard loud annoying guy though.
Exercise one.
I think I will use a concert I attended as my observation. I got there pretty early so I had time to stand around and people watch. I naturally am just an observer of people, watching how people behave is endlessly interesting to me. I remember one man very vivdly. He was either slightly drunk or really trying to get noticed. The way he was dressed, the pitch and volume of his voice really made him stand out. Not to mention he shoved his way through the crowd with little regard for other people. He was there with his girlfriend who wasn't really noticeable standing next to him. So, he had a beard and was wearing a tan work jacket with casual pants and a scarf. Just the way he looked was enough to catch your eye. He wasn't neccassarily attractive, but striking rather. He voice was really loud and a little nasaly, and he was talking about himself pretty loudly. We had just gotten done hearing the opener and he was talking about his own music endeavors. He was noticeable because he was trying to be.
The girl who I found myself not noticing was standing a little ahead of me. She and her friend were taking photos and being excited. Her friend was quite noticeable because she had a glow about her. She look happy and fun and her facial features were interesting. She also reminded me of someone I know. She wasn't obnoxious like the other guy, but your eye was drawn to her. Her friend however isn't memorable at all. She was doing the exact same things as this girl, but I think she lacked a potency that her friend had. Her friend seemed very confident and steady. This girl just had a lighter aura about her.
I think if someone is standing in a crowd, just being comfortable and steady they are noticed. I've also noticed if somone is thinking about something very specific you notice them. Maybe because their energy is so focused, you feel a pull there. This crowd had a lot of young, kind of hip people all trying to make a splash. All the people I was standing around were interesting characters. Individuality is something that is accepted in this kinda crowd, so not many people were blending in. There were some very noticeable people. None so much as beard loud annoying guy though.
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