Doris Day

I feel like I have been saying this phrase for a while..."When I grow up I want to be Doris Day". It is the absolute truth. I think she is a fabulous actress and she had such an interesting life. I was on IMDB yesterday I saw this "Doris Day Wins Lifetime Achievement Award from L.A. Film Critics". I was so excited to see this because I feel that she deserves to be honored. She has not had an easy life. She was married a number of times and she had to deal with bankruptcy, but through all of it she manged to be a true friend to her co-stars (most notably Rock Hudson). She is most recognized for her girl next door persona and her charming personality. Not only did she bring light to all the films she was in I feel that she was someone you wanted to be around even when you weren't filming. After considering all this I am pretty positive when I say "When I grow up I want to be Doris Day"

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
DORIS DAY

"Like Crazy"

I don't know how many of you keep up with all of the different film festivals but I like to look at what is being shown.  I had heard about the film "Like Crazy" winning the Grand Jury Prize for Best Picture at this year's Sundance Film Festival.  It's about a romance between an American man and his British girlfriend.  When she overstays her visa she is returned to the UK and they continue their long distance relationship.  Of course everything gets more stressful and emotions rise.  It seems like it is an interesting film and the relationship between the two seems to be filled with interesting actions.  I also happened to find an article where the director goes through what you need to make an indie film.  It will finally be in theaters so if you get a chance go and check it out!

Melancholia

The really interesting thing about being confined to bed rest is that you get so bored that you start looking for things to do.  So after talking about Melancholia last week, I was surprised to find that Comcast customers can actually watch the film onDemand for $9.99...yes this is a bit steep but so is going to the movie theatre, the only difference is that you can re-watch the film a few times in your own home for the same price.  Well I decided to do a little research on the movie before I watch it and I found the official website for the movie.  It actually gives some great detailed information about the film, the technology used, there are some interviews, etc.  Check it out because it has a lot to offer and the movie seems really interesting too-- if you haven't watched a trailer for it, I would suggest you do so!

Does An Audience Change A Play

So we just talked about thin in class and I also think it is something that today I experience personally. An audience and the atmosphere that comes from a space can completely change your performance. I have also experienced this during the production of The Vagina Play. We performed in the Itty Bitty, in a friend's basement, to young audiences, to professors, and to older crowds. I feel that one of an actor's best skills is being able to adapt a show to an audience. Thinking about all of this I was scrolling through facebook and I saw that The PigPen Boys that I worked with this summer (and that Matt taught) had an article with Theatre Development Fund on just this topic. Seeing one of their shows, and the behind the scenes aspect of it I saw first hand how they tweaked their show to make it work for the space they were in. However, I don't think this just applies to traveling shows. I think it can be looked at simple changing from rehearsing in 372 and then getting to start work in the Studio Theatre. It can be a huge change, even though it might not seem like it. But, I feel that it is one of the exciting challenges that we as actors have to face.

How Does and Audience Change A Play

The Twilight Zone

One of my favorite things to watch when I was little was The Twilight Zone. It was a show in the late 50's and early 60's that was based off of science fiction happenings. What was interesting about this show was that there we some episodes that people were not sure if they were real occurrences or make believe (a-la War of the Worlds radio broadcast). It also had a bunch of really famous actors of the time guest star in roles that people were not used to seeing them in. One of my favorite episodes is this one called Living Doll. It is about 25 mins. long so I understand if you can't watch it all, but you should try. It is still creepy even in today's standards.

TALKING TINA...muhahaha.

Changing Faces

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEc4YWICeXk&feature=player_embedded

I saw this video and I thought it was really cool the way it shows how the popular female image changes over time and how the video was done morphing around the eyes. I think it says something about the influence of women in media and the power each of them has had although different. It's also fascinating the way our idea of beauty and the trends that follow morph with the generations and the way things very quickly become dated.

Hand Dancing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx-x4WbryRE&feature=player_embedded

I stumbled upon this and thought it was so cool. It's like tap dancing with your hands! It reminds me of the stacking cups games or finding the pea under the shell but something I'd actually watch. I think it could be a whole creative sport. It clearly takes a lot of practice and coordination. It also reminds me at some points of the hand swing around our heads that we do.

A Prequel to Peter Pan

http://www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2011/10/19/prequel_to_peter_pan_heading_to_broadway/

I'm very excited because a prequel to Peter Pan is coming to Broadway. I love Disney musicals. I'm waiting for Finding Nemo to come to New York as well. I think this show should be a lot of fun. It's definitely something I'll be seeing.

Photorealistic Masks

All right, if you haven't looked at any of the links I've ever posted on this blog, please take the time to look at this one, because I cannot possible explain how real these masks are to you. So real that they creep me out... a lot. I was actually inspired to post this because of A Long Christmas Ride Home that I'm working on. They're making puppets for all the children and their faces are being created to look similar to the actors. As well, what's even cooler is that this company that makes the masks is a japanese company and the puppets we're using are based off of japanese Bunraku puppetry. And honestly? Who wouldn't want one of these for halloween?

Please check out the link below!!

www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/16/view/17019/realistic-human-face-masks-by-real-f.html

Bespoken Art

So as I mentioned in my previous blog, I love words. Well, this is really cool because it's turning a recorded sound into art. On the site you can see in the picture it's all specific words, such as, love, howdy, and carpe diem. It takes the words and records the sound of the spoken word. So the art is the picture of the sound waves and if you check it out they all look really awesome. It's also not just words, they mention making picture of dog barks or wedding vows or even your favourite song. I think this really appeals to me because it's so simple.

