Shaun, Sophie and Gwen

Here is a rough draft of our radio play/documentary. What do you think of the accents? Are the characters clear enough? What do you like? What do you not like? Is the structure clear or not?
Remember this is not finished, we have more script but I kept laughing!

Here is Nate's video. He has asked for comments, these can be found on Shaun's post with the picture of Dan Ford! It has taken three attempts but it has finally worked!!

This is Bronya's group's video :-) Bronya and the rest of your group, please add the questions you want to ask in the form of a comment on this post. Cheers!

Other pictures, for Shaun, Sophie and Gwen

This is the first lot of people, without looking at the names can you guess who they are?

Some are more obvious than others

I will be really impressed if you get them all!

More drawing

By Special request one of Dan's alter ego for our Unit 5 project

Class Drawings

The first of the drawings for our Unit 5 project for Miss Collins

Alastair's Video

Here is Alastair's video :-) Alastair, please comment with the questions you would like to ask your audience.

Dickson & Thornton-Rice Productions presents...

Here is a short extract from the piece that myself and Samantha are doing, a short extract from Richard III, Act I Scene II.

What are your general thoughts? How would you describe the relationship between the two character?

Filming task... (with YouTube video link)

Antonio, Yiannis and myself (Alastair) worked on a martial arts film this afternoon. We used a mixture of close ups and wide shots to create a comedy fight scene with a strange introduction. The sound was quite tricky to pick up at some points but considering we were outside against the wind, we did good! We found it entertaining to create and funny whilst watching it back. Once edited, I think we have something worth watching! Here is the link to part of our film...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVbIIE6iJFE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Here is Paige and my video of our concept for our unit 5 performance. This is not like the final product that we are aiming for, but the principle is the same!
Some questions that we would like you to answer in the form of a comment on this post please?

- How did it make you feel?
- Did you understand the story?
- If we hadn't have told you, could you tell which fairy tale it is derived from?
- Who do you think our target audience was for the story, taking into account the language used?
- Would you describe it as contemporary or traditional in it's style and language?

Thanks people, much appreciated!

Paige and George :-)

Our project- sophie, shaun and Gwen

We were going to post what we have done so far however, it's a sound file. I will post it once I have loaded it my laptop. It was good until I ruined it by laughing!

SHAKESPEARE!

I have absolutely loved working on Shakespeare over the past few weeks, and what Joe did with us has really helped me gain greater understanding of not only the language but how it should be spoken and performed. I have noticed that not only myself has improved, the whole class has really developed and with the assessments yesterday I felt everyone had really gotten a great understanding of their piece and performed it well! Joe helped me to get out of my normal habbits with gesture and by the end I found my movements truthful to the character of Lady Anne, from Richard III. Picking apart the thoughts of the character in the monologue gave me a great sense of journey that the character goes on while the monologue takes place, I feel this helped me portray Anne in a stronger and more believable way. I have loved this part of the course, and feel it has benifited me hugely! Most of the techniques I have leant in breaking down the monologue and finding a real sense of character, can be trasnfered into other work we do, which is massively helpful for the next year to come.
Thank you Joe!! :)

Shakespeare sessions

I have gained such knowledge and a broader understanding of Shakespeare during the sessions we have had with Joe. Although already I found it easy to bring rhythm to the text he helped me explore more in what tamora was saying and fuelled me to discover for myself her own background and in what body and mind frame was she in for this speech, it makes you realise that you are your own best teacher. If you are willing to learn and go out there and find out more about what you're doing your discovering for yourself and therefore in taking the information more and binding it to your practice to make it better, you can do nothing but keep on building and improving your work it Is limitless! I have really enjoyed this part of the unit and it helped me have an even better perspective on Shakespeare then I already had!

