Drama, Monday, Period 2 [05/11]

[magdaofslovenia.livejournal.com]

“Good morning, class. I’m Sophie Devereaux. I’ll be teaching you the basics of Drama, that is, acting, for the next seven weeks.” Sophie smiled at the dozen or so students in front of her, and sat down at the edge of the Danger-Shop-created stage. (That had been a fun hour, figuring out how the computer worked.) “You may call me Sophie, or Ms. Devereaux; please don’t call me Professor. I’m an actress, not an experienced educator. This is my first semester teaching, so I hope that you’ll forgive me any errors I make.” Without having rehearsed her patter, she’d worked out what she wanted to say in advance, and now Sophie-the-teacher rolled right along like clockwork.

“The point of this class is to give you an idea of what actors do—not just on-stage, but to prepare for a part, and how we sharpen our skills before auditioning. It’s also to have fun! Since many of you probably don’t want to become professional actors. And why would you?” Sophie gave them a wry smile. “An actress whose work I admire stated that ‘we get paid to stand around and wait, and do the acting for free.’ That’s true of most of us in this profession. Acting is fun, is joy. The work that goes into waiting for it, or getting a part, or surviving in the meantime? Not so much.”

“First days are usually taken up with introductions, and questions of why you took this class, and what you hope to get out of it. I’m going to delay that until next week, unless you wish to introduce yourselves during the exercises, of which there are two. The first?” She held out a hat. “Pick a piece of paper out of this hat, and introduce yourself as the person named there. For those of you unfamiliar with the name, make something up! I’ve included their profession too—and if you’re unfamiliar with that as well, please, keep going. Feel free to quiz each other on your imaginary backgrounds, your deeds, your character; just see how long you can pretend to be someone else.”

“The second exercise is one in movement. I want to suggest that if you’re serious about becoming an actor, that you take classes in mime.” Sophie’s smile widened. “Although you’re not actually required to become one; I understand most people find it an art that’s best left to party games. But as actors, we need to know the limits and specifics of what our body is capable of. Expression is not just what one does with one’s face! Posture, gesture, all of this go into creating a believable character. Actors with dance training also do exceptionally well on the stage and screen, because they have control over their physicality.”

Sophie stood up, and gestured to the pile of props on the stage. “Pick a prop, any prop, and a partner, and create a scene about the object, making physical use of it in some way. As you can see, none of them have an immediately obvious purpose; your job is to interact with it, and the person whom you choose, in a way which makes the purpose you choose for it believable.”

"I'll be available after class if you have any specific questions."

[ooc: And OCD is a go!]

Comments

Sign in!

[magdaofslovenia.livejournal.com]

Dramatically!

Re: Sign in!

[abetterthief.livejournal.com]

Parker

Re: Sign in!

[golden-rising.livejournal.com]

Serena

While Sophie speaks...

[magdaofslovenia.livejournal.com]

Chat, pass notes, WTF at the props (see below), give a spontaneous line reading.

Re: While Sophie speaks...

[abetterthief.livejournal.com]

Parker hadn't picked her classes, just had had a class schedule handed to her along with her other papers. If she had, drama was one she never would have chosen.

She sat in her chair with her arms crossed and listened with a bored air about her to the strange teacher she'd talked to on Saturday.

Re: While Sophie speaks...

[ancientbschamp.livejournal.com]

Gabrielle couldn't have been happier, really; she had a scroll spread out in front of her and was taking notes frantically in that strange alphabet that no one was likely to recognize at all.

She was going to run out of scrolls rapidly at this rate . . .

Re: While Sophie speaks...

[17andinfected.livejournal.com]

Shilo sat towards the back, looking around at the other students while listening to the teacher.

Re: While Sophie speaks...

[likethegun]

Sam looked quite content as he listened to their teacher. He felt a lot less inclined to take academic workshops during the summer, and he figured learning how to lie convincingly might be useful in the future. Call it a hunch.