I've attached the link so you can all check it out and maybe even buy one if you like it enough!

http://weareatomik.com/2011/10/19/art-made-from-your-voice/

Typography

I have always had a love of words and I don’t mean in the, I love to read sense (though I do love to do that, as well), but rather interesting words or quotes printed on jewelry or notebooks or posters or any other place you could possibly think of to put them. Even, for example, projected words on buildings like Jenny Holzer does, who is an artist we were introduced to by Frances in Theatrical Design. This is why the site I’ve shared with you below was so cool to me. It’s called typography, which is really just the arrangement of words to make them readable, but here it’s much more creative than that definition of it makes it sound. It’s often not just words, but mixed with other pictures or graphics. The ones in the site are really quite creative and made to send some great messages so I really encourage you to check it out

http://blog.reflexstock.com/2010/08/50-extremely-awesome-examples-of-typography/

NPH

So, last class we had to talk a bit about our favourite actor and why we like them. If you know me at all, you could probably guess that mine was Neil Patrick Harris. I’ve been a little in awe of him since I was first introduced to his show, How I met Your Mother (if you don’t know it, check it out! It’s a favourite of mine). I think one of the biggest things I admire about him is that he seems to try a little bit of everything from Movies to TV to Theatre. Plus, if you check out what he’s done, it’s not just bit part in TV shows like HIMYM, but small things like an appearance on Sesame Street, or a talking monkey with a vocabulary of about 10 words in Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs—and of course, let’s not forget about Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, which he did for free might I add. For me, his versatility is a little staggering and he just keeps doing new things. As well, I know I don’t know him, but he just seems like an all-around good person to go with it.

I have put a link below of an interview with him on his news film, The Smurfs, which all of you should really check out, because he’s awesome and I think he had some interesting things to say.

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2011/07/28/neil-patrick-harris-on-acting-with-smurfs-and-not-being-douchey/

Dancing Makes You Smarter

If you don’t dance, clearly you should be. According to this article that I have found, dancing makes you smarter. The New England Journal of Medicine did a study on the effects of recreational activities on mental acuity in aging. They studied all kinds of cognitive activities, such as, reading, writing, doing crossword puzzles, playing cards, and playing musical instruments. They also studied physical activities, such as, playing tennis and golf, swimming, biking, dancing, walking for exercise, and housework. Dancing was the greatest risk reduction out of any of the activities and the only physical activity that made any difference. The question they had to ask next was why dancing? And what they discovered is that doing activities, which require split-second rapid-fire decision-making, is the best way to improve mental acuity. I think this is so fascinating to me because I was always taught that the best way to exercise your brain is to read. According to this, the key is in decision-making, which I think could be a lot of different activities, but I personally like the idea of dancing best!

I have put the link for the article below so you can read about the whole study and other interesting tidbits, like whether this is more beneficial for men or women.

http://socialdance.stanford.edu/syllabi/smarter.htm

Tsyeba 4

Alan Watts discusses Nothing

 

I really feel sorry for those people that shit bricks so often that they can't ever appreciate the fact that it's completely unnecessary.  If you think about it, there's really nothing in the world that should get you out of sorts because everything is really nothing.  Now, this is a philosophical view that I'm talking about.  I'm not saying you should pull a Matrix and maintain the view that "there is no spoon."  Because there is a spoon.  You can see that.  I'm saying that all the things that people worry about aren't important in the long run because at the end of the day, it's all really nothing.  I have accepted this take on life, and it helps me to steady myself and not let the discrepancies and unpleasant surprises bother me.  It's really quite a relief.   A saying by yours truly, "Why be serious when you can be silly?"  Just RELAX.

Alan Watts gave a talk on the state of nothingness.  It's a really good meditative lecture.  Watch this:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssf7P-Sgcrk&feature=player_detailpage

Tsyeba 3

Remi Gaillard

 

This guy is basically the French version of Jackass.  He is a practical jokester and gives a whole different meaning to the term "civil disobedience."  He's pretty boss. He's been arrested multiple times and yet still continues to disturb the peace.  I commend you, sir.  You are an inspiration to those of us that have had enough of the world's conformity and sometimes want to dress up like astronauts and steal people's golf flags.  I think we should all learn something from him and make the small change of doing something totally out of the ordinary every once in awhile.  Hug a stranger and then run away screaming madly (last part optional).  Speak Shakespeare in everyday conversation.  Do a cartwheel on the sidewalk (just make sure not to hit anyone).  Or, if you're not quite ready to go that far into the world of random spontaneity, take out your earphones and say hello to everyone you make contact with....just a suggestion.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb6K868RCVY&feature=player_detailpage

Tsyeba 2

Kid Wonder

 

So...this kid's name is Brendan MacFarlane.  Not quite sure how old he is, but he's definitely pre-pubescent because he hasn't hit that awkward voice cracking stage yet...Anyway, he and his dad are in a guitar shop, and they perform "Just Another Day" by Sam Cooke & the Soul Stirrers.  Brendan on vocals and dad on guitar accompaniment.  Minds. Is. Blown.  I had to share this because I love the blues and this kid is totally on pitch and has phenomenal control.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=KV-JUZCWjLg&vq=medium

from Tsyeba 1

Improv Tips!

 

I have always found improv very hard.  Mainly because I don't think I'm quick enough in my brain and on my feet to come up with stuff on the spot.  And I admire those that are apt enough to take part in it.  I came across some tips for improv though, so maybe the next time Fortnight comes along, I'll be able to participate more productively in the improv games.  Anyone ever want to do spontaneous theatre in the dining hall or something, I'm down for that too!

