Week 2

1.) Watched an opening video of advice from an actor in the industry: Bryan Cranston

• Journal: What ideas shared by the actor did you find interesting, surprising, or helpful?

2.) Listen to Arian Moayed podcast.

2.) Discussed "Socially Responsible" and "Civic-minded" Theatre.

3.) Re-visited: WHY do we do theatre?

1.) Shared: What THEMES or TOPICS are you passionate about?

• Journal: Write about one or more THEMES about which you are passionate, and why.

2.) Watched: Thematic Storytelling by Awele Makeba (Stories: Legacies of who we are - Awele Makeba)

Discussed finding narratives (stories) that...

• --highlight a meaningful theme​

• --are socially responsible

• --are able to be dramatized

• --you care about

Go Deeper (Optional): How craving attention makes you less creative | Joseph Gordon-Levitt

• --The IDEAS I appreciate in this video:

• ----The thoughts shared from an artist about the unintended creativity-related consequences of needing attention in our culture.

1.) Watched an opening video of advice from an actor in the industry: Kate Winslet

• --Journal: What ideas shared by the actor did you find interesting, surprising, or helpful?

2.) Re-visited: Thematic Storytelling (Stories: Legacies of who we are - Awele Makeba)

--Discussed narratives (stories) that...

• ----highlight a meaningful theme​

• ----are socially responsible

• ----are able to be dramatized

• ----you care about

3.) Viewed & Categorized: Discussed and categorized students' list of WHAT themes they're passionate about (from yesterday's journal entry).

Possible Themes:

• Using power for good (origin stories)

• Consequences of division; The root of morality

• The necessity of beauty

• Coming of age/Breaking through molds

• Power structure of inequality

• Social Justice

• Love​​ (b/c you never know a person's full story)

• Ripple Effect

• Conformity

• Importance of understanding nuance (not everything is good/bad/black/white)

• Maddening power of love

• Man vs. System/Society

• Father/Son Relationships (or lack thereof)

• Depression/Anxiety

• Making assumptions

• Changing perspectives

4.) Learned: Discussed upcoming acting assignment. (Note: This will be a PROCESS. Nothing "due" yet other than searching for a narrative within your theme. See homework at the bottom of this page.)

ACTING PROMPT #1: Thematic Storytelling

• --Choose a (socially responsible) THEME or TOPIC to explore (from your passion list).

• --Find a narrative (story) that explores this topic/theme. (Be sure your story is true, and is about a person/people.)

• --Dramatize your story (give it life on stage. This will most likely require a cutting (which you'll learn about later).

• --Rehearse with Mr. Smith as your acting coach to prepare your piece for performance. (Process over product.)

• --Perform your story using the techniques taught in class. (This will include acting techniques such as off-stage focus, etc.)

5.) Analyzed: What were the STORYTELLING techniques used by Awele in her Thematic Storytelling? (What did she DO to give her stories life?)

6.) Watched: KP's Theatre Class - Theatrical Conventions (start @ 2:47)

• --Learned about / discussed the use of "off-stage focus" and "audience focus" used in acting/storytelling on stage.

7.) Watched: Examples of using off-stage focus vs. audience focus in storytelling

• --Example 1: Soul of a Butterfly (Dramatic Interpretation, 2011)

• --Example 2: I Have Before Me a Remarkable Document... (Dramatic Interpretation 2011)

• --Discussed use of techniques and impact of the actors' choices.

8.) HOMEWORK: Explore stories within your theme. FOCUS ON EXPLORING YOUR THEME, and stories will emerge. (Please trust me with this.) Be a detective in "researching" your theme...let one finding lead to another. (Your "findings" are due NEXT CLASS)

Continued from yesterday:

7.) Watched: Examples of using off-stage focus vs. audience focus in storytelling

--Example 1: Soul of a Butterfly (Dramatic Interpretation, 2011)

--Example 2: I Have Before Me a Remarkable Document... (Dramatic Interpretation 2011)

--Discussed use of techniques and impact of the actors' choices.

8.) HOMEWORK: Explore stories within your theme. FOCUS ON EXPLORING YOUR THEME, and stories will emerge. (Please trust me with this.) Be a detective in "researching" your theme...let one finding lead to another. (Your "findings" are due NEXT CLASS)