Re: While Sophie speaks...

[chic-harper.livejournal.com]

Harper's first impression was that she was going to enjoy this workshop and the exercises.

While she had almost manage to dress normally in a tank top and jeans, she still managed to make an impression by wearing a red, orange, yellow and green granny square shrug (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24211787).

Re: While Sophie speaks...

[trigons_child]

Raven's eyes were wide. Being assigned to this class had to be a mistake. She didn't know the first thing about acting.

Re: While Sophie speaks...

[icecoldfrost]

Right. This was clearly a perfect start to Hank's school.

Emma was paying token attention to the teacher, but most of her interest was in the other students.

Exercise 1 - Introductions.

[magdaofslovenia.livejournal.com]

The names in the hat include:

Wendy the Werewolf Stalker (a slayer of monsters)
Mister What (an time-traveling fixit person)
Casa, M.D. (a diagnostic doctor (healer))
James Bund (international man of mystery)
Raymond Dark (vampire private detective)
Barjossakin (a pirate)
Bitterwoman (a superhero)
Amleth (a prince of Danes)
Dr. Lazarus of Tev'Meck (an alien starship officer)
Lieutenant Tawny Madison (a communications starship officer)
Bobby Flay (an Iron Chef)
Runner (a Texas Ranger)
Major Stacey Monroe (an intergalactic explorer)
The Church Lady (a Television show host)

[ooc: feel free to make up your own, just try not to duplicate any previous draws, and keep in mind the meta-rule. Take it as far as you can, just introduce your 'self', and go from there!]

Re: Exercise 1 - Introductions.

[abetterthief.livejournal.com]

Sighing, Parker picked a name out of the hat. "Hi, I'm Barjossakin, a pirate," she said in a monotone.

Re: Exercise 1 - Introductions.

[ancientbschamp.livejournal.com]

Gabrielle grabbed up one of the prop swords she'd seen lying around and brandished it the way Xena usually did; she couldn't help feeling a little bit like she'd be much more into the role if she had armor of some sort. It had worked that time with Talmadeus, after all.

Well. Sort of.

"I am Wendy," she declaimed, "stalker of werewolves and slayer of fearsome monsters everywhere!"

She was awfully out of character, but cut the girl some slack; she'd never seen the show.

Re: Exercise 1 - Introductions.

[17andinfected.livejournal.com]

Shilo drew a name and smiled a little to herself, then turned to her classmates and adjusted a pair of imaginary glasses. She's totally not mimicking Nathan at all, honest.

"Good morning. I'm Dr. Casa," she said, trying to sound self-important.

Re: Exercise 1 - Introductions.

[iamnotallgirl]

Jill drew hers, sighed, and said, "I am Amleth, Prince of the Danes," in a sort of morose monotone.

Re: Exercise 1 - Introductions.

[likethegun]

Sam snorted a little when he saw the name he'd drawn, and took a minute to get a straight face.

"Good morning. I am Bitterwoman," he said with a toss of his head that actually might have worked with his hair. "I'm here to rescue you."

Re: Exercise 1 - Introductions.

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

Savannah cocked her hip out after reading what she had picked.

"I'm Major Stacey Monroe, Intergalactic Explorer."

Re: Exercise 1 - Introductions.

[chic-harper.livejournal.com]

Harper jumped into to the role with enthusiasm. "Hello! I am Lieutenant Tawny Madison and it's my job to tell you that hailing frequencies are open!"

Re: Exercise 1 - Introductions.

[trigons_child]

Raven picked out a name. "I am Raymond Dark, private detective and vampire," she stammered.

Re: Exercise 1 - Introductions.

[notasuiciderisk.livejournal.com]

Eric stared at the name, knowing that it was familiar, but it took him a moment to place it.

He coughed, then stepped forward: "The name is Bund. James Bund," he began, managing at least at first to pull of something of a suave posture. "But you can call me... the last person you'll see on this planet." Eric posed, faking a gun in one hand.