 

www.mademan.com/mm/10-acting-improv-tips.html

Brain Magic

I found this article about a new discipline I’ve never heard of called “neuromagic.” Magicians manipulate the attention and consciousness of their spectators in ways that neuroscientists in a lab have never been able to manage. Magicians have a repertoire of techniques that they use to fool their spectators to enhance the perception of their tricks. For example, misdirection which uses inattentional blindness and change blindness to deceive their audience. Now neuroscientists are teaming up with magicians to discover what this art form can tell them about the brain. I love this article because it begins to show us how art and pefrormance can not only make way in helping our society socially, but now it’s beginning to help us scientifically, as well.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/neurophilosophy/2011/oct/14/1

O'Neill's Lost Play

http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2011/oct/18/eugene-oneill-play-new-yorker

I came across this article about The New Yorker publishing a one act play called Exorcism by Eugene O'Neill which had been lost for ninety one years. The play is about O'Neill's suicide attempt. I think it is so exciting that people will now have access to this in order to understand his frame of mind at the time and the reasons he continued to write. There are countless works that have been written and never discovered, so it is really nice when one is recovered, especially one by such a renowned playwright.

Empire of the Sun Movie

The Empire of Japan had been at war with China since 1937 before declaring war on the United States and the United Kingdom. During the conflict, Jamie Graham, a British upper middle class schoolboy living in Shanghai, is separated from his parents. He spends some time living in his deserted house and eating remnants of food; eventually, he ventures out into the city and finds it bustling with Japanese troops. Jamie is captured along with Basie, an American sailor, who nicknames him "Jim". They are taken to Lunghua Civilian Assembly Center in Shanghai; but are eventually moved to Suzhou Creek Internment Camp. By 1945, a few months before the end of the Pacific War, Jim has established a good living, despite the poor conditions of the camp. He has an extensive trading network, even involving the camp's commanding officer, Sergeant Nagata.

Dr. Rawlins, the camp's British director, becomes a father figure to Jim. Through the barbwire fencing, Jim befriends a Japanese teenager, who shares Jim's dream of becoming a pilot. Still idolizing Basie, Jim frequently visits him in the American soldiers' barracks. At one point, Basie charges him to set snare traps outside the wire of the camp and while Jim succeeds, thanks to the help of the Japanese teenager from the other side, the real reason for sending Jim into the marsh was actually to test the area for mines, not to catch game. As a reward, Basie allows him to move into the American barracks with him. Basie then plots to escape.

Nagata visits Basie's barracks and Nagata beats him severely after discovering a stolen bar of Japanese soap hidden under a table. While Basie is in the infirmary, his possessions are stolen by other men in the camp. One morning at dawn, Jim witnesses a kamikaze ritual of three Japanese pilots at the air base. Overcome with emotion at the solemnity of the ceremony he begins to sing the Welsh song Suo Gân. Later, the camp comes under attack by a group of American P-51 Mustangfighter aircraft. As a result of the attack, the Japanese decide to evacuate the camp, and Basie escapes during the confusion, leaving Jim behind, although he had promised to let Jim come with him. The camp's population marches through the wilderness, where many die of fatigue, starvation, and disease. During the march Jim witnesses a flash from the atomic bombing of Nagasaki hundreds of miles away, and hears news of Japan's surrender and the end of the war.

Jim sneaks away from the group and goes back to Soochow Creek, nearly dead from starvation. He encounters the Japanese youth he knew earlier, who has since become a pilot and appears distraught at the surrender of his country. The youth remembers Jim and offers him a mango, cutting it for him with his katana sword. As Jim is about to eat it, Basie reappears with a group of armed Americans, who have arrived to loot the Red Cross containers that were dropped after the Japanese surrender. One of the Americans, thinking Jim is in danger, shoots and kills the Japanese youth. Jim, furious, beats the American who shot his friend. Basie drags him off and promises to take him back to Shanghai to find his parents, but Jim refuses the offer and stays behind. He is found by American soldiers and put in an orphanage in Shanghai with other children who had lost their parents. When his parents come looking for him, Jim is so scarred from his experiences that he does not recognize them at first.

Acting

One of the first actors is believed to be an ancient Greek called Thespis of Icaria. An apocryphal story says that Thespis stepped out of the dithyrambic chorus and spoke to them as a separate character. Before Thespis, the chorus narrated (for example, "Dionysus did this, Dionysus said that"). When Thespis stepped out from the chorus, he spoke as if he was the character (for example, "I am Dionysus. I did this"). From Thespis' name derives the word thespian.

Acting requires a wide range of skills, including vocal projection, clarity of speech, physical expressivity, emotional facility, a well-developed imagination, and the ability to interpret drama. Acting also often demands an ability to employ dialects, accents and body language, improvisation, observation and emulation, mime, and stage combat. Many actors train at length in special programs or colleges to develop these skills, and today the vast majority of professional actors have undergone extensive training. Even though one actor may have years of training, they always strive for more lessons; the cinematic and theatrical world is always changing and because of this, the actor must stay as up to date as possible. Actors and actresses will often have many instructors and teachers for a full range of training involving, but not limited to, singing, scene-work, monologue techniques, audition techniques and partner work.

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How to prepare for an Audition

Painless audition

Everyone hates auditions. Everyone. Actors hate doing them. directors and producers hate holding them. No one in the theater enjoys the audition process. It is stressful, uncertain, time consuming, and uncomfortable for everyone involved. But it is also the only way that actually works.

As an actor, there are some things you can do to make the process easier on yourself, and that ultimately will make you a more professional prospect to an auditing director or producer. Some of this may sound obvious, but you know what? You would be surprised. The following tips are meant in the context of the general (sometimes referred to as "cattle call") theater audition.

Prepare your audition pieces. Rehearse them as you would rehearse a play. Work on them with a coach, director or other knowledgeable colleague. Be as confident with the piece as you would a role you were performing. Work on them outside of the context of an upcoming audition. Work on them in front of people.

Don't wait until the night before your audition to search for, memorize and rehearse an audition piece!

Finding the perfect audition piece is probably the most difficult task of all. Take the time to find a piece that speaks to you; that you like and identify with. Search audition books (see #5 below), ask fellow actors and directors their opinions, if you have any playwright friends ask them if they have anything you might use! Gather two to five possibilities and ask friends and colleagues what they think.

