James Coleman
Solo project
Solo project review and evolution
3/5/2019
In the last Thursday, I successfully completed the solo performance, from which I learned a lot about the importance of the interaction between the characters and the audience, and also found that the drama actually has many styles of performance. In my understanding and study of the German dramatist Brechat, I learned the Alienation to use a inteactive moment to reach a powerful statement and audience can understand the performance story and actor's emotions changing, and this performance style strongly demonstrates the importance of interaction between the characters on the stage and the audience. In my personal performance, I used the description of monologue "FOB" to show a stage play about human values debate. In my rehearsal, I mainly focused on the stage movements of the characters, because I think that only when the characters on the stage can express their connection with the audience through his body language and emotions. So I took the audience as my second role and exchanged rebuttals. After that, I feel that I have a lot of places to improve. First: I can slow down the speech to achieve the instinctive emotions of the character. For example, the protagonist sighs on the mind-constrained person. Second: The setting of the stage has a strong influence. In some ways, the characters on the stage should try to interact with existing resources. In the end, I felt that I should look for different ways of performing to express the characteristics and appeal of different performance styles. So in the solo project, you should pay more attention to personal innovation.
First rehearsal of solo project
2/24/2019
Through last week. I had first solo project rehearsal on Wednesday and I got review from my audience and instructor. During my rehearsal, I think I got a good monologue for my first rehearsal because the monologue has a clear character's emotion moment and argument, so I could set the light be easy. Also I think I have a good actor gift and movement reflection, so I could learn more character physical movement on the stage. After my rehearsal, my instructor and audience give me suggestions about I could change the stage setting to make sure I got a enough time performance. Second I could add more character movements and emotions when I talk my scripts so they think it will increase my stage quality and acting skills
Practice 1 and peer review
2/18/2019
In the last week, we talk the schedule about solo project performance on online and we set February 28th be the final performance day and in the February 20, we will do the first practice performance. So during the class, I did practice about my performance, I think I need add more physical movement and separate my character emotion and Alienation moment. Also during the Alienation moment, I could make a comment and conversation with the audiences then it will be more helpful in my performance. I showed my performance in front of Andy and Max(other solo project actor and my assistant) they suggest me to fix the script first then to figure out how does the character express his emotions and how does he decide his script be the Alienation moment. So what I need to do right now is I need fix my script and remember it first then to ensure how does the character do the physical statement, and try to imagine how does the character attach the stage object and his emotions. The most important part is I need to think about what is the best way that I express the Alienation style and to make sure the performance is literally follow the requirement and style. The challenging part is I need to think about how to change script, because the time is short and I need to ensure the script will be work on me as a good sight.
Solo project monologue practice
2/10/2019
Through last week work, I started practice my monologue and to decide what kind of moment that I need to reflect what is the Alienation moment. Because of the weather problem, so I have a many of limitations on the stage setting and characters movements. So, made a document about my solo project information, and then I could create more inspirations and ideas to create the character and what the alienation can effect in my solo performance. And I think I need to get the peer review from my teacher, it will be more helpful if teacher or other students give me the comments, I believe I could find the advantages in my solo project and performance. Based on the work what I did so far. I think I can have more time, to combine both of the areas to do the better way to express what is my solo project and I will find more alienation effect to join in my solo project.
Here is the information about my solo project: solo project information
Based on the document, it will expresses the researching what I did so far, and I will keep update it and to ensure what is my monologue and my physical movements and how do I can reflect the Alienation moment in the play.
Here is the information about my solo project: solo project information
Based on the document, it will expresses the researching what I did so far, and I will keep update it and to ensure what is my monologue and my physical movements and how do I can reflect the Alienation moment in the play.
Solo project monologue effect and information
2/3/2019
Through the last week, I found the monologue which called FOB(Fresh of the boat). The story is about two Chinese American students meet with a Chinese newcomer in the back room of a small Chinese restaurant in Southern California. and there is Chinese American name Dale, he uses his passionate speech to encourage the new student try to leave his traditional mind and stay away from "Fresh of the boat" the meaning is the student has to attach the national culture and communication to improve their personal wisdom and consideration. Based on the story, Dale's language is powerful, It attracts audiences are easy. In my opinion, I think this monologue is a good monologue to express the Alienation, I could use the moment about when Dale explain why freshman student has to leave their "basement" to be publicity speech. It is the best way to proves the Alienation style in the performance. In the next week what I need to do is I have to start to remember the script about the monologue and to find a way to express the performance be successful.
Solo project monologue research
1/30/2019
Through last week what I researched, I started to find more information about the monologue. It was a challenge, because the monologue what researched are hard to relate to the alienation style which mean if I want to express the story as alienation style is too difficult to show what the story is. So I spent more time to look at what is the example performance as alienation. Also, I did some researching about Chinese performance and monologue, because alienation style influence Chinese theatre a lot. So what I will do next is researching more information about monologue and start to figure what is the practice of the alienation. Then, I will consider what custom, stage setting that I have to design.