Exercise 2 - Scene with a Prop! (WLIIA? exercise)

[magdaofslovenia.livejournal.com]

The props on the stage include:

A Giant Stapler (http://farm1.static.flickr.com/9/69464147_0d44039735.jpg?v=0)
A set of Aerobies (http://www.workshopplus.com/images/Aerobie-Sprint.jpg)
Stuffed dragon (http://www.etherealland.com/tatterdemalion/dragon/dragonmain.jpg)
A Snuggie (http://trophyseeker.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/snuggie.jpg)
Two insane hats (http://api.ning.com/files/i1RjZ-QgKWj5ZhfsPMavVp*hI1D4R9fh29UWhiRG9gg_/MelbourneCupHats.JPG?width=300)
Weird trophy (http://www2.ku.edu/~sfcenter/Campbell-trophy-s.jpg)
Giant glasses (http://www.fantasycostume.net/fantasy/images/Accessories/giant_Glasses_Acc.jpg)
Nunchucks (http://www.strangecosmos.com/images/content/140729.jpg)
Giant Ties (http://cccookie76.tripod.com/wl/us_props_dr_ties.jpg)
Fiber optic shirt (http://www.2dayblog.com/images/2006_december/fiber_optic_minitop.jpg)
Fiber optic camisole (http://www.lumigram.com/catalog/images/LumiTop%20Butterfly%20BGcb.jpg)
Weird Skull (http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_scQG3wZxdPI/RsMq4SS2JiI/AAAAAAAAAsE/i7wr38pNN_c/s400/skull1LG.jpg)
trick swords (http://images.doba.com/451/website_swords_largepictures_20-81509.jpg)
About a dozen child-size alien dolls (http://earthstar.tripod.com/graphics/2dolls-102801-TN.jpg)
A big pink balloon (http://farm1.static.flickr.com/155/418260830_d038ddb279.jpg?v=0) (Thank you, Galinda, for that trauma, Sophie had thought.)
Native American Art hand (http://www.horsekeeping.com/jewelry/pins-pendants/mystichand-eve.jpg)
Something? (http://www.stick.com/articles/birth/sticks.jpg)
a trylon! (http://www.oddmusic.com/gallery/om32250.html)

"Have at it!"

[ooc: pair up and go nuts.]

Re: Exercise 2 - Scene with a Prop! (WLIIA? exercise)

[17andinfected.livejournal.com]

Shilo looked over the props and then looked to see if anyone else was.

Critique!

[magdaofslovenia.livejournal.com]

"Part of being an actor is being able to take criticism. Possibly the hardest part. Today's a little early to be discussing your abilities or approach, but if you'd like feedback from me or your peers, feel free to volunteer. I only ask that any criticism be constructive, and not mean-spirited."

[and this will be the case every week; just include an ooc note whether you only want to hear it from Sophie, or from the rest of the class too!]

Re: Critique!

[chic-harper.livejournal.com]

Harper wasn't afraid of a little criticism, but it was likely to go in one ear and out the other. She pulled her shrug (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24211787) on and waited to see what others had to say.

Talk to Sophie!

[magdaofslovenia.livejournal.com]

Really, she's here to help.

Re: Talk to Sophie!

[abetterthief.livejournal.com]

After class, Parker gathered up her things and made to leave.

OOC

[magdaofslovenia.livejournal.com]

Whew! First class up! I'm around all day tomorrow, but I set this up so you don't need Sophie for most of the class; she'd love to talk with you afterward, though.

Ping me here if you have questions or want to get Detention; really, the only thing that'll work is being violent or deliberately insulting to another member of the class. Sophie won't care about anything else. You can storm out, speak up, whatever, she'll just critique your exit or delivery at worst.

Syllabus here (http://magdaofslovenia.livejournal.com/1928.html#cutid1), although Sophie and I reserve the right to change it up if required.