Keeping Your Advantage: Terrain and You, Week VI [Monday, Period 4]

[atreideslioness]

When students arrived in the Danger Shop today, they'd see an obstacle course, modeled after rooftops and walls, about six-to-ten feet off the ground, foam mats all over the floor.

"Good afternoon," Ghanima said cheerily. "Today we're looking at remaining mobile in an unfamiliar urban environment. To this end, we are studying parkour, or l'art du déplacement."

( When lost or being pursued in an unfamiliar city, sticking to the streets is the equivalent of painting a target on your back. )

"So, today, you'll be trying it out on a smaller scale," she said, going over some of the basic moments with the students. "For those of you that manage this course, I'll switch the Danger Shop over to an actual urban environment, and you can feel free to take a run at a slightly more realistic scenario."

[OCD up!]

Drama, Monday, Period 2 [6/15]

[magdaofslovenia.livejournal.com]

"The main difference between stage acting and television or film acting is that one must not blink." Sophie gave the class a deadpan look. "I exaggerate. But truthfully, film and television acting requires one to act normally. No large gestures, no broad movements; staying in one place, on one's 'mark' and emoting naturally from there. Another thing to consider in film and video acting is that all scenes are shot out-of-order, usually for reasons of convenience or budget. So you must be able to not only grasp your character thoroughly, but where they are in their emotional arc throughout the piece. You must be able to play each emotion out-of-order in a way that makes sense when chopped up and put together in order."

"To aid in this today, I have obtained both two large video cameras," she gestured to two standing cameras on the stage. "And a number of hand-held cameras. I want you to film yourselves, speaking in the scenes we used two weeks ago. Walk to your mark," she pointed to three taped X's on the floor, "speak, and try to make it natural. Some of you may have never heard or seen yourselves on tape before. Yes, your voices *do* really sound like that." Sophie smiled. "And feel free to dress in any of the costumes if that allows you to get into character," she added, gesturing to a rack of costumes from Greek to Roman to Medieval to 21st Century.

"As next week is our last class, I want you each to prepare a monologue to share with us. It can be a piece you wrote yourself, something we've done in class, or a speech on why you should be president. Just deliver it with belief!"

"Now. Grab a camera, and go to it!"

[ocd on the way up!]

Arts & Crafts [Period 1, 6-15]

[screwyoumarvel]

There were bins of felt, yarn, googly eyes, and other accoutrements set out on the tables today, along with a couple of hot glue guns and, most worrying, a sewing machine. "Good morning, everyone," Steve said. "Today we're going to make finger puppets. Because they're fun. I've supplied several different patterns, so just pick whichever one you like and get started. If you need help with the sewing machine, ask me or one of your classmates. If you can't use a sewing machine but can manage needle and thread that's available, too. Alternately, you can glue the edges of the puppet together, but that can be messy." Less messy than stitching your fingers, though. "Have fun!"

Basketball - 6th Period - Class #6

[baskiceball.livejournal.com]

Lily and her guitar were absent from class today and instead there was a Marshall standing in the middle of the basketball court with a whistle around his neck and a basketball in his hand. If anybody was used to seeing Marshall they might be weirded out by the serious business look he was sporting today. Unlike beach play, basketball was serious business.

"Hello, everyone. For those of you don't know me, I'm Marshall Eriksen, Ms. Aldrin's husband. She's not able to teach class today so I'm substituting. I'm not exactly sure what you're all doing in here but I imagine it involves guitar playing and hand holding." He so did not agree with Lily's way of coaching. "That is not my coaching style. You signed up for a basketball class and we're going to work so the next time you play basketball you can kick some serious ass. Winning's important!"

"Since we don't have enough for a really good game, we're just going to train so you're in good shape for the next game you play. First half of the class you're going to run in circles around the gym. Running. No walking. Then I want you all to practice dribbling while running," Marshall said. "You're going to get tired and you're going to get thirsty but like Kanye West says: Th-th-th-that don't kill you will only make you stronger."

Kanye also said if you ain't no punk you should holla we want pre-nup, we want pre-nup, yeah. So Marshall didn't exactly subscribe to everything the man said.

Marshall sort of stared at everyone before frowning and launching the basketball at Riggins' head. "What are you doing? Get running!"

Luckily Riggins was paying enough attention to catch the damn thing before it knocked his lights out.

Marshall blew the whistle. "RIGGINS! WE'RE RUNNING, NOT SHOOTING!"

Riggins raised an eyebrow. "You threw the ball at me."

"IT WAS FOR DRAMATIC EFFECT! NOW DROP THE BALL AND GET RUNNING!" Marshall blew the whistle again. "ALL OF YOU! RUN! RUN! RUN!"