The piece you pick should be a character you would actually have a chance being cast as. As a twenty year old female actor, showing the auditors that you can play an 80 year old man isn't going to help them in most cases.

Pick monologues from plays. It is perfectly okay to use a new play or something the auditors have not heard before, but pick a piece from an actual play and read the play in its entirety, not just the scene or the monologue.

When rehearsing your piece, make one to three clear, distinct acting choices and commit to them fully. When in doubt, simplify.

Keep the blocking in your piece simple as well. Choose one to three clear, precise movements or crosses. When in doubt, simplify.

Show the auditors what they ask for. If they ask for two monologue pieces and a song, prepare that. If they ask for two contrasting pieces, that means they want one contemporary piece and one classical, one of which is serious and the other funny. Classical pieces generally mean language verse pieces- Shakespeare or his contemporaries, The Greeks, Moliere or the like. When using a translated piece like Moliere, make sure the translations are in verse as well. The auditors want to see how you handle poetic and metered language.

If the auditors give you a choice of presenting one or two pieces, choose to do one and do the funny one. Give that one piece the same amount of preparation you would give two pieces.

Just so you know

Candide

Candide, at Huntington Theatre Company this fall, is amazing. Amazing. AMAZING!  I have not gone to a more visually stunning and musically moving show in a long while. Candide runs through October 16th as the kickoff to Huntington’s 30th Anniversary Season. Huntington welcomes a production that is clearly part remount, part newly produced, bringing several Chicago artists to Boston – most notably... [Read more]

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Next Fall

Opening the 21st Season (they’re finally able to legally drink!) at SpeakEasy Stage Company is Geoffrey Nauffts’ Tony award-nominated play, Next Fall. With a cast chock full of talent tackling some incredibly engaging issues, Next Fall was a stellar (and seasonally appropriate) kickoff to the season. The central plot unfolds in a hospital waiting room where those close to Luke (Dan Roach) have... [Read more]

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Porgy and Bess

  As the final curtain fell, the house lights rose, and I began my way out of the Loeb Drama Center, my ears couldn’t help but hone into the conversation happening behind me. A woman remarked to her theatergoing companion, “Well, I give it an A for effort.” In the moment, I couldn’t help but focus on the tactlessness of such a statement while still inside the theater. However, upon further... [Read more]

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Hideous Progeny

Hideous Progeny, produced by Holland Productions and running through July 23rd at the Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, is a phenomenal work exploring the lives of Mary Shelley, Percy Shelley and Lord Byron before Frankenstein was written. The play begins after Lord Byron had received much fame as a poet, and infamy as a sodomite, and before Percy Shelley had obtained much of an fame at all.  This historically... [Read more]

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Niobe, Regina di Tebe

The centerpiece for the bi-annual Boston Early Music Festival is Niobe, Regina di Tebe, a baroque opera by Agostino Steffani, first produced in 1688. People come from across the world for BEMF’s production every other year full of excitement at what will be produced. I could hardly maintain my composure as I sat down in the illustrious Cutler Majestic Theater for this production and waited... [Read more]

John Simms will star in Betrayal

John Simm will star in Betrayal as part of Sheffield Theatres’ 40th anniversary season, which will also feature a trio of Michael Frayn plays.

Playwright Michael Frayn, whose plays and other works will be featured in Sheffield Theatres' 40th anniversary seasonPhoto: Scott Matthewman

Simm will play Jerry in Harold Pinter’s play, which will be directed by Nick Bagnall. It will run from May 17 to June 9, 2012, with press night on May 22, 2012.

The Michael Frayn season will feature revivals of Copenhagen, Benefactors and Democracy and will take place across the Sheffield Theatres venues – the Lyceum, the Crucible and the Studio from February next year. Rehearsed readings of other texts will also be included in the mini-season, alongside an event with the playwright.

William Congreve’s The Way of the World will launch the second six months of the organisation’s year-long 40th anniversary celebrations in February and will be directed by Lyndsey Turner.

Meanwhile, Sheffield Theatres has also announced that it is to become the new home of the International Student Drama Festival and that it will stage the premiere of Kaite O’Reilly’s LeanerFasterStronger with Chol Theatre in association with iMove as part of Yorkshire’s Cultural Olympiad.

Artistic director Daniel Evans said: “It is a genuine privilege to be leading the organisation during this special time.”

The Mountaintop

Katori Hall's new play The Mountaintop—now at the Jacobs Theatre on Broadway—takes place at the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee on the night of April 3, 1968. A note in the press kit asks reviewers not to reveal any of the plot twists that occur, but since the historical record is clear that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on the balcony of the Lorraine Hotel the following afternoon, it's not giving anything away to tell you that The Mountaintop is about what might have happened to Dr. King on his last night on earth. Hall imagines a long conversation between Dr. King and a hotel maid named Camae. Given the gravity of the situation, one imagines that either the audience or Dr. King will learn something as a result of this discussion, but sadlyThe Mountaintop fails to deliver on either count.

The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs

Mike Daisey’s latest one-man show, The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs, has extended its off-Broadway run at the Public Theater by three weeks. The show, which began previews on October 11 and opened on October 17, will run through December 4 rather than November 13.

In The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs, Daisey wraps his formidable wit around America's most mysterious technology icon in what's described as a "hilarious and harrowing tale of pride, beauty, lust and industrial design." Daisey illuminates how the late Apple CEO and his obsessions shaped our lives, while sharing stories of his own travels to China to investigate the factories where millions toil to make iPhones and iPods. Daisey's journey shines a light on our love affair with our devices and the human cost of creating them.

