Monologue and Character Development

Projection, it’s very important to project your voice while performing. This is so the audience that are very far at the back of the room can hear you. While projecting your voice you need to make sure that you are keep your tone and pitch the same; however you need to make your voice louder and clearer. However it’s very important not to shout the word as you are not projecting your voice.

 I am using projection during my monologue to carry my voice to the back of the room so the audience can hear me. I will make sure that I am speaking clearly, by enunciating my words. This will improve my monologue because the audience will be able to hear the words I’m saying clearly, this will be more effective as they words are telling the story.

Enunciation, it is very important to enunciate your words while performing on stage because it helps with projection. Enunciation is the way you pronounce your words. Enunciating the whole of the word make it easier for the audience understand because they can clearly hear what you are saying. How a person pronounces word often tell the audience a lot about a character, such as where about in the country he or she is from, how old he or she is, what class he or she is from.

I am using enunciation during my monologue to show more about my character.  My character is form the North East, and people for the North often has a more relaxed mouth, this effects my enunciation because she might drop vowels or letters are the start and end of word meaning I don’t have to enunciate my words as much. However I will have to make sure I am still speaking clearly so the audience can hear me. I still need to improve on my enunciation over all 3 monologues.

Vocal Tone and Pace, it is very important to experiment with tone and pace when performing a monologue.

Pace, the pace of a monologue determines how fast or slow it is. To set the pace of a monologue you have to analyse the script. If there are long sentences, the character is speaking slowly, giving the scene a slow pace. However if the monologue contains, lots of commons this means that the character is being rushed, and can only blurt our short phase’s, this gives the script  a faster pace.Tone, the tone is how you want to make your voice sound. For example when you are upset or angry you tone of voice naturally changes. It is very important to use tone when performing because it shows the audience what you are feeling thought your voice.

I am using pace and tone in my monologues, to show the audience how I feel though my voice. This is a good way to connect with the audience because sometimes they can’t see my facial expressions. I have still need to sort out my pacing and toning. I find that it’s best to experiment using different tones and paces to see which suits the situation.

Memorising lines, this is the most important thing when you are performing a monologue. To perform off book makes it much easier to sort out blocking and staging. Also if you are reading lines your head is down this means that the audience can’t see your facial expressions.  Another reason why memorising lines is important is because the director can see how dedicated you are, it shows that you are willing to put in extra work off set.

I have already memorised 1 of my monologue and I am half way thought memorising the other 2. This means that I am able to concentre on staging my scene.

Experimenting in rehearsal, it is much easier after you have memorised you lines. It is very important to experiment with performing styles; it’s also good to think outside  the box and experimenting with vocal skills, physical movements and facial expressions. I have already experimented with different styles for my first monologue; however I have still not found a style that I like yet. Which my other 2 monologue I have briefly experimented with vocal styles however I am going to focus on staging after I have memorised the lines.

Emotional memory, is a way for using your own memories and feelings and putting them into a scene. It is a theory created my Stanislavski to make scenes more naturalistic. I am using emotional memory in my scene to make it more realistic. At first I experimented with and without emotional memory however after I realised that the scene was but more powerful and emotional with emotional memory. I will be using emotional memory in my scene as it will give my monologue more emotion and making it realistic. 

Character and Text Research, it is important to research your character, you can do this by 1. analysing the script 2. Using Magic If 3. Reading the whole script. Here are a few way you can learn and research about you character - http://performingscrapbook.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/learning-about-your-character.html Text research is also important, this is because it will help you to perform it the way the directer wants. Learn about what area of the country the play is set, this will help you so you know what accent you have to do. Research about what the point of the play is, is it trying to make a statement? or just to entertain? or to inspire?
I am currently in the middle of researching my monologue, I have done the text research and character research, however I still need to do Magic If.

How to Write an Acting CV

What is a CV used for?

A CV is what you hand to casting directors and agent. This tells them information about what acting experience you have, what you look like and another special skills you might have.

