Description:
This week, my contribution for the school play has been directing and collaborating with a couple of scenes. Unlike last week I didn't only helped with el "Sueño Morado", but with scene 8 or "Estacion 5". It was way easier since I had Nicole directing with me, since we had different ideas that worked together. As for the other scene, I was supposed to watch and give ideas since I was going to be in the following one.
Analysis:
Firstly, I would like to highlight how much progress there has been on el "Sueño Morado". It is amazing how the girls adapted to the Charleston theme so fast and that the scene is already done completely. The change was radical and unexpected, but we were able to manage it and finish it this week. To make this we were only missing the two last beats and fixing the other parts.
As always, we improved the flaws, and worked on the characterisation. We worked with the pitches and volumes and this idea of masses appeared again. For example, along the whole scene, the idea is the overwhelming effect the 'brumas' create on the man and transmit to the audience, but we worked on the contrast of voices and character personalities so the scene wouldn't get boring. We see this in the contrast of characterisation in the Form I girls: Daniela, Paula and Antonella. They make the scene have interesting variations due to the effect that it is achieved on the audience. Anyway on the 5th beat, we worked on a different proposal to transmit the overwhelming effect: when the line "Tu nos creaste. Tu nos haces crecer" was said, we were planning on making a lift. It was a new thing that could create some dynamism in the scene and we were excited about it. So we grouped them in threes according to their sizes and made the lighter ones be the ones lifted. The challenges we faced by doing this, were the instability of the girls at the top while being up and the way the other girls would grab their feet. To fix this, we set an example of how to do it and recommended to keep their feet and arms strong to create confidence in the girls at the top. Once this was done, it had a transcendent effect; not only it went along with the line said but it visually expressed it, linking this to the German Expressionist conventions. They not only grew psychologically (in "El hombre's" head), but physically (as small three people pyramids). Along the scene, as we corrected the mistakes, we worked on some of the basics; upstaging, coordination, postures, etc. The challenges we faced were that even though these were basics, the girls forgot or didn't do them. For example, when they were gathering around "El hombre" they upstaged each other and even showed their backs to the audience since they forgot about the technical aspects and focused on the overwhelming of "El hombre". We told them to remember how when they balanced the space, they looked for the empty spaces and should do the same there. As well, for the dance part at the beginning of the scene the coordination was not exact and it was something we had emphasised several times so we decided to change it to and easier sequence; instead of moving the arms and legs and then turning we made them come forward by hugging each other with their arms, and facing the front making a cabaret appearance. This was easier to do and we solved the coordination problem.
In addition, we designed a pattern for the lines in the scene. In every beat there were four lines said by the 'brumas'. We decided the first three lines were said by the girls in Form I and the last by all of the remaining 'brumas'. This made a collective sound which reflected the common aim they all had. It gave some kind of common link to all the beats in the scene, a different kind of order and dynamism.
For the last part of the scene, we created a part in which the girls told "El hombre" in a whispering voice how much of a failure and disappointment he was, this created a whole different level of the overwhelming effect we wanted to achieve. You don't need to be loud and crowded to be overwhelming, but you can as well achieve the effect in different tones and pitches. When we did this the first problem was that they said their lines on top of each other, which was part of the effect but the line that was supposed to be emphasised wasn't heard due to volume issues. So we made them say their lines group by group without making so loud you wouldn't hear the others. Overall, I believe the scene ended up really good and it is an interesting proposal due to the variations it has. It fulfils the aim of it; to overwhelm "El hombre" and creates that effect on the audience as well.
On the other side, I had to help and give ideas to scene 8 while being rehearsed. We watched the whole scene and saw the chaotic effect it was supposed to create inside and outside. They said their lines on top of each other on purpose but as well, they had to have an order so the scene would be structured. So the challenges they faced on this scene was the pronunciation of some words, the volume, they didn't know their queues, etc. To fix these problems they practiced the words several times to be able to say them. They worked on their volumes, since the scene was supposed to be with constant noise and action but different level of volumes. The emphasis was done on some precise lines that were important for the scene. For example, when Olenka said "Quieres mejor? Paga mejor" the emphasis was created by the lowering volumes of the rest of the characters so the audience could give special attention to it. It was really important for them to know their queues so even if there was constant noise they would know when to rise and lower their volumes, or when to say their lines guiding themselves by the others. Not knowing them was a problem because since there was a lot of noise, they couldn't hear the other saying their lines and some times they could't see each other; so they were supposed to know when to say them. Finally, as the first part of the scene was being ready, there were some corrections made in terms of lines, characterisation, body and voice.