New Generations Program

The New Generations Program was designed by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and TCG.  Round 11 of this program is funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

The New Generations Program offers three objectives:

Objective #1: Future Leaders - Emerging leaders in all areas of the theatre field are mentored by accomplished theatre professionals at a host theatre. $80,000 ($40,000/nine-month period) will be paid to the theatre in support of an eighteen-month mentorship with up to an additional $10,000 available to the mentee either to defray outstanding student loan debt or to meet unique costs incurred when an international mentee is selected.

Objective #2: Future Audiences - Theatres with a successful track record of reaching age-specific, culturally specific and/or underserved communities will receive a matching grant of up to $65,000 ($32,500/year) to support the development or expansion of technology aimed at cultivating a diverse audience. Up to $5,000 in additional funding will be available to help recipients transition out of the program.

Objective #3: Future Collaborations - A geographically unrestricted grant of up to $6,000 will be paid to theatres and individual theatre professionals to facilitate international collaboration by way of hosting or traveling abroad. The Future Collaborations objective is funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.  

The Brechtian Way for an actor

I needed a little review on how the Brecht technique differs from other techniques like Michael Chekhov:

-Not to impersonate, but to narrate
-Must be relax, not letting muscles get tense
-The Brechtian actor needs to be in control of his or her emotions
-Aware to the presence of the audience is vital
-It is about the story, not the characters

http://www.teachit.co.uk/armoore/drama/brecht.htm#13

Wallace and Gromit

When I was little I loved to watch Wallace and Gromit. Recently the VHS I had of it died! Sad day. I was talking about it today and we realized that a lot of people we talk to have never heard of Wallace and Gromit. I feel that this is a tragedy and that everyone should know about it. Basically it is a hilarious clay-mation series about an inventor and his dog. Even though the clay-mation is not great compared to today's standards I feel it was pretty impressive at the time. Plus it is just so dang funny. So find it. Watch it. It is awesome!

WALLACE AND GROMIT

Foley Artistry

A few summers ago I was working at a summer camp and the heads of the camp brought in master foley artists to come in and teach the chillins about what they did. I got to sit in on the class and it was really very interesting. Foley is used to enhance sound in movies and cartoons. A lot of times it is used to replace noises that were lost during the filming process. I feel that there is a great deal of creativity that comes with this job. They guys we worked with at the camp has built many machines to make different noises. There was a rig with chains on it to make the sound of a draw bridge going up and down and things as simple as the first aid cold packs were used to make "splat" or "thud" noises. It is really a cool thing to explore further. I found an interesting video of a top foley artist explaining his craft. Hope you enjoy!

Foley

Motion Capture

After talking about motion capture I started to get curious about how different companies do the motion capture for different projects.  So I began to look at some different videos.  I found some behind the scenes footage from White Tiger Legend a martial arts animated adventure and Alvernia Studios a high-end motion capture studio.  Please excuse the Polish during the tour of the studios.

Alvernia Studios

White Tiger Legend

Alvernia Studios 2

Alvernia Motion Capture

Longest argument

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfJcEziJcy4

This scene is hilarious! Its a scene that was cut from the movie Bridesmaids.

These two girls have a hilarious argument for like 10 minutes. It's ridiculous how much

they improv'd for this.

Dees Nuttz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3xXIzE5jhE

Okay.. this is a video my boy made for his class. Basically, it is supposed to be the introduction to a movie or something, where I am a 'prostitute'. All i can say is that it was pretty fun to shoot.

creating objectives

terribleminds.com/ramble/2011/08/02/25-ways-to-fuck-with-your-characters/

This website shows unconventional ways to add motives and objectives for your characters that may not be there. I feel it will help alot for character development, and not play dull objectives.

http://www.voices.com/

this site is pretty cool. It actually shows how easy it is to do something NOW and get your career started. Technology is really prevailing in the world, and this is the time to take advantage of it.

On this site you can basically submit your voice for a voice over of anything. They randomly take people to do voices for product advertising, movie commercials, video games, and more from famous companies.

acting tips

www.instructables.com/id/Acting-Tips-2/

this site is actually really helpful. it gives lots of useful tips on how to build a character, produce a better show and so on. a must read!!

Memorizing lines

terryfoxtheatre.publishpath.com/six-tips-to-help-you-remember-your-

This site just give simple tips that help you memorize your lines.

I overlooked them but they are really helpful.

We discussed some in class.

Shitting on Michael Cera

www.cracked.com/funny-3759-michael-cera/

This guy's movies are all the same to me. He acts the same in all of them. And I came across this website that broke it down so well.

Eyelink

www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/82257

This is a technology that senses where your eye moves every 1/3 second when watching something. It can really affect how filmers and movie producers edit the movies that they create or how they film something. It shows how every detail counts. Watch the video! really cool

Rowan atkinson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4cmrMJul1g

This is a clip of Rowan Atkinson as Mr. Bean, one of my favorite childhood shows.

People consider this kind of acting very stupid and clownish, but I think Rowan Atkinson

is a genius for putting on a show with minimal speaking, where he relies solely on his facial expressions and movements. He executes the character really well.

Many people don't know him for his wittier comedy like Black Adder, in which he played the opposite role of a very funny and witty character.

I wanted to show my appreciation for Rowan Atkinson.