Shakespeare Feedback

I really found Joe's sessions regarding Shakespeare helpful. Given that I had never explored a Shakespeare monologue before, I had no clue about where to start! Even though I had heard of Iambic Pentameter, I did not know what it was or how it was applied to text. Given that Joe was really eloquent in his explanation of an entire approach to our monologues, I really understood the process and felt organised in my exploration. After getting notes from him after each performance, I could really feel an improvement and a development to my speech. I now understand what makes a Shakespeare monologue effective and intriguing to an audience. So, having never been taught Shakespeare before the start of Joe's sessions and generally hating it because of being scared of it, I have come to really enjoy both reading Shakespeare's plays and playing his characters. I now know that Shakespeare is not difficult as is the preconceived misconception that I had, but easy and interesting, and once you understand the language and how to explore it, it becomes fluent and exciting to perform.

My 5 'what ifs' and Shakespeare

My five 'what ifs' consist of: # Standing on one leg for a period of time, 'what if' I stood on one leg, how long will I last? # Walking the perameters of the room, as if I'm on a tightrope, 'what if' I pretend I'm on a tightrope? # Walking on my tiptoes without taking my feet off the floor, 'what if' I tiptoe but without taking my feet off the ground? # Sliding along on my back, 'what if' I slide on my back sideways as opposed to vertically? # Separating my toes as I walk, 'what if' I separate my toes, how does this affect my walking? I have thoroughly enjoyed studying Shakespeare, all of the different techniques helped in their own way :) Text mining particularly because it helped me shaped my character. Normally I struggle with character development, I never normally know how to dig deep and find their real emotion. Singing surprisingly helped, both with confidence and understanding the words that are being used within the script. The sessions with Dan had good techniques, such as the breathing exercises. This made me fully aware of my breathing and that I was breathing in between sentences, which I wouldn't do normally. Although I knew of iambic pentameter, I was not aware of how it affected the way I say sentences. All in all, I will be taking all of these techniques on board for future scripts and hopefully imporve my process of acting and understanding the text :) Peace out :)

Thursday & Unit 5

Hello all, hope you enjoyed your assessments today and i'm looking forward to seeing and hearing them.
You are with Dan Ford tomorrow. Fun day on creating work.
Dan can also help you with deciding what to put forward for assessment for the remainder of unit 5. If you remember we discussed that a percentage of this unit would be assessment on practice of your choice.
Some ideas of what you can do and remember you can work in pairs, small groups or individually. There is not much time so you need to be ambitious but also realistic.

• animation project with your own voiceover
• animation project presented in a wider context or re-edited by you.
• adapting your shakespeare for film / radio / transmedia
• an acting / company website ( you can ask Lisa T. for extra tutorials on this)
• examples / ideas for a festival piece for next year.
• film
• short play
• transmedia project proposal
• site specific piece proposed
• podcast
• radio play
• workshop run for the class
• presentation on an aspect of the industry

possibilities are endless but time is not so please decide asap. Your proposal for assessment will need to be approved by me; we can finalise this on Friday.

Well done for all your work today.

Acting Shakespeare

As it probably comes as no surprise to any of you, I thoroughly love Shakespeare and working on his plays. I find the depth & complexity of his characters something brilliant to work with as an actor, as well as the richness of the dialogue that has been given to each of them. All of the workshops have been a brilliant chance to put in some real work into not only Shakespearean character work, but also as a way of developing all characters from any script.

The notes that I found particularly useful were the ideas of 'actioning', which helped to put a definite feel to any section of script that felt unclear allowing to come alive with an emotional force. The main idea I enjoyed, which is mostly down to my character choice of one I know very well anyway, was the depth of thought I could put into the character; although Richard is always the villain, I was able to play him as someone more complex and devious, a true Machiavellian character with a genuine sense of depth rather than the archetype of the deformed evil mastermind.

If you haven't already seen it.....check out the Off By Heart programme on bbc iplayer!

Shakespeare

Hello all.
Just a reminder that tomorrow's assessments and practical contributions comprise 70% of your unit 5.
Please be well prepared, punctual and supportive of each other.
Those checking and contributing to the blog, thank you, you make it interesting and fun.