Solo project background and research
12/18/2018
Through last week what i did, I searched a lot of information about Bertolt Brecht and his theatre style "alienation effect". He is a German theatre practitioner, playwright, and poet. His famous theatre style is alienation effect, this style of the theatre is focus on actors body language, emotions and resilience. This theatre style impact many controls's theatre company such as German, Franch and China. This theatre style is easier to use comedy way to express what the story about theatre. Also, many audiences would accept this style more easier. Based on the ideas and background information, I will explore more message from the Chinese company to find out what effect in the Chinese company and their play. Then, if I do my solo project, how do I combine this style and effect in the different company in my solo project which I really want to do.
Theorist for my Solo Project
12/9/2018
Based on the reflection#1, It expresses a lot of theorists style in the solo project. In my idea, if I do my solo project I would like to use Bertolt Brecht's style in my work. Through the example, I like the moment when the female grabs the box out and she put her father's staff carefully and do the comedic freeze moment . the important part in this theorist point is the character's body language in the play. I think it has a stronger evidence to prove the character's ideas and logic which mean it is a good way to express the show's theme clearly and audiences could understand and attach them together easier, exactly in the freeze moment. The question, I might want to ask, How do we make the actor do reasonable body language, when we do the solo project, how do we train the character and to express their emotions in the right time. It is a challenge, so we want to figure out what is the best way to show the story on the stage.
Exercise:
Click here to find more information about: Alienation Effect
Through exercise what I researched, I found the information from Bertolt Brecht theatre practice. He mentions when actor do the practice on the stage, they had to communist with the audiences and ensure their physical response is extremely stronger then audience could relate them together on the easy way. So during the practice, the actor have to put their status in the actual performance and train their emotions and body language. During the researching and the information that I know so far, I think the most challenge part is how do we use this emotions and body language in the performance just in the right time? If we want to express the story in the best way, what method we gonna choice?
Exercise:
Click here to find more information about: Alienation Effect
Through exercise what I researched, I found the information from Bertolt Brecht theatre practice. He mentions when actor do the practice on the stage, they had to communist with the audiences and ensure their physical response is extremely stronger then audience could relate them together on the easy way. So during the practice, the actor have to put their status in the actual performance and train their emotions and body language. During the researching and the information that I know so far, I think the most challenge part is how do we use this emotions and body language in the performance just in the right time? If we want to express the story in the best way, what method we gonna choice?
Solo project reflection#1
12/5/2018
Through the example about the solo project video, it expresses a story about the female lost her father, try to hold her memory in her heart and finally she suicides in the water. Based on this example it prove the solo project in the theatre is supposed to lead audiences has stronger reflection by their perception. And to express what is the main story, freeze moment and unfreeze moment. The solo project has a strongest creative abilities, the only rule is the actor does not broke the fourth wall in the play.
Constantin Stanislavski
Based on the video by Stanislavski features, she made the actor smoke the cigar to express the actor's hesitation and despair, and he uses a dark light the cover the actor's face, it express the play's mystery and atmosphere. However I think the disadvantages are people are hard to figure out what exactly happen during the performance and it is possible made audience confuse the climax of the play.
Bertolt Brecht
Through Brecht features, He made the performance more close to comedy, It uses the style of abstraction to express what is happen of the performance, it is easier to let audiences to understand the story quick. However the style might make a misunderstanding that we could not attach he connection between the original story easier.
Jerzy Grotowski
Grotowski's style actually more focus on the character's emotions, so he uses a extreme moment at the beginning to make sure the audience can focus on the play. However, it might made people has a stronger negative reflection, because I believe most of audience would refuse the extreme style performance.
Peter Brook
Through Brook features, he made a real life behavior on the character which it is easier made audiences to accept the story development, and the actor's body language is great to express what is the actor's emotions. However this style it is possible let audience lost the fresh feeling.
Antonin Artaud
Based on the Artaud's style, he uses the water reflection to express the performance, the benefits are express the character's reflection of the emotions better than the regular performance, however, it is easy to made people have dizziness and the story conflict.
Constantin Stanislavski
Based on the video by Stanislavski features, she made the actor smoke the cigar to express the actor's hesitation and despair, and he uses a dark light the cover the actor's face, it express the play's mystery and atmosphere. However I think the disadvantages are people are hard to figure out what exactly happen during the performance and it is possible made audience confuse the climax of the play.
Bertolt Brecht
Through Brecht features, He made the performance more close to comedy, It uses the style of abstraction to express what is happen of the performance, it is easier to let audiences to understand the story quick. However the style might make a misunderstanding that we could not attach he connection between the original story easier.
Jerzy Grotowski
Grotowski's style actually more focus on the character's emotions, so he uses a extreme moment at the beginning to make sure the audience can focus on the play. However, it might made people has a stronger negative reflection, because I believe most of audience would refuse the extreme style performance.
Peter Brook
Through Brook features, he made a real life behavior on the character which it is easier made audiences to accept the story development, and the actor's body language is great to express what is the actor's emotions. However this style it is possible let audience lost the fresh feeling.
Antonin Artaud
Based on the Artaud's style, he uses the water reflection to express the performance, the benefits are express the character's reflection of the emotions better than the regular performance, however, it is easy to made people have dizziness and the story conflict.
Photo used under Creative Commons from denisbin