Drama, Monday, Period 2 [05/18]

[magdaofslovenia.livejournal.com]

"Welcome back. This week, we're introducing ourselves, and examining a little more behind the theory of acting: Method vs. Classical." Sophie sipped her coffee. "If you're unfamiliar with the terms, allow me to explain. Method actors follow the theories of Stanislavski and his adherents, that an actor can only truly act when they understand the psychology and sense-memory of a character, and draw on their own experience in order to portray their actions. Classical training focuses more on what is thought of as the externals: the movement, voice, verse-speaking, combat, theatre history, and understanding of the text. One, it's thought, emphasizes the internal, the other the external. We introduced ourselves last week 'in character'-- please do so today out of character, as yourselves, and also one more thing--"

"Voice." Sophie smiled, and said in a perfect Mid-western American accent. "Not just speaking so the people in the back rows can hear you, got it? But cadences and rhythms, timing and approach." In a heavily Serbian-accented voice, she continued, "People, they believe what zey hear, yes? Zey do not notice it so much. But! An impression, yes, it makes one." She switched back to her own BBC-and-RADA-approved British accent. "Emotion isn't the only thing that gets expressed and judged. So does your intelligence, your education, your geographical background, your likely motivations. Today we're going to play with this, using the Expert Translation game." She smiled, then pointed. "And you will introduce yourself first, and your take on what your voice says about you."

[ocd on its way is up!]

Comments

Sign in!

[magdaofslovenia.livejournal.com]

With a vocal icon.

Re: Sign in!

[ancientbschamp.livejournal.com]

Gabrielle let's be honest, all her icons are vocal

Re: Sign in!

[17andinfected.livejournal.com]

Shilo Wallace.

Mingle/Chat/Sleep

[magdaofslovenia.livejournal.com]

Talk in any language, pass notes, compare hangovers after this weekend.

Re: Mingle/Chat/Sleep

[trigons_child]

Raven had no hangover to compare, alas. She had nothing green, so she had not attended the party Saturday night.

Re: Mingle/Chat/Sleep

[robinthefrog.livejournal.com]

Robin may have gaped a bit at the changing accents. Wow!

Re: Mingle/Chat/Sleep

[ancientbschamp.livejournal.com]

Gabrielle had no idea why, but for some reason the changing accents reminded her a little bit of Xena.

Or, let's be honest, a lot of people in her Very Special Greece.

No idea why, though.

Introduce yourself

[magdaofslovenia.livejournal.com]

Who are you? What does your voice say about you?

Re: Introduce yourself

[trigons_child]

"My name is Rachel Roth, and I am from Azarath," Raven said softly. She paused, thinking, and said, "My voice probably says I am shy, does it not?"

Re: Introduce yourself

[magdaofslovenia.livejournal.com]

"It does," Sophie agreed, smiling slightly. "How is that being conveyed? And is that something you wish others to know about you?"

Re: Introduce yourself

[iamnotallgirl]

"I'm Jill McTeague, and I'm from Massachusetts. Not Boston. I didn't--" she put on the stereotypical Boston accent-- "pahk the cah in Hahvahd Yahd." Then she dropped it. "Too much? Uh, I don't know what my voice says about me. I guess it's a pretty typical American teenage girl voice? Does that make sense?"

Re: Introduce yourself

[magdaofslovenia.livejournal.com]

"It does, but what's missing is, as you demonstrated, as important as what is there. No extra-distinctive Boston accent eliminates parts of Massachusetts where you grew up; the vocabulary you use suggests middle-to-upper class upbringing, regular schooling... what else, possibly?"

Re: Introduce yourself

[likethegun]

"I'm Sam Winchester," he said, "and I think my voice might show that I've lived in a lot of different places. My family moved around a lot when I was little, and I've been told I have a hard accent to place, probably 'cause it's a mixture of all the different parts of the US."

Re: Introduce yourself

[abetterthief.livejournal.com]

"Parker," Parker said. "My voice says I'm a girl."

Re: Introduce yourself

[robinthefrog.livejournal.com]

"Hi! I'm Robin from Florida. And....uhm, my voice says that I'm...friendly and happy?"

Re: Introduce yourself

[chic-harper.livejournal.com]

Harper had managed to finish the dress (http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_430xN.63737957.jpg) she was working on yesterday, but it definitely looked like she'd made it during her temporary colorblindness. At the very least, it probably said as much about her as her voice.

"My name is Harper Finkle, and my voice probably says that I have lots of energy and that I'm from Noo Yawk City," she said with an exaggerated New Yorker accent.

Re: Introduce yourself

[ancientbschamp.livejournal.com]

"I'm Gabrielle," she piped up in an irritatingly cheerful tone, "and I don't know what my voice says about me exactly, but I've noticed I tend to get knives held to my throat, or thrown into a prison cell, if I use it a lot . . ."

WLITA? Exercise - Expert Translator

[magdaofslovenia.livejournal.com]

Expert Translation (http://www.whoseline.net/show/trans/games.html#experttrans) "This is an improvisation exercise, to show how fast you think on your feet, as well as use of voice."

"One person from Group A will start, talking about their weekend in either a real or imaginary language." Sophie smiled, and looked over the class. "Anyone from Group B? Volunteer to translate for them, and explain what really happened. Keep in mind that Person A must act as if they don't understand Person B... but Person B must be able to plausibly incorporate elements of what Person A is 'saying,' especially if they include gestures and sign language. Go to it."

"Then switch off!" [ooc: and/or grab anyone you like, if they ping in first.]

Group A:
Eric van der Woodsen
Sam Winchester
Robin
Rachel Roth
Savannah
K-Mart
Jill McTeague

Group B:
Harper Finkle
Serena van der Woodsen
Shilo
Gabrielle
Emma Frost
Parker

Re: WLITA? Exercise - Expert Translator

[trigons_child]

"I did not do much this weekend," Raven admitted. "I remained in my cabin and studied and meditated."

Re: WLITA? Exercise - Expert Translator

[robinthefrog.livejournal.com]

Robin told about his weekend, in Frog. It's a real language.

"Well this weekend I met some of the new students."

Critique!

[magdaofslovenia.livejournal.com]

Ping in here if you want criticism from Sophie (or the class) on your abilities, and specify which.

Talk to the T.A.

[magdaofslovenia.livejournal.com]

At your own risk, when she pings in.

Re: Talk to the T.A.

[abetterthief.livejournal.com]

Parker was there, ready to earn her money.

Talk to Sophie!

[magdaofslovenia.livejournal.com]

About auditions, your voice, Stanislavski, whatever.

OOC

[magdaofslovenia.livejournal.com]

Home on Monday, going to the movies at some point, but picking up pings before and after.