Shakespeare monologue

I returned last Tuesday to find I needed a Shakespeare monologue for assessment and luckily I knew one. While being taught by Joe I realised that I hadn't learnt the piece correctly. I had never been taught about the rhythm and counting syllables. When I tried to change the delivery of the monologue I found that I was stuck in the way I'd previously learnt it. I can change my mood easily and I can change the speed and tone but I find it difficult to change the rhythm. I think it's better if you're musically minded you can probably grasp it more easily. Given sheet music you can play a tune but for someone like me who isn't musically minded it's like playing the piano with one finger.
My monologue is staggered. I seem to be like a robot when I actually need the words and movement to flow.
Dan Lovett gave me some good advice which I have shared already that we should try to think about how we want the other person to feel rather than the emotion we are feeling. It's not about us and how we feel, it's about the effect we have on others. I am now trying this technique coupled with trying to break my mould and let the words flow.
I have just found a 2006 film 'As You Like It' that I haven't seen before. I have previously seen the 1978 BBC version with Helen Mirren. The 2006 version is directed by Kenneth Branagh. Although it is set in Japan, it has British characters at a time when Japan had English trader settlers. The cinematography and acting is good and I especially like the epilogue which breaks the fourth wall. I hadn't heard of this film until I switched BBC2 on yesterday and caught the last 2 minutes of it, how very frustrating but I then found it in seperate parts on youtube.
I don't copy actors when I watch performances but I get a sense of different styles and portrayals. I find it helps me to be more openminded. I have yet to see the Laurence Olivier version from 1936.

Shadow in the city - exploration 1

Here is myself, Bronya and Steve's first idea of the shadow in the city picture task!

Blog

I'm on the blog!! WOOP WOOP!! Now what?? ;)

YEAHHHHH i can now see and post on the blog! Excited :)


p.s Sorry guys for not being able to attend on Friday but the doctors took longer than expected :( but i can see you all had alot of fun :) xxx

Some great stuff going up on the blog people! I'm envious!
Keep up the good work...
Lisa

Bronya, Steve, Alastair, George, Gwen, Samantha.

Shadow In The City lyrics to the soundfile:

Wondering alone amongst the crowds,
a thousand faces blending to one,
covered with traffic dust, and coffee smog,
am I directed by others or by the,
shadow of the city.

(these words are repeated over the lines of the previous person echoing like a shadow)

Some ideas for site specific piece:
A selection of mirrors, some strategically positioned to give the impession of a direct reflection but instead giving a decoy reflection. A shadow is an identical likeness of it's physical property but in this case the science is broken.
On Friday the skies were clear allowing the sun to give strong dramatic shadows. This cannot be relied upon for a performance. Strong lights and screens can create spectacular shadows and silhouettes.

Mimicking can be extremely funny and is another form of shadowing.

With media in mind, the majority of the population have phones. When walking the streets, someone can be controlled and directed by who they are speaking to on the phone. People can change course for directions or by blackmail, urgency or practical jokes.

In a city full of busling people all busy doing their own thing, I wonder if there is something all round the city that everyone takes for granted but if it wasn't there, it would be missed by everyone.

Considering performance venue sites:

The Basement is a cheaper option for an indoor venue. It provides shelter and close proximity to the audience. As the venue is underground it creates a lot of condensation making the polished floor surface very slippery, this could work against or in favour of a performance. The variety of performance areas can be used for different settings or atmospheres.
http://www.thebasement.uk.com/

Jubilee Square is an outdoor venue situated on a busy street that can attract passers by but would be dependant on weather unless equipment could be provided for shelter. Flooring would have to be considered for extreme physical work for health and safety. It is perfect for disabled access. The area is 19m by 23m and is available 7 days a week and is licensed for activity until 11pm. The Basement manages events for Jubilee Square but has a seperate website.
http://www.jubileesquare.co.uk/

The Duke of York cinema is located at Preston Circus and is a venue for the use of film or presentations. It comfortably seats 283 people.
www.picturehouses.co.uk/cinema/Duke_Of_Yorks

The Royal Pavilion estate consists of The Dome Cocert Hall and The Foyer Bar, The Corn Exchange and The Pavilion Theatre.