Connections:
One of the biggest connections I have found, is between both scenes. Helping with scene 8 reminded me of how el "Sueño Morado" was first starting and showed several flaws but little by little it started getting better. As well, the idea of masses as a whole in the scene is present on both; the overwhelming effect they both try to create on "El hombre" and on the audience.
Also, the connection between this and play rehearsals from years before. Even though I see it from a directing point of view as well, the experience of rehearsals itself is similar. Scenes are getting ready and we are fixing the small flaws in each. We are working on different proposals to see what fits the play better.
Reflections:
As the rehearsals pass by, I can see the evolution in the scenes so far; especially in el "Sueño Morado". I can see how from nothing we created a well-developed scene ready to present. It is interesting how the different proposals come and go and we keep the one that has the best fit. How everything separately is starting to look better. I know we have tried to pass Act I all together in one rehearsal, and it was good but now we have improved and made changes. We have all managed to achieve an effect in our scenes so it make me wonder, if things are looking good separately, will they do as well when we put them all together? Would it achieve the effect we want to transmit to the audience once we put all the scenes together, or will it create others?
lunes, 27 de mayo de 2013
domingo, 19 de mayo de 2013
Brumas Charleston
Description:
This week, I have experienced a whole new aspect of the play: directing. We took a break from rehearsing "Estacion 2" and in the absence of the Form VI girls I was in charge of "Sueño Morado", scene 4. This scene was the one with the 'brumas', after the family scene. Luckily, I had miss Alicia's help to improve and fix it. We worked on the physicality, voice and overall characterisation with the grade 6 and Form I girls.
As well, the measurement for the costumes in the play were taken for each one of the cast members this week.
Analysis:
Firstly, I would like to state that directing this week was something unexpected. When I first saw the scene it took me a while to understand what was going on and a lot of explanation. It was the scene in which the 'brumas' overwhelmed El hombre. They were supposed to make him feel worse after losing his job and being mistreated by his family. The girls had a stimulus of ghosts that haunted the main character. They had zombie-like body postures and ghost voices but as well played with the pitches. The scene has six beats and was mainly structured until beat # 5. What I needed to do was to polish it and improve it, and if possible to continue with the last beat.
On Tuesday, after knowing the exact structure of the scene, we started improving and fixing the details. We went line by line to try to improve the volume, the pitch, the intonation and the speed. At first, the girls said their first lines in a a slow pace high-pitch voice with a 'sonsonete', I believe this was done to create a creepy and ghost-like effect so in a way the audience would be skeptic about them. They tried to create an innocent but also negative connotation by using a medium level, postures and voice.
As for the lines that they all said together, we worked on the pitches by alternating the low ones with the high ones to create dynamism and rhythm in the scene. As the girls started from behind the stage and had to come forward we worked on the body characterisation. As their level was medium, and their faces were neutral and their mouths were wide open, their arms were just hanging and they reminded me of zombies. One of the challenges of this, was that the energy at first, it was low, so we made them add dynamism to the scene in their walking. As they started to move forward, in a sudden moment we told them to acquire levels and it was randomly symmetric. This was more appealing since it gave variety to the scene and we chose to keep it. We worked on their intentions, they all had the same purpose: to haunt him. Anyway the Form I girls, Daniela, Paula and Antonella made some variations to their way of haunting. Antonella acted in a nostalgic but haunting way, Paula in an upset but haunting way and Daniela in a mad but as well haunting way. This was done to transmit the emotions they had and in a way portrayed some of the possible emotions "el Hombre" had. It was interesting to watch how contrasting their emotions could be, even though they were all lead by one purpose.
During this process, we as well told them to add a creepy smile and have their eyes even wider to create a more overwhelming effect. So overall, on Tuesday we were able to polish what it was already created based on the structure of the scene, we made the movements, voice, actions and body more precise and concrete. We improved it and made things step by step so the girls could remember the changes worked on how much the scene achieved its purpose: to be overwhelming.
On Thursday, it all changed. Our scene stopped being a zombie-like one, but a "Charleston" one. So everything we worked on before was not so useful now. Well, in fact the techniques and intentions were useful for them to develop their acting skills but they didn't particularly fit with this new idea. So first of all, we made the girls watch a Charleston video to get a general idea of it; the movements and the face expression to be specific. Of course it was only so they could understand what it was.
