[nabs-l] taking acting classes

[Andi]

I never took acting classes but I have been in a lot of plays.  You asked 
about safety in moving around on stage.  It is very safe, because everything 
is blocked out.  You will know where you are suppose to be where everything 
on set is and where the other people are.  So not only is it safe, but it 
makes you as a blind person able to react to non visual things because it is 
scripted and you know where to look ahead of time.  I only had one bad 
experience with the blocking not working.  I was playing the bride of 
frankonstine, and the prop machine door was left open and it was suppose to 
be closed.  I sort of veered off corse a little while exeting the stage, but 
it was not that bad and it all worked out in the end.  When I was in Chicago 
their was complicated coriography and since it was all blocked I had no 
problems with it.  It makes more since that I would have more trouble with 
Chicago than Bride of Franconstine but it wasn't the case.  Kind of funny.


Andi

-----Original Message----- 
From: Ashley Bramlett
Sent: Sunday, November 20, 2011 4:43 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: [nabs-l] taking acting classes

Hi all,

What Bridgit said about acting class brought back memories.
She said
”Acting, at least stage acting, pays a lot of attention to
body movement and facial expressions. Voice is also extremely important.
Taking an acting class can assist with more natural body movements, but
be aware that in an acting class, you'll be expected to perform in front
of your peers, being judged. If you can't handle constructive criticism,
or are extremely introverted, an acting class may not be the best
option. Even in a more informal acting class, you will have to perform
monologues and duets and group scenes.”

Bridgit, you have a minor in theatre; I haven’t met a blind person who did 
that before. Of course you were sighted, so can draw upon your experience 
learning facial expressions and visual expressions.
Did you braille the script for memorizing it? I cannot memorize by listening 
except for song lyrics!
I’m wondering how a blind actor would move around the stage safely. I mean 
you have obstacles up there and won’t have your cane since you’re another 
character. I just depended on my vision. Interesting that Bridgit says 
acting class pays a lot of attention to
body movement and facial expressions. I don’t recall that happening. We did 
focus on  voice though; like volume, tone and expression.

I took acting in high school and the teacher was very easy. I did not learn 
much from it. We spent too much time watching movies rather than acting. But 
I won’t forget our final where we had to do a monologue. That was hard! I 
prefered working with a partner because their words clued me into what I had 
to say.

In college, I also took acting. We did  a number of things. They ranged from 
partner work acting scenes, improvization, something like sherades where you 
stand in front of everyone and pretend to do a day activity, and of course 
actual acting with small groups or a partner. We did warmups to  loosen up; 
the instructor was very accomodating and showed me these stretches and 
exercises. I enjoyed it. Our acting exercises revolved around sensory 
awareness, and a lot of this was not visual. A few were visual exercises 
which we adapted; like mimicking what someone did with their hands.
She stressed to be aware of all your senses and surroundings. For instance, 
we did an exercise that you responded to someone’s tone. Another was where 
you simply went and touched a classmate’s hand. She guided us in what to 
observe. Was it rough or soft? Rinkled or smooth? Boney? I guessed the guy I 
touched was athletic due to his large muscular hands, and If I remember 
correctly, I was right.

She did say you had to show expression, but not just facial expressions, but 
expressions and movement with your whole body.
We were definitely judged on our performance by peers and the instructor who 
herself was an actress. Still, it was fun. She never said anything about me 
needing to be visually expressive, so maybe I was expressive enough as my 
girl characters, or maybe it didn’t occur to her to say anything. Oh, we did 
not watch movies either. So, I got a lot out of the class.

For the acting scenes, I asked the school to braille them. I got an A in the 
class.

Ashley
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