REMI GAILLARD: the man!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqOBR_Xbw2I&feature=relmfu

basically this french guy puts on a character and goes around in real life messing around with real people. In this video, he just does stupid shitt pretending to train like Rocky. Check out his other videos!

check out: snail, astronaut, and mario kart

Drawing and Photography Hybrid

I ran across this page the other day full of pictures that are part drawing and part photography. I think its so great how the artist is able to combine different forms to create some really unique pieces. The drawing parts of the picture are always more whimsical than the photographed parts which is great. It looks as if the artist just looked at a real place and thought "I know how to make this better, add a cartoon dinosaur." It is really interesting to be able to actually see the world as it is juxtaposed with someone's imagination of it. Anyway, it's pretty cool and you should check it out, the link is below.

http://thewondrous.com/amazingly-creative-drawing-vs-photography/

Pub Theaters

I found this article about London pub theatre a while ago and filed it away to take a look at it later. When I finally got around to reading it I discovered that it sounds pretty cool. These pub theaters are just what they sound like, theatre in a pub. The theatre space is usually either upstairs from the pub or in the basement. These are very intimate theatre spaces which is something I love and that you see a lot with nontraditional theaters like these pub theaters. This style of theatre is actually very old and goes back to the middle ages when traveling performers would ask landlords if they could perform on their property. I think it's really cool that a style of presenting theatre like this one has evolved and stayed a relevant and interesting way for audiences to experience theatre from the middle ages to today. If you want to check out the article that I read the link is below.

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/6bxFJu/gouk.about.com/od/entertainmentandnightlife/qt/London_Theatre_Pubs.htm

Yummy!

http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/theatre/theatre-fare-thats-good-enough-to-eat-20111010-1lhh1.html

I thought this was so cool! I love food and I love theatre, and unlike traditional dinner theaters which just overlap the two without artistic intent, Ali Zaidi is creating something tasty for his audiences by sharing his experiences through food. Taste, the sense which usually isn't livened at the theatre unless it's by the Reese's Pieces you bought at the concession stand, is being utilized in a whole new artistic and exciting way.

Spotlight on an Actress' Appearance

A new exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, The First Actresses: Nell Gwyn to Sarah Siddons, prompted the author to write this article about the constant scrutiny of the appearance of actresses. Commentary about the appearance of an actress is second nature to society and has been going on since the very first actress Nell Gwyn, during the restoration. I think that this is part of the problem. Many critics spend half as much time assessing an actress’ appearance as they do her acting abilities and society rarely notices. Usually the only place something like this is even discussed is in a sociology class. If it’s not recognized, how can it change? I think it needs to be recognized that our culture objectifies actresses and only leads our culture to an even greater emphasis on appearance rather than substance.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2011/oct/14/paintings-first-actresses-national-portrait-gallery#

90 Minutes or Less

http://www.kansascity.com/2011/10/14/3205257/on-stage-playing-it-short-as-in.html

In this article, the Kansas City Star reported that there may be a new wave of popularity for one act plays. I definitely think theatre would be more effective with audiences if plays had a shorter running time than the typical 2 hours including intermission. Today's public is about instant gratification and entertainment. We live in a world with television and movies and if we hope to get people's attention as theatre practitioners, we need to play by the audiences rules. People generally don't want to have to think too hard when they are at a leisurely activity, and more importantly they don't want to be bored. Plays usually require some intellectual participation by the audience, and if a play runs too long the audience will drop out mentally. Some may say that this will only enable our lazy society but if we want to reach people and really get them to consider change in the world, or at least give business to theaters, we must consider ways to keep their experience to their liking so that they keep coming back.

Food Fight

So this is video on youtube from a few years ago that was just shown to me recently. It’s called Food Fight and it is basically a history of American centric warfare from World War II until present day. What’s so original and cool about it is that every country is represented by food, which is what’s fighting in the film. For example, America by a burger and fries, France by a croissant, and Germany by a wurst. What I thought was also cool is that the stop motion was created in a program called after effects using keyframe animation. I didn’t even know such a thing existed, so I am super fascinated by it. I’ve also included a link for an index of the battles and a link for an index of what country the foods represent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-yldqNkGfo

http://www.touristpictures.com/foodfight/index.htm

http://www.touristpictures.com/foodfight/cheat.htm

Festival of Lights!

I happened to find this really cool gallery of photos last week from the Berlin Festival of Lights.  I had no idea that they did this but it definitely seems like it is an amazing thing to witness.  From October 12-23, 2011 a lot of landmarks in Berlin will be illuminated with images projections and even fireworks.  These pictures are really interesting and they are all very different.

Festival of Lights

If you are free on THURSDAY NIGHTS, go to this class!!

The class is on Thurdays at 7 pm to 830 pm at Boston Ballet with Yo-el Cassell. It is an open adult class that focuses on Modern Dance. There is a live accompanist on the drums playing beats that go with the exercises that Yo-el teaches. I was sweating my ass off, what a great class! And Yo-el is also an amazing Movement teacher, as i had the pleasure of working with him over the summer. I strongly recommend this class to anyone and everyone.

http://www.bostonballet.org/school/adults/adult-open-classes.html

YOGA in ACTING

When warming up, there are several helpful tools from doing a few yoga positions that can translate to one's acting. The major factor of yoga and acting is breathing. When doing yoga, it is easier to connect the inner and outer worlds by simply just breathing, forgetting about the task at hand. Then, from this breath will come easy access to energy and agility of thought. Also the possible transitions in yoga (from extreme physicality to stillness) can be very beneficial to waken up the brain, so then one can be alert to what is going on in and/or around him/her. When given the opportunity to stretch/warm up, DO IT! It will never harm you.

Banksy

I'm a big fan of street art and I especially love Banksy. I think street art is so great because it can be done by anyone and can reach anyone. It is an art form that anyone walking down the street can see, you don't need to be prestigious enough to be in a museum in order for people to see your work and you can see art without having to go to a museum. Another great thing about street art is that the artists are completely free to express themselves and their ideas, they are not being censored by anyone. Something that I love about Banksy is that he always addresses social issues that concern him in his work. This website that I found has tons of street art from all different artists. I've added the link to a page focusing on Banksy below. Another really cool thing about Banksy is that one of his paintings in nearby in Chinatown so you can go see it in person.

http://www.streetartutopia.com/?p=720

Milky Way video

I ran across this amazingly beautiful time lapse video of the milky way taken from El Teide, the highest mountain in Spain. In addition to amazing views of the milky way there are also great shots of the landscape in this video. I was awed by how beautiful and detailed the footage in the film is. I am always amazed by time lapse photography because I find it so interesting that the sort of things we see in the footage are going on around us all the time but we are moving so fast that we don't notice their much slower progress. The footage is all shot using a Canon 5D Mark II with a variety of different lenses. The quality of footage achievable with this camera amazes me because, while it's certainly not in my price range, it really isn't inaccessibly expensive. If you want to see some amazing filming check this video out.

