Play Card #6: Once Upon A Lilypad

mask club #4 saw on Thursday, February 23, 2012 at BYU

Once Upon A Lilypad
Written by Jon-Michael Rutter

Prince Tristan is in the forest with his right-hand man and is turned into a frog. Princess Lillian is wandering in the forest with her lady in waiting. As a frog, Prince Tristan meets Princess Lillian and tries to get a kiss from her. They end up getting to know each other very well and find out that they are each other's arranged fiances. Happy ending with several musical numbers and dancing.
3 Characters:

• Prince Tristan
• O: to become human again
• T: 1) to ask princess to kiss him; 2) to bother/chase princess; 3) to provoke sympathy
• Princess Lillian
• O: to avoid her arranged marriage
• T: 1) to delay her time in the forest; 2) to read her book; 3) to allow herself to get caught up in fairytale
• Adelaide -- lady in waiting to Princess Lillian
• O: to keep Lillian safe and get her to the city
• T: 1) to warn Lillian about dangers of forest; 2) to exaggerate, 3) to defend the princess from

Scenes/Monologues/misc:

i liked the musical number at the end. reminded me of Ella Enchanted with the random dance at the end.

Reading a Scene! Finally!

We've finished with exercises, moved on to scene work. Dave and Gabby assigned a part to each of us, from a few different plays: Rabbit Hole, Crimes of the Heart, and Proof. We have about a week--week and a half to cut the scene down, memorize our lines, rehearse, incorporate blocking (the way u move around the stage), etc. so we can perform it and get good feedback.

Goal: read the play (several times), really understand your character, then encompass it in your scene while playing off the other person.

Rabbit Hole 
by David Lindsay-Abaire
I play the part of Becca, late thirties/early fourties, whose 4-year-old son was killed by a car in the street by her house about 8 months ago. She had left the gate open, and the teenage boy had hit him. This scene is the meeting btwn the teenager and Becca at her house.

Jodie Foster Rocks This Shit

Sorry for the "t" in there april (since ur the only one reading this), but there's no other way to say it that shows what i'm trying to convey. I tried "shiz" but it didn't work.

It seems that the best things always come when you're not looking for them.

This one came when I just decided to watch Silence of the Lambs for the first time with my friend. Such a good choice. This movie was definitely a good example of a strong female character. Such presence and power. And yet, layered with a very potent vulnerability. Take a look.

I am so going to try this monologue out. It is a lil intimidating though.. i mean it's Jodie Foster. Can you get any better? Won't stop me though. Will try it out. You may be saying, "this isn't a monologue." well, all you have to do is take out the dialogue of the other character (and if it sounds good) then you've just made it into a monologue.

Play Card #5: Antigone

mask club #3 saw on Thursday, February 16, 2012; 4pm at BYU

Antigone

Written by Jean Anouilh [adapted by Lewis Galantiere]
A woman (Antigone) wants a proper burial for her brother, but her father (Creon) --the nation's general/leader-- would not allow it. In fact, he forbids anyone to try anything like that. So Antigone stands up for what she believes in and attempts to give her brother a proper burial anyway, despite her father's severe consequences. She is found out, but her father wants to save her. Though she is so stubborn that she be treated like everyone else and taunts her father to do something about it. He has no choice. [Spoiler] She is sentenced to death, but not until after they discover that her brother is actually alive. Antigone dies and the brother then takes his own life as a result. Creon is left with no one.
3 Characters:

• Antigone -- strong headed woman in opposition of her father's tyrannical rule

• O: to bury her brother properly and demand fair treatment of all her father's subjects, even her
• T: 1) to ask her father; 2) to conspire without his knowledge; 3) to openly defy him; 4) to sacrifice her own life for justice
• Chorus -- narrator of story
• O: to bring the audience in and help them understand as well as fill in any missing links
• T: 1) to gesture; 2) to excite audience for what is to happen next; 3) to declare the wrongs and rights of the world they live in
• Creon -- strong headed tyrannical ruler that is subject the law he put in place; Antigone's father

• O: to protect his children and his country
• T: 1) to set laws that would fit his command; 2) to appease Antigone so that she will marry her father's suitor; 3) to admit his weakness; 4) to choose to sacrifice his daughter to abide by his law
• Guard -- Creon's brown-noser guard
• O: to please Creon with obedience and servitude
• T: 1) to tell Creon about his daughter's delinquent acts; 2) to be obedient; 3) to keep Antigone's betrayal secret until Creon figured out what to do; 4) to force Antigone to her death

Scenes/Monologues/misc:

This was okay. The acting could have felt more connected in terms of physical actor-actor relationships (standing hips closer together during kiss; stepping away in fear; etc.).