The Dome Concert Hall on Church Street was built for the Prince of Wales (George IV). The venue has hosted successful and popular acts including the 1974 Eurovision song contest that saw ABBA win the competition with Waterloo. This is a costly venue that provides for large audiences seating up to 1742.
http://www.brightondome.org/

The Dome foyer Bar can be used as a seperate venue. The theatre can seat 80 or 800 for reception and 48 for cabaret. By day the venue is flooded by daylight from the overhead skylights and by night can be lit by coloured lights. The area is 147sqm and 5.4m in height. This venue provides kitchen facilities, a 60" Plasma screen, Wi-fi and a PA system.
www.brightondomeevents.org/Foyer_Bar.asp

The Corn Exchange inspired by the Paris venue and once a museum is now a theatre similar to the style of Northbrook's theatre and seats 800. The hall is deep and suitable for performances with a near bird's eye view look. Tailored event lighting and staging is available as is Wi-fi.
http://www.brightondome.org/

The Pavilion Theatre is a smaller theatre similar in size and style to Northbrook's theatre, seating 232. There is room for performers to use the space under the bleachers. This allows for more stage exits. Wi-fi and a PA system is available and staging can be provided.
http://www.brightondome.org/

Founders room is also an extra venue as part of the Brighton Dome. It can seat 80 for theatre and has 60" Plasma screen, PA system and Wi-fi.
www.brightondomeevents.org/Founders_Room.asp

Other rooms and spaces are available for hire within and around The Brighton Dome. These spaces are mainly used for banquets and conference hire.
www.brightondomeevents.org/Breakout_Spaces.asp

The Royal Pavilion situated next to the Brighton Dome has various rooms to hire mainly for a stunning setting for banquets and conferences although there is a music room. The pavilion rooms are extremely costly.
The Royal Pavilion Banqueting Room and the Great Kitchen £3,255
Great Kitchen £2,200
Music Room £2,200
Banqueting Room, Great Kitchen & Music Room £4,750
King William IV Room Four hours £980 Day rate (8am-6pm) £1,350
Red Drawing Room Four hours £980 Day rate (8am-6pm) £1,350
Pavilion Gardens (half day) £680
Preston Manor Dinner event £900
Drinks Reception £550
Brighton Museum & Art Gallery Entire museum £2,200 Ground floor only £1,420
Guided tour of the Royal Pavilion (State Rooms) £5.00
The Old Court Room Day rate £1000 Half day/evening lecture £525
These charges apply from 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013.
For more details please contact the Royal Pavilion Functions Team on 01273 292815/3 or pavilionfunctions@brighton-hove.gov.uk http://www.brighton-hove-pavilion.org.uk/

The Royal Pavilion Gardens were designed by John Nash for the King. The gardens are open to the public and it plays host to a variety of musical and theatrical acts and is included in The Brighton Festival 2012. http://www.cantfindthewebsiteforthiscananyonefindthebookingvenuewebsiteforthisthankyou.bm/

(Some of this venue info will not be found on the web as it is from personal experience).

This week

Enjoying your photos and sound files immensely; please keep uploading for us to share and for the Ferreros to find a deserving home before i eat them all.
Next taught session for your group is this Wednesday when your Shakespeare assessments will take place.

Please make sure that you do your very very bestest and use the time well.

Please post your five physical interrogations before you forget them!

Puppet's Shadows

Brighton Tasks

B,S,A,G,Sa,Gw and N

The theatre royal

www.brightondestival.org for general show details for the festival

Bronya, Steve, Alastair, George, Samantha, Gwen and Nicole

Samantha, Gwen and Nicole are new editions to the group!

www.brightondome.org
the corn exchange is part of the Brighton dome!