What Should Be Included on an Acting CV

• Basic Information - Name, Age, Date of Birth
• Personal Details  - Height, Build, Dress Size, Eye Colour, Hair Colour, Skin Tone, Playing age. These given casting directors an idea of what you look like.
• Agent - If you already have an agent, give the name of your agent and there contact details. 
• Training and Education - These include your Secondary School, with your GCSE results. ( You must list your results and casting directors don't care, just writing how many you got and what grade you got e.g. 9 A*-C) Also what college you attend and what course your doing. If you have been to any Stage Schools or after school drama clubs include then. 
• Recent Credits - List your Theatre work and any TV or Radio credits you have been in. You must put what role you played, what the name of the play, and the directors name. Always list your most resent jobs first.
• Accents - List any accents you can do, also if you are fluent in any foreign language. 
• Skills - These include any physical and musical skills you have. If you are high skilled in any of these area's you must say.

Your CV must not have colour on it, just a plain white background and black ink. With one font throughout, heading can be underlined or in bond. You also must attach a head shot at the top of the page. Try to keep the CV on one page. 

Magic If

Magic If is another one of Stanislavski's excises that help you get into character. Its all about putting yourself in the situation and seeing how your character would react to it. Asking yourself questions such as 'What if I were in the same situation as my character?' and  'How would my character react?'.

From doing this excise I deepened my knowledge of my character, because I had to think about my characters personality and how that would effect his or hers reaction. This made the performance realistic and the reactions more truthful. 

Emotion Memory

Emotion Memory is another one of Stanislavski's teachings. Its all about using your past experiences and emotions and using them in a scene. This makes the scene realist and giving it more feeling.

What We Did

We were given a blank letter and after reading the letter we either felt guilty or angry. Before we performed them we had to focus on a point in are life where we felt guilty or angry, and use that emotion in the scene. This task taught me how hard it is to uncover emotions, then have to put them away again. After watching a few performances I thought the best once's were when people really found a dark place inside, you could see there minds thinking about what is happening and you could see the emotion on there face.

I have decided to use Emotional Memory in my Spoonface monologue as it is an emotional piece. However my other to monologues are not as emotional therefore I might not used this technique. However I will experiment with it.

How to Focus and Block

When performing on stage it is very important not to let outside distractions distract you. As soon as you step out on stage you have to ignore any drama that was happening backstage and focus on performing. You also have to ignore any noise the audience may be making. To do so you can do focus excises, this helps to focus your mind and block out any other distractions.

What We Did

We had to lay on the floor, and tense different parts of our bodies. This focused my mind on how my muscles were feeling and how my body felt. Then we had to try and hear what was happening outside. Then focus our minds on how silent the room was. This really helped me to clear my mind, and focus on my surroundings.

Learning about your character

Everything that has happened to you in your life has made you the person you are today. This also applies to your character. There are many factors that you have to think about when your creating your character.
Stanislavski believed that to play a character naturally you had to become that character. You had to think about all the different factors that will effect your character's personality.

If your given a script, pay close attention to the stage directions. By reading between the lines you will get an idea about how your character acts and moves.
When thinking of your character consider:
1. Age
2. Family Backgrounds
3. Where they grew up
4. Where they currently living
5. How many friends they have
6. If they are single or in a relationship

Stanislavski also believed that an actor should not just play a character, but feel what the character would feel by using there own experience's or stepping into their shoes. This makes the emotions seem more realistic and natural.

Given Circumstance

Today we learnt about Given Circumstance. Given Circumstance is a principle created by theatre practitioner Stanislavski.

Actors would have to think about the environment and situations around them. This influence's how the character would act. For example, if the play was set around Christmas, the actor would have to think about how he would use his body language to show the audience what time of year it is.

What We Did

We were put into groups and had to keep the piece naturalistic. At random we were giving a location to set our piece, we were given a bus station. At the start we had a couple that had fallen out, however to keep it natural, rather than raising our voice's we changed our tone to portray anger.This kept the scene naturalistic because the couple would not want to cause a scene.

We were then given a time and date that our scene would be set. We were given '10 Minutes before Christmas' this changed our scene because we had to think about why our characters would be out late on Christmas Eve. We started the scene the same as before. However I suggested that to give the audience an indication about the environment and the climate, we did this by using our body language.