I really enjoyed the Chorus narrator [Sarah Porter]. She had a lot of presence and led the actor-audience relationship very well. I liked her ending monologue about the characters, and how she wrapped it all up.  Also, how she did things on the side of the stage to keep us in check (playing with cards on the bench facing us), that this is still a story.

Antigone had a good monologue. I forgot where.. it was in the middle when she was declaring her right to do what she believed to be right.

Student Commercial Shoot

I had the opportunity to participate in a commercial shoot today. One of the benefits of being part of the advertising program.

I changed into that shirt, was shot at 3 different angles, was directed, was made to look good, etc. etc. Wow was that fun. I loved every minute. There were several takes from each angle and position.

They could have been more specific with what they wanted, but they were sorta just going with the flow of it so whatever. :-)

From start to finish it was probably a couple hours, and this footage is only for a 5-second time slot in the commercial. That's production for ya.

The commercial is for a campaign for Stride Gum.

In this scene, my co-worker and I are ditching work for a minute to play mop hockey outside. I say "Nuckle Puck!" and hit an empty water bottle, then cheer, then get caught by the boss. Basically the campaign shows all of the fun mischief stuff happening... "why does the mayhem have to stop?"

It was all volunteer, but it was soooo great... this feeling of being on camera, being directed, being used and getting real on-camera acting experience.

Also, fun fact. The guy in the top left is part of the Tessa Barton band, whom i think will be big. They are in my previous post Networking: Industry ppl I've Met so far. I had no idea, but he's in the BYU advertising program just like myself. His name is Chaz. Cool stuff.

Play Card #4: Merchant of Venice

saw on Saturday, February 4, 2012; 11am at BYU

Merchant of Venice

by William Shakespeare
A wealthy merchant, Antonia, borrows money from a minority moneylender, Shylock, with the promise of a pound of flesh if she cannot return the money. Meanwhile, there is a princess named Portia that is searching for the right suitor to pick the right box: one is made of gold, another of silver, and the last of lead. Antonia's close friend Bassanio is a young man that wants to marry Portia. Shylock takes Antonia to court when she cannot pay back the money she borrowed. Bassanio who has picked the right box, now married to Portia, goes to defend his close friend. Portia dresses up like a lawyer and saves Antonia by putting Shylock in a strange predicament. All ends well, but Shylock--the minority--is left unsatisfied.
3 Characters:

• Shylock -- a moneylender who is disliked by many
• O: to receive justice
• T: 1) refuses to lend money to Antonia; 2) lends money only based on satisfaction that he'll get a pound of her flesh; 3) takes Antonia to court and demands justice
• Bassanio -- a young man who spends too much money and who wants to marry Portia
• O: to keep his relationships good
• T: 1) convinces Shylock to lend money to Antonia; 2) to decide wisely which box to pick to marry Portia; 3) returns to Antonia to help her in court
• Portia -- a very wealthy and beautiful young woman
• O: to marry who she wants; and to be happy with him
• T: 1) sets up elaborate box-picking choice; 2) to give Bassanio the money he needs to free his friend from bonds; 3) to dress up like a lawyer, travel, and defend Antonia in trial

Scenes/Monologues/misc:

-- i enjoyed so many monologues but could not keep track of them

-- Portia's lines were all good: when she was monologuing about how and who she wants to pick the right box; also when she is defending Antonia is impressive

-- i liked Shylok's passion when he was demanding justice

This was a very unique performance. It was in an all-around theatre where the audience is on all 4 sides and the actors perform in the center. Very entertaining. Also, because this play is a traveling play and was directed for a child audience, key aspects of the setting are improvised by the audience. For this performance:
          --Dominant Culture: Tharian                   --Money: Spices
          --Non-Dominant Culture: Curan              --Place of Business: DI
          --Town: Narnia                                         --Far Away Place: Andalasia