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/9guNPY/shuttersalt.com/blog/most-amazing-time-lapse-video-milky-way-ever-made-seriously

Stand-Up Robot

As I mentioned, I found a TED video that has a stand-up robot as it's subject. The video is about a year old but I feel that it is still relevant. It is interesting to see (and hear) what is happening in the development of this robot. This video is during it's earlier phases and it learns how to do comedy based off of the audience's reactions to the jokes. Knowing how this robot learns is pretty fascinating. Also, knowing how it has developed over the past year or so is also something to take not of while watching the video. On top of it all, it tells some pretty decent jokes.

STAND- UP ROBOT

Bechdel Test

So I stumbled upon this interesting article about something called a bechdel test. What this is, is a criteria for movies, that entails having two female characters in a movie have a conversation with each other. Not too hard right? Wrong! There are some big time movies on the list that don't make the cut. How is it that some of the most popular movies in cinematic history don't fit the bill of having two female characters talking to each other? Well see for yourself...

BECHDEL TEST

Equality Theatre Opportunities for Genders

http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/theatreblog/2011/oct/06/gender-equality-theatre-julia-pascal

This article sheds some light on our industry in terms of the imbalance of power between men and women. I support Pascal's efforts to motivate playwrights to create more substantial female roles as well as her proposal to Arts Council England that they legally enforce women's rights in the theatre world.

Hey big shot! you might need some lessons.

Not all people working as actors in film, television or theatre are professionally trained. Conservatories typically offer two- to four-year training on all aspects of acting. Universities will offer three- to four-year programs, where a student is often able to choose to focus on drama, while still learning about other aspects of theatre. Schools will vary in their approach, but in North America the most popular method taught derives from the "system" of Constantin Stanislavski, which was developed and popularised in America by Lee Strasberg, Stella Adler, and others. The ambiguously termed method acting came about through iterations of Stanislavski's system by Strasberg. Other approaches may include a more physical approach, following the teachings of Jerzy Grotowski and others, or may be based on the training developed by other theatre practitioners including Sanford Meisner. Other classes may include mask work, improvisation, and acting for the camera. Regardless of a school's approach, students should expect intensive training in textual interpretation, voice and movement. Although there are some teachers who will encourage the improvisation as technique in order to free the actor of limitations in rehearsal. Harold Guskin's approach or "taking it off the page" as he calls it is steeped in this philosophy. Applications to drama programs and conservatories are through auditions in the United States. Anybody over the age of 18 can usually apply todrama school.

Training may also start at a very young age. Acting classes and professional schools targeted at the under-18 crowd are offered in many locations. These classes introduce young actors to different aspects of acting and theatre from scene study to musical theatre.

I'm impressed to know that some actors in Hollywood have taken very few acting classes. 

[edit]

A Different Kind of Big Screen

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2011/oct/10/tacita-dean-film-review

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/gallery/2011/oct/10/tacita-dean-film-in-pictures

Tacita Dean has a new project at the Tate Modern Gallery in London. Dean is a photographer and artist known for her work with film. She began a series using 35 mm film which is projected on a 13 meter tall slab in Turbine Hall at the Tate Modern Gallery. The pieces are larger than life and emphasize the beauty of film as opposed to a digital medium. Film is becoming a dying art because of the impressive advancements of a digital world. It's nice to see Dean's dedication to the art-form she believes in and the grandeur in which she portrays a craft that requires more than the press of a button.

Jeremy Seglem

The other day in class after talking about how we have the ability to just make theatre in so many forms, I found a link about Jeremy Seglem.  He actually started his acting career about five years ago his own short web videos.  He now works with Tim Young to produce more online videos for his viewers.  After many hits, he now has a new web series called "Cop/Cop."  It's pretty cool-- you just don't want to watch this near any young children!

Jeremy Seglem Interview

Youtube Channel with all of the videos

The Actor's Day Job

After talking about the new types of acting opportunities that there are out there for actors, I found this article talking about a new day job that a lot of actors are doing: playing faux medical patients.  A lot of hospitals actually hire actors to be patients with specified conditions in order to allow their medical students a chance to work on their skills.  The article talks about how it is a practice of with-holding and still using purpose in order to be these faux patients.  It is the newest way to play sick and still get paid.  There are now even conventions where these character actors meet to discuss their techniques, etc.  This has even helped actors who have gone on to be in different tv shows and these interactions are all filmed.  It's a pretty interesting new sphere to look at.

New Day Job for Actors...

The Techie Gospel

A cool spin on the Holy Writ:

http://www.theatretechie.com/gospel.html

Lighting

For those of us that have no clue what the MEs and AMEs (and other such like-minded people) are talking about when they try to explain lighting design, here is a link that will help with our confusion.

In my case, trying to understand the mechanics of lighting is one of the most complex things in the world. I don't register the differences between anything. It's terrible. So, I looked for something that might help me. I came across this little photometric tool and, the more I play with it, the less complex lighting becomes....have a go if you also desperately need assistance!

Check it out:

http://www.etcconnect.com/minisite/sourcefour/metrics.html

Lucinda Childs & Einstein on the Beach

I remember learning about Einstein on the Beach during our Freshman year.  I remember Jonathan had us watching clips from Einstein on the Beach in Art of the Theatre.  Lucinda Childs was chosen to lead the ensemble of the opera during the 1970's.  The article discusses just how much the production helped with Childs' career and what new opportunities it allowed for her to participate in.  Finally, Childs talks about her future and how moving she found the revival of Einstein on the Beach to be incredibly moving.

