Make sure your directions are clear and consistent for the students. Make it easy for them to understand your vision
Also make sure that suggestions and directions are the same for each director. You should not be contridicting eachother.
Off book=holding things up. Take that actor aside and tell them your expectations.
Amber great work with Chandler and Erin!
Spike tape!? Is it all real? Take up the "fake" tape and get rid of it. It confuses me.
T-shirts?
Last night's challenge was mediocre -ly done. Tonight I need all new ones, but they must have alliteration!
At this point in the process I don't think its as much of actors not learning their lines, its actors not knowing their importance, role, scene, motivation, etc. The dialogue is usually like everyday life, so if the conversation is about "Bill Jones", the actor shouldn't stumble for a line he should know if worse comes to worse the line he can't remember most likely has to do with "Bill Jones". Another example, for the actors sparingly used for one scene that are struggling with their lines. The best thing they can do is go back over their characterization sheet, if they made one. That way they can formulate some type of motivation or purpose for being on stage. Thus their few lines will have meaning to them and the scene, so every time that scene comes up they will know what they have to bring to the table.
ReplyDeleteKenny-
ReplyDeleteYou are a true Pennington Drama scholar.
@Mr. Moore:
ReplyDeleteSeniors sifting sands through their dramatic hour glass.
That's some alliteration in there...I tried.
The scary, sweet, and super Spring Play with friendly fish, cooky killers, and radical reality TV.
ReplyDeleteKenny is absolutely right. We should try to incorporate more character building exercises into warm ups and hallway games. It's really important that the actors start developing stronger understandings of their characters. Jarred Goeckler has been working really hard to understand his character's motivation in different scenes and is doing a great job.
Freaky Fruity Fishy Fresh Fun Times.
ReplyDeleteTennis Team is Undefeated. Technically so is the Spring Play...
Thanks Mr. Moore.
ReplyDeleteThe train scene is all done and Allison and I will take notes tomorrow :)
As for memorizing... at this point it should be considered disrespectful and down right unacceptable to not have the majority of their lines memorized. I understand they are difficult but not having any clue is not ok. I have an idea!! Though, it may sound crazy, risky and a bit slow but it worked for Chan and Erin. Chan did not know a good portion of his lines after he kills Erin so what I told him was that he needs to take the single sheet of paper, read the line, think about how to ACT the line and then perform... THEY SHOULD NOT READ IT RIGHT OFF THE PAPER UNLESS IT IS A MONOLOGUE.
Mac your tennis team is the bee's knees.
I'm also noticing that in Killing Time there is a bit too much input. A good formula might be, Play scene, give notes at the end, re-do, if there are still problems re-run but say pause every time you want to fix something and then the cast can give opinions. Just so there isn't SO MUCH DIRECTION. Though, I love the idea of getting them involved so they love the play a much as we do. It makes them feel like they created it as well and keeps them motivated to make in amazing.
slogan/ sentence long story: So some saucy seniors spawned sublimity and shift to sophistication. THE END.
OK SO
ReplyDeleteSINCE GOOGLE JUST DELETED EVERYTHING I SAID IM GOING TO TRY AND SAY IT ALL AGAIN
Kenny is so right. i think allot of the time when actors are saying their lines their just concerned about getting the words out and their not think about how their character would legitimately act
Mr. Moore- the tape is coming off tomorrow. it means nothing. ignore it.
Claire and i i did something today where we got feedback from other actors about the scene. which was ok but i think there are some flaws with it. 1) there are too many opinions. 2) the opinions do not always flow with the directors vision. while it was helpful getting feedback, directors need to have the final say in the notes that the actors are given, not to say that actors opinions are not important because i think they are.
speaking of which, an actor approached me with an idea about the show that was a very valid point. not only that but it showed me that the actors are just as passionate about this show as we are, they want it to succeed just as much as we do. keep that in mind
also amber and alision should absolutely do more character work. amber worked MAGIC with chan and erin. also i think it's important that the two of them get a chance to get out of the costume room and have a chance to really participate int he way things play out for the show. every scene you've touched has been awesome!