Play Card #3: Elephant Man

saw on Friday, February 3, 2012; 7pm at BYU

Elephant Man

Written by Bernard Pomerance 

A severely disfigured man (John Merrick) is a freak to society. A doctor (Frederick Treves) takes him to study, and treats him like a man. The elephant man had been well taught in intellectual and religious matters. He impresses a famous actress (Mrs. Kendall), who at first was very shocked by his appearance. She grows to appreciate him, respect him, and treat him as a man and as a friend. Merrick becomes a wonder and joy to society, only to end up feeling alone and ultimately dies. Get the program here.

3 Characters:

• John Merrick -- the elephant man
• O: to live freely in society
• T: 1) obeys the doctor; 2) produces art work; 3) is civil and intellectually impressive to people
• Frederick Treves -- the doctor
• O: wants to help John live as normal a life as possible, while also studying his condition
• T: 1) takes John in and has him live in hospital; 2) shuts John off to society accept some individuals; 3) introduces Mrs. Kendall, a princess, scholars, and businessmen to John
• Mrs. Kendall -- the actress; Frederick's friend
• O: wants John to live life well and normal
• T: 1) reserves her initial disgust; 2) tries to let John experience life outside the hospital by trying to convince the doctor to do so; 3) to give herself in vulnerability by showing her body to John

Scenes/Monologues/misc:

-- i wish i kept better track because

-- i really liked the scene when Mrs. Kendall is completely vulnerable to John.. what did she say in this part? Gabby did awesome with this [btw, Gabby is my TA for TMA123 :-)]

-- i loved the dream/nightmare sequence that the doctor had, where the roles are reversed and the doctor is the freak and John is the scientist inspecting him. great scene. very impressive reading by Graham Ward; i also liked how this actor had a constant drool trail for the character

Play Card #2: The Maker's Vale

Mask Club #2 saw on Thursday, February 2, 2012

The Maker's Vale
Written and Directed by Graham Ward
All set in one dark place called the Vale, three characters try to find what was lost to them. In searching this abstract "3rd Hell," they find each other, and try to make the best of what appears to be a depth beyond that which we can understand.

3 Characters:

• Nichols -- "father" character; takes care of others
• O: to find his son
• T: 1) to ask the other characters if they've seen his son; 2) have them stay together till he finds him; 3) sort of replaces his son w/this new "family"
• Mandrake -- lost innocent boy who forgot how to speak
• O: to find the sea
• T: 1) cling to Nichols; 2) to follow lady to sea as a sign; 3) to get there by the sun
• Gaderelle -- woman delirious about Nichols as her Ezekial
• O: to be w/ Ezekial & her son again
• T: 1) to cry to find them; 2) to act as Nichols and Mandrake are family; 3) yells at Nichols' "insanity

Scenes/Monologues/misc:

-- loved the play's abstraction

-- got the play manuscript from the author

-- very impressed with 1st monologue of the play

-- and all of Gaderelle's lines, specifically when she's emotional clinging to Nichols' knee whilst sitting

Class Exercise #5: Secrets

performed Thursday, February 2, 2012

#5 Objective, Tactics, Secrets -- each person has a secret of their own, either dependent or independent (the audience knows what it is, or nobody but the actor knows what it is).

Scene -- Brittini and I enter from opposite directions. I close the door behind me after doing a bunch of whispering to someone outside the door. Brittini doesn't look happy. I persist that she tell me what's wrong. she says she got a bad test grade and it'll piss off dad. I insist that she not worry about it and it'll all be alright. I make her laugh by recalling Jared's funny Bell's Palsy. Slowly i make her happy and then lead her out the door where we yell "surprise!"