How Einstein helped dancer Lucinda Childs

Pilobolus & "Seraph"

Since we've been talking a lot about robots and motion capture lately, I thought this was pretty cool.  MIT's aerial robots have been programmed to perform a ten minute routine entitled "Seraph" with the Pilobolus dance troupe.  The performance is a really great mix of art and technology.  The robots blink lights and different color mixes that they project.

Pilobolus "Seraph"

Invitation to Dance

Anna Deavere Smith

I found this TED talk video of Anna Deavere Smith performing 4 characters and speaking a little about the work she does. I find her and the way she works to be absolutely fascinating. Her process of developing a character is so unique, she gets into character through their voice and physicality. I think it's a mark of how good she is that she is never just doing an imitation of the character but she actually is the character. I think that the way someone speaks and the way that they carry themselves can tell us so much about who they are and I believe that is the reason that her technique has been so effective for her. Another thing I love about her is that she interviews all kinds of people, one of the characters that she performs in this video is a convict that she interviewed in prison. Check out the video below, it's a little long but worth watching.

http://www.ted.com/talks/anna_deavere_smith_s_american_character.html

The Tempest Oxford Production

I ran across this article about the difference between drama and theatre. The main topic of this article addressed something we all know, that plays are meant to be performed and not just read. What I found interesting about it was the opening paragraph. The article opens with a description of a certain production of The Tempest as a demonstration of the difference between an image onstage and a simple stage direction. This production took place outdoors and used natural light along with artificial light for effects and just all around sounds like it was pretty cool. Check out the description of it here.

http://www.skidmore.edu/academics/lsi/arcadia/playreading.html

Broadway Hits the Big Screen

So according to this article I found, Broadway will be coming to cinemas all around the world. I thought this was really interesting and made me ponder on whether it was good or bad. On the one hand, it will be exposing large populations to theatre and maybe inspire people to go out and see live theatre. As well, I'm sure it's cheaper. On the other hand, what are we taking away from the performance by showing it through a lens. Also, don't get me wrong, I love musicals, but why does this not extent to plays too? Shouldn't we be trying to expose the world to all theatre rather than just musicals? I personally think this could be a step in the right direction, especially in terms of exposure. It's like what we discussed in class today, a fan base is important, it's what will push you above and beyond and open more doors.

http://www.backstage.com/bso/news-and-features-news/broadway-shows-to-play-in-movie-theaters-1005368272.story

The Creation of WAR HORSE

I have found myself in a puppet mood today. For those of us who saw WAR HORSE in NY, you know how touching and life-like the horse puppets were. I found a video from the creators of the puppets and they are talking about the evolution of the horses. One thing that I found very interesting was that the thing they had the most trouble with was making sure there was breath in the puppet. They said that for a live actor the challenge is dying on stage but for a puppet the challenge in living on stage. The creators of the horses are based out of South Africa. I know someone who went to their studio and was able to meet them and they said that these guys are some of the the most creative people they had ever met. Watching this video makes me want to see the show again. It is one of the best productions I have ever seen, so to be able to see the magic behind these puppets is fascinating.

WAR HORSE

Childhood Memories Brought To Life

I saw this link to imdb on someone's facebook and I decided to check it out. Turns out it was a trailer for a new documentary that goes in depth and behind the scenes of the life of a sesame street puppeteer. I loved the show when I was little so to see how it all works is very interesting to me. Not to mention that being a puppeteer is a true art. It is mentioned in the documentary trailer that it is exceeding difficult to bring life and personality to a piece of cloth (what the puppets essentially are). I think when this comes out it would be a great thing for all performers to go and watch. I have a feeling there will be plenty of new things we can learn from "Elmo".

ELMO!!!

FITB

FITB became a reality in 1988. It was founded by Fanny Mikey and Ramiro Osorio, and launched as part of the 450th anniversary of the founding ofBogotá, with the slogan, An Act of Faith in Colombia. One of its original goals was to foster the integration of Latin American artists and countries before the world. Fourteen years later, it is acknowledged worldwide as one of the largest international events of its kind. This biannual celebration of life is Colombia’s most important cultural event. It presents artists from the five continents and has a profound social impact that transforms and enriches the life of the country’s citizens.

Throughout its 18-year history, the FITB has been committed to presenting diverse work and to promoting plurality, tolerance and the harmonious interaction of all nations. It is a multidisciplinary event that showcases and celebrates all genres of the performing arts: it includes theater, dance, circus, music, puppetry, pantomime, multimedia and performance art. Through the presence of companies and artists from around the world, FITB has fostered an unprecedented development of the performing arts in Colombia.

Bogotá is all decked out for the celebration. Squares, parks, suburbs, coliseums, shopping centers, big tops and unconventional spaces are the home to shows, street theatre and parades. The theatre for open spaces has astonishingly captivated huge popular audiences with shows that have had enormous social, visual and poetic impact representing many diverse trends. Audiences ranging between 4000 and 8000 people per show have exceeded all forecasts during the last Festival. The decentralizing and staging of massive shows all around the city has been one of the fundamental objectives of FITB since its beginnings.

As a meeting place for the guest artists and their audiences, The Cabaret Big Top gave a fantastic program every night to give free rein to music, rumba and the best cabaret shows and musical revues.

FITB also has an ongoing commitment to the education of the general public and to updating the craft and knowledge of Colombian performing arts professionals. For this reason, FITB provides a space for meeting, exchange and reflection that is open to the artistic community during the Festival. FITB offers workshops, courses, seminars, colloquia and forums held by directors, actors, dramatists, producers and other theatre professionals from around the world. This project brought together well over 8000 participants in 2002.