The Longest Flight

When it was assigned and throughout the remainder of the project, I was excited to create another silent movie! I think that this experience helped me learn more about my fellow students in my class and what was the best way to direct them in a group. While at first it was hard to think of a plot, my group immediately starting to brain-storm great ideas. Our group worked well together and everyone’s ideas were heard in the process. While at times it would have been nice to have help with editing the film, I think our group did a great job creating a this film. I also think our final version came wonderful thanks to the great acting and fun music it contained.

I think that when people enter their first acting class/ acting experience it can hard to step out of your comfort zone. With a silent film, this is key, and can be especially hard. My group excelled at this. Josh and Robert were more than willing to have food or water thrown on to them and they were even excited about it! This let the group really have fun with the film and even develop more of a funny story. This being said, it was very hard to capture the food spilling and it was challenging learning the right way to stage it. I wish that we could have had more of a set too, because I think as an audience it might be confusing at first that the set was supposed to be an airplane. We ran through it many times (and then even had to redo the actual take of the food spilling) and no one gave up or got frustrated. We all maintained patience and helped each other to get the perfect shot.

I think the other group did an amazing job putting together their movie as well. I loved their final version; it was funny and captivating. Like our group, I could see that everyone was willing to go above and beyond their comfort zone. I thought that the storyline was well planned and it was captivating at the same time. I especially loved seeing the boys in training making fun of what they were supposed to do, it added a lot of comedy with only a few motions. Also, I loved that both of our films had something in common: a boy in drag. In both films, it added tons of humor to the plot! Overall, they did a fantastic job!  

I think I did a good job on keeping my group organized and on track. I want to work on my filming skills, though. I think the takes looked a little shaky, probably due to me laughing! In addition, I want to work on making sure that everyone is comfortable with what we are doing. I loved being able to create another silent film and I loved being able to participate in it by doing a different role (directing). I look forward to the next projects.

Little Bit About Me!

Theater really is my passion, so when Ms. Anderson informed me that there was an acting class being offered, I immediately signed up for two semesters of it. I have always been involved in theater by participating in out of school plays, summer theater programs, school productions, workshops, seeing on and off-Broadway productions, competing in contests for theater and singing and by taking individual lessons and classes for acting, dancing, and singing. However, I had only ever taken pone acting class, and I think that it didn’t really help me as an actor. I had been wanting to take an acting class, but because I attend boarding school and work on the weekends, I never really had time for a class. Now, I extremely excited to be a part of both acting classes this year.

This is my Musical Theater Elective that I have been a part of at Portsmouth Academy of Performing Arts Camp for six years!

I am most excited to take this class again because I will be able to participate from a different perspective. I have never really directed and have only had minor acting coaching experience. I think that it is important to learn all aspects of theater to be a good actor. I have had experience on tech, crew, on stage, but never directing. I am so excited to be able to learn how to do this and look forward to growing as an actor.

That being said, my there goals are:

1. 1. I want to learn how to direct acting scenes in a productive manner (and hopefully, not come off overbearing to my fellow students.)
2. 2. I would love to do a dramatic scene from a classical work (ex. Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, Shakespeare, etc.)
3. 3. I would like to participate in a one on one tragic scene (with possibly learning how to stage cry).
4. 4. I want to become more of my character.

I mostly want to accomplish these goals because they are all something that I have never done in theater and I believe that I can better myself by learning how to complete them. I also set these goals because while they are challenging, I believe that they are realistic enough to accomplish. Last semester, I had simpler goals, so I wanted to create new goals that would push me and require more effort. I think that these goals can also help me when I audition for future summer programs, performances, and activities.

I think my most important goal is number four. As an actor, my greatest fear is constantly acting same, even when playing various characters. If I can achieve number four, I think that I will be able to prevent this. In addition, it will no doubt help me perform more naturally. For example, whenever I think of playing Asaka, I think of who she is and how she might use her body language, react to certain lines, etc. Thinking about this also helps me act in singing when learning how to play this role. I think that number four will be the most crucial in helping be a better actor in Once On This Island and in future shows.

I look forward to being a part of this acting class and to having a great second semester.