OBJECTIVES:

Brittini -- to keep secret from family and dad

• Secret: got a bad test grade
• TACTICS
• to avoid eye contact
• to reject
• to ask not to tell
• to make others for sorry for her

Karyn -- to make Brittini content enough to transition her to a celebratory mood

• Secret: throwing a surprise party for Brittini
• TACTICS
• To sympathize
• To joke
• To physically readjust to show she cares
• To offer mac&cheese

WORKING WITH BRITTINI:

Got a say, i was a tiny intimidated to work with brittini because she's pre-acting and pretty so i wasn't sure if she'd be stand-offish or something. Not at all! She reminded me a ton of my younger sister April. It was so natural working with her, especially playing her older sister! She's definitely got what it takes to succeed as an actress--the right look, the right deep dark eyes, the truth that she portrays. She could be a lil more... something. i don't know. charasmatic? no. grown-up? maybe. i don't know... it's some thing. but she's definitely got a star quality about her.

Honestly, i feel a lil competition. From the combination of Dave's and Gabby's comment ["why did you ask for her phone?" is really the only thing they said to me; "i like how you said 'you know what dad will do'" is what they said to brittini], i feel that brittini did better in the skit, which she probably did. She's a natural. I feel like it is a bit easier to play the depressed, unhappy character instead of the one pushing the scene along. It's harder to play happy truthfully, i think, because everybody has different ways of showing that they're happy--hyper, content, dancy, dull, normal, whatever-- but being sad is pretty commonly known to be one certain thing -- turned off, sad, emotionally unstimulated.

I want to work with Brittini again though. I feel she takes these things seriously and responds to improv well enough. And because she's like my lil sis, it seems so natural and truthful with her. After the skit tho, i realize i need to be less aware of my lines and stuff, and more focused on responding to the improv itself.

Networking: Industry ppl I've Met so far

Network with as many people as you can. it's all about who you know to get your foot in the door. even if it's just a fan picture, or a fellow artist, that's also starting out. Network, make friends. Just do it. Don't be embarrassed to want a picture with them [whoever it is]. Get it, and expound your field of potential openings. You may be able to help each other out.

While in Utah i've attended Sundance Film Festival twice. The first time in 2011, i met Michael Copon; and Jade Jackson from Sundance Short Film Selection  "Close."

 This was at the LDS Film Festival 2011. This is Daryn Tufts (director, actor). Cool guy. He directed Alyssa Milano (Charmed; Who's the Boss) and Christopher Gorham (Other Side of Heaven; Covert Affairs) in "My Girlfriend's Boyfriend."

Stephen Jones is BYU celebrity. I think he will soon be a nationally recognized comedian. He's got the talent and charisma. Check'm out: New Spice: BYU Study Like a Scholar.

 Of course, Susan Grace Cohen, my acting coach [New York Strasberg Institute; students: James Gandolfini (Sopranos), Linda Hamilton (Terminator 1 & 2) Karen Allen (Raiders of the Lost Ark), James Spader (Sex, Lies and Videotape, Boston Legal, Race), Melora Walters (Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Big Love), Steven Buscemi (Fargo, Sopranos), Justin Chambers (Grey’s Anatomy), Heather Juergensen (Kissing Jessica Stein) andSarah Burns, (I Love You, Man).]

The Tessa Barton Band (wants to be known as Fang Fang? idk) Youtube channel.   ... live at the Valour in salt lake. I'm in the process of writing an NY Times article for them for their May 12th album release.

They've got a moving story. Their sister, Sophie Rose Barton, died June 2010 and Tessa took up solo singing. From left to right in the photo: Chaz (guitarist, brother, 22), Tony Farley (drummer, friend), Me :-), Tessa (lead), Luke (all instruments, brother, 15).

LDS Film Festival 2012:

I got to meet the stars of Saints and Soldiers: Airborne Creed, which comes out this summer 2012. I got a poster, and they all signed it. It was really fun to meet them and how they're very down to Earth. I also friended the main two on my right in the picture and they accepted me as their friend: Corbin Allred [FB] and David Knibley [FB].

Sundance Film Festival 2012: 

To the left is the star in "Beasts of the Southern Wild." Quvenzhané Wallis. She's so cute, and has such star quality attitude. She had so much tude when she was standing up there with the director, DP, etc. 

But she was actually a lil shy when i talked to her cuz all i did was compliment her on her shoes and her shirt but she shied away.  It was funny cuz by the time i left she loved me. she came up to me again and gave me her personal card inside her Sundance badge thing and signed it. She was so cute. I think she'll eventually be an oscar winner. Really, it was such a good movie, and she was INCREDIBLE in it.