Monday 19/3/2012

So Mr. Rey said not to put journals in terms of just what happens during lessons. Means to say I've been doing my journal wrong all these while. Waste of time.

So I'll cut this chase short.

During today's lesson, after we divided into our groups for finals, we did charades. Charades were to create lines for a script we have to work in this Friday. So anyway, I did several characters with Eric, my finals partner. We concluded with a final characterization of me being a fanboy, and Eric being the rockstar that the fanboy wants to flirt with.

Here's the beatsheet for this Friday's neutral scene performance.

A: Please (>Get Eric to go home)

B: I can't (

A: Just try (= Persuades again)

B: I don't know (>got to go, but doesn't want to leave. = Indecisive)

A: Please

B: Can you (>I've got to get rid of him

A: Don't even

B: But

A: No

B: You're mad

A: Please (>I've got to calm down)

B: Alright (

A: Ready

B: You know (>I've got to get rid of memories. = So I give Josh the item)

A: What's that

B: Here

A: Okay (>Keep it with care.

B: Great

Friday 15/3/2012

I missed class on Monday so I didn't know what was to be done. But i asked around and I figured out.

We are given a partner for our finals. We started working on scripted plays, starting off with simple words and lines to express a situation. I got Eric and we had to work initially with a gym locker scene, but Rey changed it to a funeral scene. But I digress.

Today's lesson we learnt about how to put the scripted words of character A and character B into different background scenes, how to put emotions and actions into it. Fridays classes are not much because we are seperated into groups to do our individual acts. The whole class today, we just did most of the script reciting and discussions for our next meeting. I didn't learn much today.

P.S. My beat sheet is on Vhina's blog, she has requested me to inform you that our beat sheet is listed on her blog. But if you insist on me having my own beat sheet, I'll write one from scratch. Thank you sir.

Monday 5/3/2012

For the first time I was 'early' to class. Well I cheated because I didn't sleep that night. I was so afraid of being late to class after attending classes late for 3 times in a row already. Sleep deprived, I zonked out after class in SLC.

Today we paired up on alot of activities. We finally had the chance to talk crap today. I have THTR101 background so I'm familiar with this. One must speak non-stop about a topic, and blabber non-stop about it. Then when we were asked to find a partner, we blabbered to each other about it.

Then a slight twist began. In the midst of our blabbering, we have to catch what your partner is talking and slip his words into your own story-telling, while imitating gestures that your partner does.

Next, while applying that concept, comes the 'interruption'. This is called Give and Take, as learnt in THTR101. When one talks, the other must catch a keyword and starts to talk, and the other person gives him the opportunity to talk, and vice versa. This trains us to learn a silent form of chemistry of acting in stage; the spotlight is not on you, it's on the stage.

PS. Mid terms on friday.

Monday 27/2/2012

I was feeling sick, Monday blues. Anyway I just got home from an almost 18 hour day of assignments, presentation on politics which I'm not keen on, as well as preparing for music stuff, but I digress.

I can't remember any significant progress for me that day, but I'll talk on a few that interested me. We had to walk around, being split into A and B. Acting the roles of opposites, such as Rich and Poor, walking chest up, big strides, as well as walking with feet inwards, low paces. Rey has termed it as the 'Status Game'.

Everyday, we look at different people with a sense of status. We judge them on a daily basis, friends, new people, even family members sometimes.

Next activity was about having to choose one block to sit on. With 2 people on each block on the floor, we were given a part of a script to follow. It was about a jewellery store. One person acts as the jeweller, the other acts as a customer. The roles we have to play are about being passive then aggressive, and vice versa to the partner. Transitions between passive and aggressive can happen suddenly as well as gradually.

Reflecting on today's lesson, the one that can be applied to my life is the status game. I observe this specifically on everybody I know, just about everyday. The level which I judge them on, and to each different individual how they place me on their own ladder of status, I am very aware of it.

Note: No matter who judges you, no amount of judgement should deter who you are and what you should do. Do not waver, for in it lies the benign signs of reform, and ultimately destroying you. Be who you are to be.

Yours truly,

- Josh

Monday 20/2/2012

I skipped last friday's post because everybody performed their skits. #likeaboss.

Today as Monday, the 2 separate classes merges. Monday is the only day to merge. I kinda enjoyed today's lesson because it just got a little more in-depth, including breathing exercises, tapping each other's butt, and the 'choose-a-partner-and-provide-response-to-them exercise.

For me, the most significant activity today was the butt-touching one. One must touch the partner's butt without getting your own butt touched by your partner, but the catch was you have to taunt with your butt to your partner, providing an opening. Then in the midst of it, Rey changes the mood of the scenes, examples like doing it slow motion, fast-motion, ballade-style, sexily, and angrily. This is significant to me because I learnt that the butt-touching was like activities on a stage. To create a scene, one must give and take, provide openings and opportunities for the other actor, as well as grasping the opportunities given the openings of the other actor. I conclude that this activity was a form of chemistry that one must harness between oneself and with other actors.

Note to self: Next class will be a 1 minute ++ monologue phone conversation. This is our first ever monologue scene. I hate writing the beat sheet, because I'll never understand it.

Another enrichment detail to keep: Laughter spoils acting.

Yours truly,

Josh

Monday 13/2/2012

We kicked started today's lesson with the usual walk-around warm up.

For this journal, I'll just be answering the object exercises that Rey has given us. This is to help emphasize the focus on the 1 minute/2 minute play in terms of purpose, objective, and what-you-want out of it.

Who am I?

- I am a student.

Where am I?

- I'm in my bedroom.

What time is it?

- It's lunch time.

What surrounds me?

- Toiletries and a pail.

What are my relationships?

- Annoyed situation.

What are the given circumstances?

- I'm having a major diarrhea

WHAT DO I WANT?

- To get this shit out of my ass.

WHAT IS IN MY WAY?

- The toilet door is stuck, zipper is stuck, the flush will not work.

WHAT DO I DO TO GET WHAT I WANT?

- Force the door open, use a pail to flush.

We are required to write down something called 'beats'. Something in a music context, is called the tempo.

Friday 10/2/2012

Class began today with a twist. Rey decided to split the class into 2 groups. One group needs to attend classes on the friday timetable as normal, another group needs to attend a wednesday class instead of friday.

Mr Rey told us today that acting itself was craft, a part of an art. I forgot to bring my props today so I didn't get to perform my 1 minute act. Nevertheless, next class, everybody is required to perform a 2 minute act with 3 props at least. This journal post serves as a reminder to me.

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I'm beginning to sense a difference in THTR102 compared with THTR101. The funny thing is, more of yourself is needed to strike a performance. It's more of individual effort contribution in the future, I can sense it coming.

Yours truly,

Josh.