Samantha, Nicole, Catia and Gwen

We've spotted this theatre which is related to Shakespeare :) it's called the iambic theatre :) the contact number is 01273 572101

Bronya, Steve, Alastair and George

Jubilee Square

bookings@jubileesqaure.co.uk
www.jubileesquare.co.uk
£800 per day +VAT / Charity £50 per day + VAT
20,000-22,000 footfall per day!

Bronya, Steve, Alastair and George

Komedia :)

maja@komedia.co.uk
www.komedia.co.uk/brighton

Your mission!

Looking forward to seeing you at Brighton Town Hall for the show today.
Good luck with your missions.
Can't wait to log in later to see some of your work.

Shakespeare

I have really enjoyed studying Shakespeare, as I am used to analysing it for English literature! I have found that the techniques really helped to learn it (which has now been completed!) which can more than said for my previous monologues!!

Shows!

Hello all, please remember Joe Wredden here tomorrow so prepare whatever you have agreed.
Also, Brighton on friday.
I have your unit 4 assessments from Lisa and team so please ask me for your feedback and grade sheets. Post your five!
I have booked you places for the site specific Lord of The Flies show on Thursday at 1.30.
Good luck with unit 2

Dickson's Five Ifs

1. What if my toes are the main moving force in my body? Can them pull me when standing upright?
2. What if I moved with my back in constant contact with the floor? How fluid can I make the movement?
3. What if my arms are the main moving force in my body? What is the farthest I can travel in a single motion?
4. What if I could only move on my joints (Elbows and knees)?
5. What if I walked like I can sit? In a perching position; how long can I maintain this and does it change with speed?

My 5 'I wonder ifs'

1. what if my toes must not touch the ground? what if it is very very important that they don't? what if i must hide it?
2. Face to or back to wall to save the world?
3. What if i wore a smile over all movements?
4. How far can i sink and my feet still carry me?
5. what if went quickly skipping towards the thing i fear?

what were yours and let us comment on what further questions and discoveries about movement, acting they might provoke....

Happily married

Sad groom, happy bride

Looking for Richard

Here's a link to the film, Looking for Richard, that Joe suggested we look at: http://vimeo.com/8414012

It's well worth a watch - there's some good ways of understanding Shakespeare in there that could be useful, as well as how to apply it through a modern audience.

Challenge

Gorgeous chocolate bar, much sought after and of sentimental value to be awarded to the blogger with the best post by friday lunchtime. Blog on venues, festival, shakespeare invited. Thoughtful, informed, challenging, reflective, funny, informative, visual......

Shakespearean Text - Breath and Rhythm 

In my opinion there are two terrible mistakes made when approaching Shakespearean text. 

One - We sit down and read it first.

Two - We worry about the technicalities of the rhythm. 

Our first impression usually occurs in the classroom. We sit. We are young and nervous of making a mistake in front of each other. The words are long and hard. We tend to either read it in one tone or like a poem - but with little or no understanding of how to treat the rhythm and words. 

Then, we are asked to act it. With an outline of which emotion is appropriate for each paragraph, sometimes each sentence, we put on our best shakespeare voices and read to each point of punctuation, relying on the changes in rhythm to do the work for us. 

We forget that human beings do not deliver 'award winning' speeches every day of their lives and at every moment!

So, let us remind ourselves of our own breath. We do not breathe in and support our diaphragms every time we begin a sentence, nor do we rattle off our words in a rhythm like a machine gun. Sometimes we have to 'find' our words. Often, we have to breathe in the middle of a sentence because our emotions have taken over our technique. 

Remind yourselves again of the breath exercises. Play with where you place your breath, whether you breathe in or out; before, after or mid sentence? 

Remember that some words are heavier, uglier, softer or lighter than others, while sometimes we are so angry we forget what we were saying in the first place, or so happy we sound like we are 6 years old!

By all means let Shakespearean text and the changes of rhythm inform you as to how you should feel but don't let it carry you away in a dream or poem that doesn't sound real for today's audience. 

Brighton visit.