We made them get in a linear position, one beside the other like before, but this time their posture was straight, their hands were firmly beside them and their palms were facing the floor. This was all to create the elegance atmosphere, to change the mood of the play, to mislead the audience to think things are going to get better for "el Hombre". Charleston is a synonym of elegance, joy, happiness, superficiality and it was a way of entertainment. The effect we are trying to create here is that even though Charleston means all of that we are giving it another focus, a more negative connotation; so the audience might believe in a way the life of "el Hombre" is getting better but then this idea is changed when the girls start talking. Without mentioning they are always trying to make it creepy with elements like their smiles. We worked really hard on their coordination. It was really important so they could be able to to it at the same time without us saying it. We focused on this during the whole rehearsal and chose to keep the voices the same, as well as the intentions.
For them to have a rhythm, miss Alicia hummed a random song and the became coordinated with it. Since it was the first time we did the scene in a Charleston way, I believe it was a good first draft that needed to be polished.
On Saturday, as we knew where the scene was heading, we decided to work on the clarity and the intentions of each one as they said their lines. We worked with the ones that were there since many were absent. I believe we were achieving the idea of overwhelming the main character since they are all the same in a way, they are all girls that appear to be innocent but suddenly we realise they are not and instead there is an overwhelming effect due to the amount and actions that take place.
Instead of keeping the 'bruma' talk, we changed it for a more Charlestonish way of speaking; fast-paced, loud. So mainly, we explored the different possible ways of doing it. The main challenge was that the girls got stuck doing the same things over and over again, and explained that they were not a 100% sure of how was Charleston supposed to be like. I told them to watch videos and pictures of it for next rehearsal. Another challenge was still the coordination for the girls in grade 6. The were not able to coordinate their legs all together. While the scene was on, I moved my hands as a sign of where should their legs be and it worked. But we should find a way in which they know without me telling them. Finally, we worked on the upstaging. They were really upstaging each other, and I know that we want to create this effect o crowdedness and overwhelmingness but the use of space was improved when we told them.
The idea of masses is a constant in this scene. As the girls are all 'brumas', in other words they are a collective character and their purpose is the same. The idea of masses attacking a man, how he is absorbed by them, I think it is being achieved with this scene and a creepy touch is being added in.
Connections:
By directing this week, I found some connections. I link this rehearsal to the ones we've had in the past school plays in general. How we work in each scene individually to make it fit with the others in the play. They all make us feel as a part of something bigger. I am now seeing them from a whole new perspective, from the directing point of view. I now, have an opportunity to fix and improve some of the flaws that might be found in the scene. It is an enriching experience but as well as acting in the past plays.
I can't avoid to link these rehearsals with the techniques we learned last year in class. The voice and body characterisation. I have realised along this week how important they are. It doesn't only help me, but the others as well in a really notorious way. We can see how everything they learn in class it is applied to their scene, of course it needs improvement but I can see how essential it is.
It is inevitable, to connect this scene with the ghosts scene of Shadow Queendom. I already know that this particular scene was not very liked because of the shouting and disorder it showed. But what I am linking is the purpose of overwhelming, not only the character but also the audience. We want to create and effect in which the audience shares the feeling of "el Hombre". On both cases, the characters were exerting pressure upon the character they were addressing to, trying to make him/her regret. As well, as the fact that they are all girls and pretty much the same amount.
Lastly, the idea of collectivity of this scene makes me connect it with the Geisha dance form "Miyuki y los 3 demonios". It is pretty much what we are aiming with it: elegance and coordination but of course in a more Expressionist way. The Charleston has to be joyful and fast and hard but it is similar to the Geisha dance in the coordination and dedication to do it.
Reflections:
This week, I learned several skills. I improved on team work, cooperation, understanding and listening to others. Things are not supposed to work only one way and sometimes they don't work the way you planned them. We should be able to listen and be open to new ideas and cooperate with each other. Understand what we are all aiming and achieve it. That is in emotional terms.
