“Introduction to Acting” Classes Four to Seven.
We’re coming up to the last class on the course now, and it’s been pretty intense so far – what with everyone having to partner up, try to be “off book” (i.e. memorize the script) as much as possible, and act out a scene at least once each session. Funnily enough I got assigned 2 scenes with different partners. In addition to “Swingers”, I was handed a scene from “The Savages”. I don’t know if that was intentional, but the instructor seemed to think I could handle it. I must admit, trying to memorize two completely different sets of 4-page scripts is quite the challenge. But it’s fun! That’s what it’s all about, right?
We were told to keep doing our homework: scribble notes in our actor’s journal, explore our character’s objective “What does he/she want from the other person?”, subtext and action verbs, practice the lines in a relaxed manner, build an inner monologue and find his/her “business”. All this for delivery in class. Sometimes with bits of improvisation thrown in. We usually get to go through around four to five scenes a class, and occassionally he’ll offer up some pointers and theoretical concepts which we try to absorb and write down as much as we can. We watched snippets of “Taxi Driver” and “Adaptation” for examples of an actor in his “private moment”.
I did manage to sneak in some quick drawings of my instructor and fellow classmates in my notebook. I just couldn’t help it. I’ve done half the class so far and will try to do a few more during/after the last session tonight. Can’t promise I’ll get to draw everyone from the class though. And some faces are harder to capture than others, of course. Regardless, I’ll upload the montage as soon as I’m finished so stay tuned!
