It’s today! 17.08.16

I am so nervous. I worried that I might forget my lines during the performance. After setting down all our props and clothes, my group did a small rehearsal by reading through the lines. Just before the performances begin, all of the group did the last rehearsal starting from the beginning until the end. Some students even make up to look like the character; father with mustache and gangster with tattoo.

Times up! It is the start of our show. I get myself ready and try to control my nervous. By watching other’s performances, I am getting nervous that they really did a good job. I told myself that I need to try my best, not comparing with others. I encouraged my group members that we need to stay focus and BE IN THAT MOMENT during the show. I tried to be like that and my lines came out automatically. I so enjoyed during the acting and I found there is no nervous in me.

Taken by my friend, I am the MUM!!!

The audiences gave all the great feedback as they really enjoyed our show. They said we have talent and they really get into the story. My friends feel proud of me. Next, Christ briefed us about the final written examination. There are two section: monologue and script. Since today is our last class with Christ and Tarrant, we took a lott of photo as a memory and I really feel we are like a big family.

Chirst!!!

Tarrant!!!

We are Biotechnology Group haha

A whole big FAMILY!!!!

For the real performances, there is a link below:

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=2760B55D1E552E8B!792&authkey=!AMmwIZ8TOf9Sks0&ithint=folder%2C

Last class 16.08.16

Our class started at 7pm instead of 3pm usually. We did a whole rehearsal for our performances. Normally our class is carried out in a small classroom, but today we did it in lecture hall which can contain more than 200 people. It is the venue where our last assignment which is the group performances will be presented to the audiences. How we started our introduction part, how to set up our props and how we ended up our whole performances.

After figured out the signal given by Christ for us to get ready, we did a whole story rehearsal to make sure everything is fine and try to set up the changes of props quickly. I found that our volume of speaking should louder than in class. Tarrant set up the light for us but unfortunately the power had been cut off after 5pm. We tried on the sound effect to make sure that everything will go on well tomorrow.

About 10pm, we finished our rehearsal and my group decided to meet up before tomorrow’s performance to have the last practice outside the class. We prepared our heart to do the best for tomorrow. I invited some of my friends to be the audiences, but it really makes me more nervous that I know someone in the seat are keep focus on me.

I become a MUM? 09.08.16

Our class began with a short feedback about TITUS ANDRONICUS. My first questionis about the blood. Why they did not use the real blood? Christ answered that there is a lot of killing in the story. If the first scene used the real blood, the following of every killing must involve with the blood. It is hard to control how the real blood spurt out and the actors need to change cloth as the scene changed. Next, I asked about why do not the actors place a name tag on their cloth to indicate their character. I got a good answer form Christ that it makes the show looks not professional. By the story grow, audiences like me can understand what is going on just by focusing on the show. I will like to join the next theater show by theaterthreesixty. I really enjoyed it very much.

Next we went into our group. After our group discussion, we came out with a conclusion that I become the main character, a bad character in this story. At first, I want to exchange my role in this story as I am lacking of confidence. My group members encouraged me to take this as a challenge, they recommended me due to one reason; I am the best choice. Am I look old? Am I so bad in real life? I never scold and try to control others. I always wonder about why I am the one who suits the character best?

The fact is I will be the Mum. I tried to put in more real emotion and get closer to my husband and son, JOB and JEVF. In our daily life, we always call each other dad, mum and son. It works a lot in helping us to be accustomed to our character.

In a 10 min story, we added in more scenes to show the controlness of the MUM in terms of results, wearing, friends, future and love. We changed our lines into short and clear meaning. It is easier to memorize and sounds more realistic. Christ guided us group by group to reduce some mistakes to make our story more interesting. We keep on practicing and making some changes to make our acting and story works smoother. We tried to practice the technique used in Titus into our story.