Which venue most inspired you? Nightingale or Basement?
What are your thoughts about next year's festival work?
any ideas, visions, images, thoughts, plans..... Please share

COURSE REPS!!!
PLEASE WILL YOU BE AVAILABLE TO TALK WITH THE EXTERNAL EXAMINERS FOR THE COURSES ON MONDAY AT 2.pm. OR ARRANGE FOR SOMEONE TO STAND IN FOR YOU.

CONTENT OF THIS MEETING IS COVERED IN THE BLACKBOARD ANNOUNCEMENT.

PLEASE CONTACT LISA OR DONNA TO CONFIRM YOUR ATTENDANCE OR THE ATTENDANCE OF YOUR STAND IN.

MANY THANKS!

Wednesday 9th

Apologies from Joe Wredden. He has injured his shoulder so will not be able to start with you tomorrow on Shakespeare. Dan Ford will be taking your session. Please come with ideas on monologues and a good idea of the script and character.

Prize to person who best describes, uses, sings, dances, workshops...... what iambic pentameter is.

Also, watch this so we can critique tomorrow. (note the character plays an actor...)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zEVZGuU3BU

Friday in Brighton

Please go to this link for Brighton Fringe festival; some ideas of what you might also see on Friday in town. Shakespeare, masks, puppetry, music, exhibitions..... As a group or in smaller groups part of your mission is to see something in the festival.
Search by date or event
http://www.brightonfestivalfringe.org.uk/index.php?option=com_public&view=dosearch&Itemid=127&query=Search%20with%20Keywords&genreId=0&venueId=0&datefrom=11-05-2012&dateto=To&button=%20&subgenre=0&timesList=0&accessibilityId=0&pricesList=0&limitstart=40

Monologues

I have finally found some monologues to choose from. If anyone is struggling, there are 2 spare for people to look at. Just let me know and I'll send it to you :)

Sicknote

I have found a good video of I'm in love. It uses footage of a short film featuring Natalie Portman. Watch it, definitely worth a look. It sparks some very good ideas for the stop motion animation :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDHhwvSOAkU

Hi all,

Looking forward to what you come up with in  this next few weeks! in the meantime I've posted a small amount of pics from Benchmarks on it's blog...have a great bank holiday weekend! Pez

Love in a Sick Box - Homework - Next Fridays Task

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sicknote2012
• Band website: http://sicknote.tv/
• Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/sicknote
• You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/user/kweej/videos or just search for Sicknote. 
• Norris Nuvo - Band Artist and Movie Maker : http://www.youtube.com/user/norrisnuvo/videos

The band members are called: 

• Doghouse - Lead singer
• Flapsandwich - Beats and Bass on the laptop
• Filthy - Drummer
• Dr Conker - the Gay Scottish Dancer - Shaman Guide
• Johnny No Cash - VJ - Projections - Visuals 

Norris Nuvo does all the art work for the band, please blame him if there are any offending pictures :) He is an amazing artist but can be a bit dark sometimes... in his art. 

Task for next week in Brighton: Please can the students create "A One Photo" shot (hoping someone has a good camera)  to create a visual story board, testing out some of the ideas they came up with today... Practice the different scenes as one shot? Maybe? Or look for inspiration in the art you see at the festival? Or both :)  

Some of the ideas were: 

• Pandoras Box, opening up a box of sickness
• Getting sucked into the box / or blown out of the box
• Love vs Sickness battle with guns and bows and arrows and notes with the words "Your Sick"
• Spread the Sickness (which is one of Sicknote's quotes and motto already, so perfect)
• Getting infected with Rave
• Oxytocin chemical - power of love
• Being infected with "Dance"
• Drawn to the power of music
• The Love Bug - spread via coughing out hearts
• Gangster Desease.

See you all next week...

Missed you blog....

Please post here henceforth.....
Shakespeare, animation, laban, brighton festival.......
What did you make of sicknote?
And well done again for some excellent contact work today.
Have a great long weekend of fun and homework
Absentees, please look up the band sicknote and make sure you know what you know what you have to prepare for next tuesday.