Today, Liz informed us that we would be conducting a verbal evaluation of our performance and starting the written evaluation in our blogs. We began the lesson by noting down the questions Liz provided and discussing our answers as a group. The questions were:
- How do you feel the performance went as a group? Did you achieve your goals? (all)
- What key Frantic Assembly methods did you use? (Ruby)
- What are the key opportunities of working in this style? (Dylan)
- What are the difficulties of working in this style? (Callum)
- How did this process differ from working in other acting styles, such as Naturalism? (Luca)
- Which methodologies do you feel you executed best? Where can we see them in the performance? (all)
- Which methods do you feel were not as successful? Where can we see this in the performance? (Beth)
We decided to divide the questions among us to ensure everyone had a specific point to address. This way, each member had a chance to discuss what they liked and disliked about the performance. The video of our verbal evaluation is below:
Written Review
One significant moment in the performance where I utilized a stylistic convention from Frantic Assembly is the Phone Numbers technique. This can be observed in the performance video from 8:55-9:33. During this segment, Cameron and Caitlin engage in a conversation as if they are texting each other, which culminates in both of us at the end saying "X" to signify a kiss, implying that their interaction is taking place over the phone. This choice was deliberate, as it provided an excellent opportunity to incorporate the Phone Numbers method into our performance. My primary objective was to convey to the audience that Cameron and Caitlin were developing their relationship and make the scene seem cute to watch. The aim was to highlight the evolution of Cameron and Caitlin’s relationship and the budding romance between our interpretation of these characters. I believe this objective was successfully achieved, as evidenced by the audience’s positive response to the scene. They clearly understood it as an romantic exchange over the phone where theyre connecting/bonding. Peer feedback further affirmed this, with comments such as "it was a very emotionally compelling moment" and "the way we implemented this into our performance looked so polished." However, upon reflection, I realize that the Phone Numbers technique was uniquely suited to this particular scene. The other lines or scenes in the extracts we selected for our performance did not present a similar context where this method would be appropriate or effective. If given the opportunity to perform again, I would consider making a slight adjustment to the end of the "Phone Numbers" sequence. Instead of rushing to move a chair and get into position for the teddy bear drop, I would focus on demonstrating the growing interest between Cameron and Caitlin through more nuanced body language and posture. This would enhance the perspective of how they are into eachother to make it just a tad more prominent for the audience to see.
Another significant moment in the performance where I applied a Frantic Assembly convention is the use of Hymn Hands. This can be observed in the performance video from 14:20 to 14:45. I integrated this convention here to give Paige and me something purposeful to do, avoiding the awkwardness of standing idly. We decided to perform Hymn Hands on the opposite side of Bethany and Luca, who also portray Cameron and Caitlin. This juxtaposition was meant to illustrate the contrasting relationships: Beth and Luca represented a healthy relationship between Cameron and Caitlin, while Paige and I portrayed an unhealthy one. The dynamic was evident through our actions: while Beth and Luca kept their hands on each other, symbolizing their stable relationship, I would attempt to touch Paige, but she would rebuff me until finally allowing me to hold her waist as we looked up at an imaginary "tree." This behaviour was designed to signify to the audience that our relationship was strained and dysfunctional, unlike the secure bond depicted by Beth and Luca. My goal was to create an awkward atmosphere to highlight the disparity between the two versions of the relationship, even though they involved the same characters. I believe this objective was successfully met, as the audience responded positively to the mirrored relationships of Cameron and Caitlin. Peer feedback included comments such as "I really liked it, I thought it was really good" and "You can really feel the tension with Paige and Callum, whereas it feels so secure with Beth and Luca." This feedback indicated that the intended contrast and tension were effectively conveyed. Although the Hymn Hands convention was impactful in this scene, it could have been utilized elsewhere in the performance. For instance, during Marlee's party, we could have incorporated Hymn Hands choreography to mimic a dance, enhancing the scene's visual and emotional dynamics. However, if I were to perform this piece again, I would adjust my facial expressions to reflect a more visible frustration or disappointment when Caitlin brushes me off. This subtle change would further emphasize the unhealthy nature of our relationship and enhance the audience's understanding of the characters' emotional states.
Finally, another significant moment where I utilized the convention of frantic assembly was during the Fluff Picking part. This can be observed in the performance video from 5:38-5:43. I chose to implement this convention here because it was straightforward to execute and effectively conveyed to the audience that, despite my character at that moment being Tamara, we were all experiencing extreme boredom. Our intention was to communicate our visible ennui on Lucas's line, "You’re waiting." We aimed to create an atmosphere that was both relaxed and distinctly feminine. The purpose of this moment was to illustrate our characters' waiting and our accompanying sense of tedium, while simultaneously highlighting our femininity and girlishness in that brief interval. Traditionally, it is often depicted that girls tend to look at their nails or play with their hair when bored. By choosing to engage in fluff picking, we intended to incorporate this behavior in a girly manner. I believe that this approach successfully achieved the intended effect, as it elicited laughter from the audience. The feedback indicated that this moment was particularly enjoyed due to the humorous portrayal of our characters' girlish traits. Although we could have incorporated this convention at multiple points throughout our performance, doing so would likely have made the overall presentation appear monotonous and lackluster. If given the opportunity to perform again, I would consider modifying the execution of the fluff picking. Rather than focusing predominantly on the shoulders, I would explore different areas and movements to enhance the scene's effectiveness and maintain the audience's engagement.