Titus 03.08.16

It is today! I am so excited to attend our field trip. It is a story about the main character; TITUS ANDRONICUS. I am given some link to get a summary about the story:

1.  http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/07/160369/there-will-be-blood?m=1

2. http://www.dailyseni.com/v4/titus-andronicus-premieres-at-dpac-this-weekend/

3. http://www.bfm.my/lim-kien-lee-christopher-ling-titus-andronicus.html

4.

 

It was really a good theater for me. At the beginning part of the story, I could not understand the language spoke in the story and I did not get it because of the speed of the lines. After a mean while, I am able to adapt to it and the colour of the raincoat helped me a lot in understanding the story. I really enjoyed the show as I sat in the first row. All the action are so real and the emotion involved by the actors really bring me into the story.

Titus Andronicus is a violent look at the price of loyalty – where atrocities are considered sacrifices, and revenge is a zero-sum game where no one wins in the end. It begins with the Rome’s emperor dies and leaves two sons squabbling for the throne. Tamora, Queen of the Goths, along with her three sons.  After Titus murders Tamora’s eldest son Alarbus, his prisoners of war vow to exact revenge and they go all out. Tamora’s secret lover, Aaron is the bad character in this story. Along the way, hands are chopped, tongues are sliced, someone gets raped, and many more are killed off violently despite their allegiances.

I have prepared some question for the director of the show, Christopher Ling. 

Some photo taken by me as the evidence:

 

Mr. Vijay is followed us to watch TITUS.

I’m here!!!

I found me in this photo from the FB page of theaterthreesixty.

5 minute story 02.08.16

We tried to expand our story to five minute. We added more details to our story to make it more clearer and more scene. We did a lot of practice to make sure that we did not exist the given time duration. At our first plan, we had Purge as our ending. The movie Purge is used as a reference to the audience. It clearly deliver that the purpose and what will be going on next; the Murder. But Christ as an audience raise a question for us, how possible to get a gun in Malaysia? He suggested us to use knife instead of gun. If we still want to go for gun, we better add in the reason why there is a gun in a Malaysian family.

The next session of our class is about the show Titus Andronicus. What is the difference between a theater and a movie? A movie actor just act in front of camera. They have the chance to retake the scene again. No matter what the audience do or how they feel is not the business of the movie actor. In opposite, a theater actor does not have a second chance to retake the scene if they did a mistake or spoke a wrong line. They need to act in front of the audiences as theater is a live show. The actors may be disturb by the audiences or they need to modify a little bit about their speed or tone depends on the reaction given by the audiences. Christ shared a secret with us that the colour of the wearing indicates the status of the character.

Group Monologue story 26.07.16

The starting point of the class is very special today. Venessa and Christ acted two different story in a dentist clinic; agree and against. It showed us clearly about the flow of the story. If the story are fulled with agreement between the characters, it does not have climax and it sounds boring. When there is an argument, audiences will be curious about how the story grow on and keep focus all the way. This gave us a simple understanding on what an interesting story sounds like.

We grouped ourselves into six or seven in a group. We shared our monologue among members and choose the best two. I like this session as I can know more about my friends that we do not share those personal things usually.

Using the two chosen monologues as our story guideline, we tried to create an one minute story flow without any props. We only showed those important points that must be deliver to our audience. I learned that how body language play an important roles in acting. Without any help of props, the face expression and body language can clearly show what is the actor doing and how he/she feels. The tone of the actor should match the lines and face expression.

Christ shared a tip for us; engage. How good the performance of an actor is depend on how much he/she engage in the story. IN THAT MOMENT. I still remember what I learned from the previous class. I will try to practice this in my next performance.

Perfect Monologue? 19.07.16

The five face expression had started our class to recall back what we have learned previously. Some of us had totally forget their pose and have to create a new one on the spot. For me, it took some time to recover back my memory.

