[nabs-l] Taking acting classes

[Ashley Bramlett]

Jedi,
Running lines? Good idea. I wondered about stage orientation as well. You 
need to know whether you're at the front or back.
How do you do that? Is it a string and masking tape?
Yep rehearsals do help. I remember having lots of rehearsal time in acting 
class and when the performance came, everyone was very familiar with the 
setup.
Ashley

-----Original Message----- 
From: Jedi
Sent: Saturday, November 26, 2011 4:27 PM
To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Taking acting classes

Vejas,

If you're playing the part of a blind character, you can always use
your cane. If you're playing a character where it doesn't matter if
they're blind or sighted, it's up to you. If you're playing a sighted
character, you can always place running lines on the stage that you can
feel underfoot. Lots of rehersal helps. These are the techniques that
the LCB folks use for their plays.

Respectfully,
Jedi

Original message:
> I'm pretty good at acting-only problem is moving around and
> finding which exact spot to go to in a play-was interested in
> drama but my aide thought it might be too visual and choq was the
> better place to go
> Vejas


>  ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Sat, 26 Nov 2011 16:02:17 -0500
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Taking acting classes

> Hi Bridgit,

> I like your idea of becoming familiar  with the set.  Yeah you're
> right that
> stage sets are supposed to be set up the same way each time.  So
> it’s a
> matter of memory then and familiarity.  Now that I think of it, I
> did use my
> cane on stage a little in high school drama class while
> rehearsing.

> What do you mean by performance-based classes? How is that
> different than
> theatre class?
> Facial expressions are  vital to acting; but this wasn't an issue
> for me.  I
> think, and hope, I looked expressive as my voice was.
> We did body exercises to warm up, but I don't remember doing face
> exercises.
> Of course, I only took acting 1 though.

> You said

> "When running lines, you may say the same word, or phrase, over
> and over
> in order to capture the proper tone and inflection."
> I assume you did this in practice/rehearsals.

> This makes me interested in trying it.  Maybe I should audition
> for a
> community play or my community college play.

> Ashley

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bridgit Pollpeter
> Sent: Monday, November 21, 2011 4:21 PM
> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [nabs-l] Taking acting classes

> Ashley,

> I was sighted when I minored in theatre, but I took a couple of
> performance-based classes while in my second go-around with
> university.
> I know we have several blind theatre majors here though.  I
> memorized my
> lines with JAWS- I have a good retention with my short-term
> memory.  If
> you do an entire play, though, I think it would be best to have a
> Braille copy of the script.

> I did some directing, which I love.  I helped direct a few scenes
> for a
> class even though I wasn't registered for it.  The instructor
> also taught
> another class that I was enrolled in, and she asked if I would be
> willing to help direct in her other class.  I mostly referred to
> my
> computer for the script and my notes.  I had specific ideas for
> the set,
> costuming and actors.  It helped to go in already prepared, not
> trying to
> figure things out as we went along.

> You could use your cane on stage, but if you're not suppose to be
> blind,
> it may look a little odd to the audience.  Perhaps you could grow
> very
> familiar with the set so you could walk around safely.  Stage
> sets are
> suppose to be set up the exact way each time, so if you were
> accustomed
> to it, it would make maneuvering around it a bit more easy, and
> you
> could leave your cane off stage so when done, you had your cane
> to get
> around with.

> Facial expression is a vital part of the acting process.  You
> want to
> convey the right emotions and characteristics connected with a
> character.  We would do face exercises along with body exercises
> to warm
> up, and loosen things up.  Whether stage acting or acting for
> film and
> television, using appropriate facial expressions, and being
> expressive
> in general, is very important.  When acting, you create specific
> expressions, movements, inflections, tones, etc.  Every little
> detail is
> disected and explored, then the actor constructs the character,
> cognitive of each movement, each expression and how each word is
> said.
> When running lines, you may say the same word, or phrase, over
> and over
> in order to capture the proper tone and inflection.

> The voice is probably the most important aspect of theatre
> because tone
> can convey and imply a lot.  I was in a local theatre's play, The
> Outsiders, and we wore face masks so our performance was
> dependent on
> the voice and body movement.  We had to convey so much with voice
> and
> body.

> Sincerely,
> Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
> Read my blog at:
> http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/

> "History is not what happened; history is what was written down."
> The Expected One- Kathleen McGowan

> Message: 15
> Date: Sun, 20 Nov 2011 16:43:22 -0500
> From: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [nabs-l] taking acting classes
> Message-ID: <A29CB5F9B0F141EDB5CCB4FC5C090B09 at OwnerPC
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

> 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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