also i showed the Zoe scene to the other actors and i was thrilled with their reactions. the scene is everything i wanted and the actors in it are incredible. i'm extremely please
i have so much faith in our show now, it is dripping out of my pores.
this show is everything i envisioned, i don't know about anyone else, thats just me
spring play slogan-
if you want to see acting at its finest, if you want to see god for the first time, if you want to see a hilarious picture of Mr. Harding...... you've come to the right place...
ps : mr. Moore my scheme - inside the actors studio. it wasn't a letter scheme but i just thought it was clever
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kenny, actors should be filling out and becoming their characters. Tomorrow I'm watching in on the show and will be taking notes. I know I'm not an experienced actor, but I may bring some fresh eyes into the theatre. But I'm sure it will be great!
ReplyDeleteDirectors, don't forget to tell your actors to bring in their clothes!
I always wish that I could give more input, but I really don't have experience acting, so I feel like I shouldn't criticize...
I refuse to alliterate...
You're Invited.
That's all that's necessary really.
So, Kate and I tried something really cool today to try to get everyone involved. I actually started off my banning all electronics (computers, ipods, cells etc...) and not allowing HW or other work to come in, and really making them watch certain scenes. I originally was hoping to find a way to get them to watch the show, and understand it better as well as feel involved. The main point of it was also to benefit the actors and ask the viewers if they believed it...like, "do you believe that Zoe is in danger?" (answer to that one is yes...Kate that was awesome, I seriously had my heart jump out of my throat when he kicked her!). But, I do have to agree with Amber and Kate after a few of them, it become more of pointers from the peanut gallery and no so much, "I believe it" or "don't believe it." Nonetheless, I have to say I feel like we got a lot done, and really helped the actors get more emotion, as well as excite everyone else!
ReplyDeleteAfter seeing Wife and Husband scene today, I seriously want to send everyone to Amber!! Amber that was amazing, HUGE transformation...I really believed it!
@ Testa: I agree with the opinion on the Hiker scene, but because we are doing a full run through tomorrow lets not add it in until Monday, so as not to confuse them!
Slogan:
Springfever, serendipityly sees Seniors enforce self-sufficent semioviparouses to servitude.
Wow I just read a lot of long amazing posts. Kenny, I love what you wrote and agree totally and also Kate and Claire. Today was great with the actors giving their feedback on each others scenes. It helped everyone understand it better and overall I thought it got more of our characters into the realization of our play.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Allison I do not want to alliterate..
I had to take a nap half way through reading this blog tonight. So wordy Mr. Cease. As is everyone else.
ReplyDeleteWell. I share opinions with all of the above statements. I truly believe character and conviction is the key to the shows success, as with it, the show can flow on it's own, no matter what problems or trip ups there are.
And to Kate and Claire about the actor feedback thing. I was talking with Claire about this earlier. I think this is great, and could even be done after the run-through. The issue is, it has to be in some proctored manner, so that we do not get clashing ideas, and also, so that actors don't berate or end up insulting and offending (whether purposely or otherwise) any other actors. Just some things to think about. We can talk about it tomorrow in class.
Spring Play 2011: House party (in your head).
~Eriks Svarcbergs
Gotta go with the baby blue t-shirt... don't like Alex's quotes for the shirt though
ReplyDeleteAtta boy Kenny... getting all philosophical on us
ReplyDeleteI think Kate brings up some excellent points.
ReplyDeleteWe are getting very close to the day when Mr. D, Mr. Moore and I declare one director per show. All other input will have to cease. In fact, this may happen next week...so stay tuned...
Ok Mr. Mcpickypants (depending upon whether you are aware of what i am commenting on, that nickname could hold several meanings) I'll get rid of the spike tape. We are going to start loading in on monday anyways.
ReplyDeleteWow! Great posts guys. I feel like I was there. I agree, actors need to know there lines now, otherwise it just looks disrespectful. It's great now that we have all the blocking now, but character development is what really needs to be worked on! I agree with Kenny's post. I want to talk to each principle actor individually asap, just to make sure everyone is on the right track and putting work into the understanding their character side rather than just the memorizing lines side.
ReplyDelete