Unit 10: Self Reflective Blog 2 (Acting)

Development of Monologues.

In preparation for our mock Arts Ed auditions and real upcoming auditions for those wishing to move on to higher education, in lessons for two weeks we have been learning new techniques and strengthening our monologues by following given training exercises from Justin.

Exercise 1: "Conversation Picnic"

Aim: The aim of the exercise is casually/naturally form a conversation with a partner or within a group, using the dialogue from your chosen monologue.

I did this exercise with Lanya using my Shakespearian monologue, 'As You Like It' as Phoebe, I felt quite comfortable with the exercise and I didn't over think the words I was saying because then I'd be thinking about how I deliver it and that's how people usually fall into the same over exaggerated style of how Shakespeare is performed. By modernizing this, I felt that the speed in my monologue increased because that's how I would usually talk. This was also because of how quickly Lanya reacted to what I was saying and then went on to her monologue. With direction Justin suggested we tried out conversation whilst laughing. This didn't really come natural to me because it wasn't. I thought it would look cringe and not believable, so when I did try this my laugh was more genuine because I didn't believe myself.

Goal: In future, I want to push myself into every element of acting, in this case, comedy. I want to make sure I am well prepared, to make myself more selectable for future opportunities. I think I have gotten really comfortable with serious acting but I feel like I have the diversity in me. When saying this I think of actresses who have now become known for their comedic roles. For example, Raven Symone.

Raven starred in an American supernatural sitcom, as a teenager with psychic abilities. I grew up watching this show and remember her for having a very over the top personality and someone who can make light out of a situation but still takes themselves seriously. She plays into the stereotype of being a loud-mouth,yet funny and beloved literal black girl. Stereotypically most shows and films has one. Raven has a sort of bossy attitude I can relate to and that the audience finds entertaining and wants to see more of.

She uses method acting and becomes this character, so when she is being silly or sarcastic, we believe her.

Exercise 2&3: " Emphasising Urgency"

 #2 Chasing After My Partner:

Aim: To chase after my partner in hoping to grasp their attention and getting them to stop and listen to what I am saying.

My partner was Ruth, I found this exercise a bit challenging because I felt like I was trying hard to get Ruth's attention but then found my self shouting because she was walking so fast away from me and my breathe began to shorten. However I slowed down the pace in my voice but still using the urgency in my voice I spoke to her and made it impossible for her to ignore me by blocking her. When she finally stopped and listened to me I had to remember that now that I had her attention and that I had to hold it. The purpose of holding her attention is that monologues can be long and tedious for an audience if not delivered with importance. My job is to make the audience want to listen to me otherwise the story get lost in a long winded paragraph. So when voicing my monologue I need to remember to be using emotive language, gesture, tone and articulation.

#Whispering My Monologue:

Aim : In a circle, two or more people must whisper their monologues with enough depth in their voice to win the rest of the groups focus.

For me this I found this exercise demanding of me because I felt as though I wasn't whispering properly. I was trying to put meaning into my voice and the emotion I was trying to present was anger however It came across as grunting. I was trying to push my voice so much to make the rest of the group want to listen to me, my monologue wasn't coming out clearly. That indicated to me that I need to use more pronunciation and articulation in my voice. Because had it been an audience and I needed to use whispering for emotional effect and levels of tension; the audience would still need to be able to hear me and understand clearly what I am saying to avoid becoming disconnected from the story.

Exercise 4: "Thought Process"

Aim : Reading your monologue aloud, walk around the space (auditorium) and sharply change your direction when the emotion or thought in your monologue has changed.

For Example:

"If you acting like a bitch as you lookin' on me

 CHANGE ( thought - you are proving me right for calling her a bitch)

 I see you and your bitch ways,

CHANGE ( thought - you are not fooling me, I've seen the way you've acted on a sly. I'm used to it now.)

 Mi guh call you it again mi nuh business

CHANGE (thought- I don't reverence you in any way.)

 Watching you

CHANGE (thought- the nerve of you! You disgust me.)

  Watch me like the bitch bitch you is."

CHANGE ( thought- You have no right to judge me for calling you out your name, you made me, therefore you are a bitch.)

What I took away from this exercise was that there is constantly a thought process going on in my characters mind as she says what she says, so as an actress I must implement this into my monologue in order for it to be fully effective. The change in tone and thought creates depth in my character and presents to the audience a three-dimensional person that they can relate to and by doing this they want to know what my character is about.