All members of the class have now been given opportunity to demonstrate their skills and understanding of devising and movement techniques.
Each student contributed their own games and techniques for devising. Many of the games are focused on developing scenes from characters. Each student was able to contribute from their own perspective and pay some attention to their weaknesses.
Jessy was mostly focused on touch and working together. She used workshops where we had to form shapes such as animals and furniture together. This helped us overcome insecurities and work closely together. This is important as I had not worked closely with the group before
In her first exercise we were instructed to develop our own game from the provided items. We were improvise a game that involved throwing an octopus whilst creating a story. One person sat in a chair. The moved around a ring until they recieved the octopus. The actor break rank and steps into the ring. They add the next part of the story. This game was useful as we first had to devise a game from the given props. The game itself required us to keep moving, to be responsive and to be creative with adding to the story. Overtime, the story changed and we even deveopled some characterisation. A whole workshop could be run by simply devising games involving a few simple props and then devising characters and stories from the new game.
During Riley's Worksop, we partook in an exercise where we took on characters from films. We were then asked to sit in pairs on a 'bench' and to try and convince the other to leave. Each character varied and contrasted, therefore it was interesting to play characters from this new perspective.
Jamie was able to utilise the Eight Efforts but by using a pre existing character as a base. The performer would enter as the character and then perform the movements of the Eight Efforts. This was a different perspective and approach for using the technique. I liked how many of Jamie's workshops took this approach by encouraging the performers to stay in character whilst performing in various workshops.
To compare my workshop to the other students, I would say my workshop was perhaps too clinical and methodical. Sure their were elements of play, but I believe I should have included more games within my own workshop. This simple play is the base for devising and perhaps I overlooked this during my own workshop. Role-playing games where the class improvise scenes from varying stimuli. I have learned this from partaking in the other workshops. I am not saying my approach is wrong, but the class is very productive from this simple type of role play.
I have gained much from partaking in the workshops. I believe that their style of games has improved my impro skills and ability to think on the spot. I have also been able to work more closely with the class, which was important as I am a new member to the group. They have been able to play with them, being myself completely, letting my guard down and just join in with the fun. Small things such as during a catch game, I started to juggle then ball and then went to throw it. However, the ball slipped through my fingers, but I was able to flick it up with my foot and catch it it. It was a funny moment that can only happen during these types of games and it gave me some kudos in the group. Jamie pointing out that it had been caught on camera. It is essential that I am able to bond with the group as we are to work together for two years. Overall I have gained both in terms of technical understanding of movement and devising but also in improvisation and playfulness. The workshops have been the most intensive acting training I have took part in since I started at college. We were for the entire duration of 2-3 classes, acting or working on movement skills for the.
Some of the simple games that have been used during the workshops are comparable to naturalistic acting techniques such as the Meisner Technique. If a simple game is played, it becomes boring over time, so it changes. This change is caused by the performers emotions, so they start to play and act on them. This can cause a chain reaction where the game continues to change due other changes. It has made me consider a new workshop that could be used to develop naturalistic acting. The importance of a game such as catch as it teaches the performer to play in the moment. If the performers are simply counting the number of catches and when the ball is dropped, it creates a natural reaction. It also ends the moment and the new one begins. This is the basis of naturalistic acting. This approach can develop in varying styles that create
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