Next, new challenge is given to us. The body memory created last week had to add in some different element; James Bond or Astronaut. How carefully is needed when I am an ultimate spy like James Bond. Gun is always in my hand to protect myself, wake up suspiciously and always aware with the surrounding. If I am an astronaut, everything around me is floating and flying randomly everywhere, including me. How difficult it is to carry out my daily wake up preparation. Lastly, I need to act that I am a superhero with a super power. I go for moving things just by using my power. I found it is so difficult for me to express my power and the message I want to deliver to my audience. But I learned some thing from watching how my coursemate express on she is a superstar. It was a great demo for me that how much I engage in the character will be how clearly the message be.

I get back my monologue and Tarrant gave us a short lecture on how to write a better monologue. The common problem we faced is the passive tone of our sentences. I noted down the point that is important and helpful in my edition of monologue.

First Monologue 15.07.16

Instead to write a long essay, I prefer go for short sentences to express my real experiences. I really hope it will be accepted as all my course mate are write in paragraph.

Past, Now, Future 12.07.16

Class is carried on like usual. Some recap is done: ‘Zip-zap’ game with more advance moves, neutral position and face expression.

The next session of class is more excited. It works like doing exercise in class. I created my own action flow that I did every morning. From the beginning of ringing alarm until I left my room to class.

First, I feel uncomfortable to do it in front of others. It really looks stupid. By finishing the first practice, I noticed the whole class looked like a zoo. We are the monkeys which are moving randomly, it was so funny. The flow is added to be more detail without any prop.

We are asked to finish those actions very fast. Our body will automatically filter out what is important to be included and what is not. It is easier to be slow motion than fast forward. It still have time for me to think about the next action. Throughout several time of practices, it created and strengthened our body memory. No matter how fast is needed to finish a complete set of actions. Our body will do it automatically without extra order from our brain. The body now is accustomed to what is the next action.

After those exercises, our body is out of battery. We are given a short brief about what is monologue. What I understand is, a long story that I talking to myself. Some incidents suddenly appear in front of my eyes. It pulled down my emotion. It is all about my sad experiences in my past.

We are asked to look back when I was just five years old, five years ago and now. When I am just five, I was so happy with my old house. Although the house is small in size, but it made me feel comfortable. All my childhood memories is just came out automatically. I can even see my favorite teddy bear on my bed. The friend who first came in my mind is the one who lived behind of my house. She accompanied me to  school everyday. My scar on my chest is caused by the hot soup she sent it to my house. I accidentally spoiled it to my own body.

Five years ago and the situation I saw for the current timeline is the same. The same house I lived in, only the furniture is changed. I could not find anyone that I hate in my mind. I am a person who never put anger in my heart. The person I loved the most is my grandmother. She has the warmer hug in the world. I can even heard she talks to me. Whenever I am afraid, she will always be there to support me.

I can imagine well for my future too. I saw my children ran to me when I just reached the gate of my house. I smelled the food that made by my husband, but I could not see his face.

I feel very interesting to imagine back or forward in my life.

28.06.16

Class is went on like usual. We started with ‘Zip zap’ game and three luckiest students are asked to add in new moves after a whole week of Raya holiday. I had figured out a new move which I will share in the next class.

In the walking practice, Christ has shared the KEY with us: RHYTHM. As we work as a team, the rhythm in our body will determine when to stop. If no one stop after a period of time, it will stop after the same duration. It only works sometime and indicates that our teamwork still need some improvement.

We practice the NEUTRAL POSITION again and again. It let our body to familiar with it.

FACE EXPRESSION. It is an important and basic ways in acting to deliver message. We have tried on JOY, SORROW, SCARE, ANGRY and LOVE. 

 

I learned that an actor should BEING IN THE MOMENT. It is a must for them to express the reality of the scene. Stop thinking about what had past and what will happen. Just be IN the moment, be IN the story.

We are given a scenario.
Character: I and someone I love (best friend, family or boy/girlfriend)
Venue: Airport
Story: I am leaving and the person I loved is almost die with disease. I will never saw him/her again.
Line: A: Hello, B: Goodbye

After several time of practice, I feel sad as I involved my real emotion. When I get into the situation, I almost lost control of myself. I looked into the person and realized it just a story. What have I learned from this practice? BEING IN THE MOMENT.