Regarding theatre, I learned that a scene can ALWAYS be improved. It never stops getting better, it is never perfect, but it can be really close. This I realised when the girls were getting bored of passing the scene, and it was because they were doing the same thing over and over again. So I asked them to explore different things, to try new things, that if they are not as good, they can be corrected because they were there to learn as well. Also I realised this when we were passing the scene and miss Alicia and I came with different ideas and proposals to make it work better. Just non-stopping ideas that fit with the scene. Of course some better and others, but still I reflected on how small details were able to change the scene. Finally, regarding the sudden change from slow-paced brumas to Charleston; I learned that we should be able to adjust to the director's idea or proposal at anytime, and that sudden changes occur and we must be prepared to change it all. As for the new Charleston idea, we are exploring different aspects of it but I was wondering:
To what extent are we supposed to be lead by Charleston?
P.S: Thank you miss Alicia, you were awfully helpful and came just in time to save the day ;)
This week, I have experienced a whole new aspect of the play: directing. We took a break from rehearsing "Estacion 2" and in the absence of the Form VI girls I was in charge of "Sueño Morado", scene 4. This scene was the one with the 'brumas', after the family scene. Luckily, I had miss Alicia's help to improve and fix it. We worked on the physicality, voice and overall characterisation with the grade 6 and Form I girls.
As well, the measurement for the costumes in the play were taken for each one of the cast members this week.
Analysis:
Firstly, I would like to state that directing this week was something unexpected. When I first saw the scene it took me a while to understand what was going on and a lot of explanation. It was the scene in which the 'brumas' overwhelmed El hombre. They were supposed to make him feel worse after losing his job and being mistreated by his family. The girls had a stimulus of ghosts that haunted the main character. They had zombie-like body postures and ghost voices but as well played with the pitches. The scene has six beats and was mainly structured until beat # 5. What I needed to do was to polish it and improve it, and if possible to continue with the last beat.
On Tuesday, after knowing the exact structure of the scene, we started improving and fixing the details. We went line by line to try to improve the volume, the pitch, the intonation and the speed. At first, the girls said their first lines in a a slow pace high-pitch voice with a 'sonsonete', I believe this was done to create a creepy and ghost-like effect so in a way the audience would be skeptic about them. They tried to create an innocent but also negative connotation by using a medium level, postures and voice.
As for the lines that they all said together, we worked on the pitches by alternating the low ones with the high ones to create dynamism and rhythm in the scene. As the girls started from behind the stage and had to come forward we worked on the body characterisation. As their level was medium, and their faces were neutral and their mouths were wide open, their arms were just hanging and they reminded me of zombies. One of the challenges of this, was that the energy at first, it was low, so we made them add dynamism to the scene in their walking. As they started to move forward, in a sudden moment we told them to acquire levels and it was randomly symmetric. This was more appealing since it gave variety to the scene and we chose to keep it. We worked on their intentions, they all had the same purpose: to haunt him. Anyway the Form I girls, Daniela, Paula and Antonella made some variations to their way of haunting. Antonella acted in a nostalgic but haunting way, Paula in an upset but haunting way and Daniela in a mad but as well haunting way. This was done to transmit the emotions they had and in a way portrayed some of the possible emotions "el Hombre" had. It was interesting to watch how contrasting their emotions could be, even though they were all lead by one purpose.
During this process, we as well told them to add a creepy smile and have their eyes even wider to create a more overwhelming effect. So overall, on Tuesday we were able to polish what it was already created based on the structure of the scene, we made the movements, voice, actions and body more precise and concrete. We improved it and made things step by step so the girls could remember the changes worked on how much the scene achieved its purpose: to be overwhelming.
On Thursday, it all changed. Our scene stopped being a zombie-like one, but a "Charleston" one. So everything we worked on before was not so useful now. Well, in fact the techniques and intentions were useful for them to develop their acting skills but they didn't particularly fit with this new idea. So first of all, we made the girls watch a Charleston video to get a general idea of it; the movements and the face expression to be specific. Of course it was only so they could understand what it was.
We made them get in a linear position, one beside the other like before, but this time their posture was straight, their hands were firmly beside them and their palms were facing the floor. This was all to create the elegance atmosphere, to change the mood of the play, to mislead the audience to think things are going to get better for "el Hombre". Charleston is a synonym of elegance, joy, happiness, superficiality and it was a way of entertainment. The effect we are trying to create here is that even though Charleston means all of that we are giving it another focus, a more negative connotation; so the audience might believe in a way the life of "el Hombre" is getting better but then this idea is changed when the girls start talking. Without mentioning they are always trying to make it creepy with elements like their smiles. We worked really hard on their coordination. It was really important so they could be able to to it at the same time without us saying it. We focused on this during the whole rehearsal and chose to keep the voices the same, as well as the intentions.
For them to have a rhythm, miss Alicia hummed a random song and the became coordinated with it. Since it was the first time we did the scene in a Charleston way, I believe it was a good first draft that needed to be polished.
 |
| Charleston dance Visual stimulus the girls used to have an idea of it |
On Saturday, as we knew where the scene was heading, we decided to work on the clarity and the intentions of each one as they said their lines. We worked with the ones that were there since many were absent. I believe we were achieving the idea of overwhelming the main character since they are all the same in a way, they are all girls that appear to be innocent but suddenly we realise they are not and instead there is an overwhelming effect due to the amount and actions that take place.
Instead of keeping the 'bruma' talk, we changed it for a more Charlestonish way of speaking; fast-paced, loud. So mainly, we explored the different possible ways of doing it. The main challenge was that the girls got stuck doing the same things over and over again, and explained that they were not a 100% sure of how was Charleston supposed to be like. I told them to watch videos and pictures of it for next rehearsal. Another challenge was still the coordination for the girls in grade 6. The were not able to coordinate their legs all together. While the scene was on, I moved my hands as a sign of where should their legs be and it worked. But we should find a way in which they know without me telling them. Finally, we worked on the upstaging. They were really upstaging each other, and I know that we want to create this effect o crowdedness and overwhelmingness but the use of space was improved when we told them.
The idea of masses is a constant in this scene. As the girls are all 'brumas', in other words they are a collective character and their purpose is the same. The idea of masses attacking a man, how he is absorbed by them, I think it is being achieved with this scene and a creepy touch is being added in.
Connections:
By directing this week, I found some connections. I link this rehearsal to the ones we've had in the past school plays in general. How we work in each scene individually to make it fit with the others in the play. They all make us feel as a part of something bigger. I am now seeing them from a whole new perspective, from the directing point of view. I now, have an opportunity to fix and improve some of the flaws that might be found in the scene. It is an enriching experience but as well as acting in the past plays.
I can't avoid to link these rehearsals with the techniques we learned last year in class. The voice and body characterisation. I have realised along this week how important they are. It doesn't only help me, but the others as well in a really notorious way. We can see how everything they learn in class it is applied to their scene, of course it needs improvement but I can see how essential it is.
It is inevitable, to connect this scene with the ghosts scene of Shadow Queendom. I already know that this particular scene was not very liked because of the shouting and disorder it showed. But what I am linking is the purpose of overwhelming, not only the character but also the audience. We want to create and effect in which the audience shares the feeling of "el Hombre". On both cases, the characters were exerting pressure upon the character they were addressing to, trying to make him/her regret. As well, as the fact that they are all girls and pretty much the same amount.
Lastly, the idea of collectivity of this scene makes me connect it with the Geisha dance form "Miyuki y los 3 demonios". It is pretty much what we are aiming with it: elegance and coordination but of course in a more Expressionist way. The Charleston has to be joyful and fast and hard but it is similar to the Geisha dance in the coordination and dedication to do it.
Reflections:
This week, I learned several skills. I improved on team work, cooperation, understanding and listening to others. Things are not supposed to work only one way and sometimes they don't work the way you planned them. We should be able to listen and be open to new ideas and cooperate with each other. Understand what we are all aiming and achieve it. That is in emotional terms.
Regarding theatre, I learned that a scene can ALWAYS be improved. It never stops getting better, it is never perfect, but it can be really close. This I realised when the girls were getting bored of passing the scene, and it was because they were doing the same thing over and over again. So I asked them to explore different things, to try new things, that if they are not as good, they can be corrected because they were there to learn as well. Also I realised this when we were passing the scene and miss Alicia and I came with different ideas and proposals to make it work better. Just non-stopping ideas that fit with the scene. Of course some better and others, but still I reflected on how small details were able to change the scene. Finally, regarding the sudden change from slow-paced brumas to Charleston; I learned that we should be able to adjust to the director's idea or proposal at anytime, and that sudden changes occur and we must be prepared to change it all. As for the new Charleston idea, we are exploring different aspects of it but I was wondering:
To what extent are we supposed to be lead by Charleston?
P.S: Thank you miss Alicia, you were awfully helpful and came just in time to save the day ;)
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