Extra Posts #1

Ten Extra Posts #1

What I am noticing in my Senior Project is just how magical it is to make something come together. That said, I doubt my ability to pull off this presentation when I can barely perform 30 minutes of presention time. However, there is no time to think. I just have to jump in and make this presentation work. Let's rock!

Blog #23

1. Alfonso. West House.

2. Surgery, he likes fixing things including people.

3. Hospital.

4. The vast and different types of topics and the activities everyone will have.

5. "What made you choose your topic?” - Alfonso
I like my project. It’s mainstream and interesting and long to talk about. I love Acting. It's my passion and that's what will lead me to how I go about my future. This is the begining of it all.

Blog #21

Name:Dean_Nolan_______________________ House: East__ Topic Acting __________________________________
THREE COLUMN LOGIC CHART
Essential Question: How does an actor best prepare for a role?
Best Answer: Using the style of Method Acting to develop a system of steady techniques required.
Statements	Reasons	Verification
1) How does an Actor best prepare for a role?	1) Given	1) -------------------
2) The definition of practice in this situation would be the reading of the script as well as studying it.	2) This is the basis of my essential question.	2) http://www.wikihow.com/Prepare-for-Script-Sides-for-an-Acting-Audition
3) There are various problems in seperating your role from your personal life.	3) It's important to specify how dangerous Method Acting can be in my presentation	3) http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20526304_6,00.html
4) It is important to keep the script close to you during practice, or auditions.	4) The script is an Actor's bread, in which the director can then become the butter.	4) http://schooltheatre.org/education/learning/jon-jory-acting/stages-rehearsal
5) It's a key factor to do various voice excercises before you begin acting.	5) This can prevent a loss of voice in which can be very problematic (especially to Voice Actors).	5) http://www.wikihow.com/Exercise-Your-Voice
6) Answer #1: Using the style of Method Acting to develop a system of steady techniques required.	6) To prepare for a role, one must spend much time using all their resources to best deliver their performance.	6) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Method_acting
7) It is important to make Acting seen AND felt.	7) An Actor must experience two sides of the same technique to deliver a balanced performance.	7) http://www.choosinglove.com/acting-authentically/
8) It is important to use your fellow Actors and Director to better your performance.	8) This is another key factor to making the audience believe your performance in the show.	8) http://method.vtheatre.net/title.html
9) A person can be overexerted by work.	9) Actors must know the risks of being an Actor in life.	9) http://www.actorsinfobooth.com/industry-news/hollywood/752-jenna-fischers-advice-to-actors
10) Answer #2: Using the training and discipline to your advantage in order to attain that steady balanced state of acting.	10) To be an Actor, you must be able to combat that constant fear of failure in every little part of rehearsals.	10) http://www.classactdallas.com/Library/AoA_5_Discipline.pdf
11) A person must be ready to improvise.	11) Actors must know what to do in the situation.	11) http://www.theactingcorps.com/Site/article-what_it_takes.htm
12) Answer #3: Using a community of actors and have a wide variety of inspiration.	12) Actors cannot survive without others. There is always someone that knows more, or can fill the parts you can't. Inspiration is very important.	12) http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2012/jan/02/top-artists-creative-inspiration

Independent Component #2

LITERAL


(a) “I, Dean Nolan, affirm that I have completed my independent component, which represents 30 hours of comprehensive work.”


(b) The main source I used to complete the second independent component hours - is my participation for the Drama Team to compete in the Fullerton Theatre Festival. I have been working on a piece called “Claptrap” in which I played a character named “Harvey” who hit it big with an insane amount of luck. I have completed 50+ hours in the combination of rehearsal and the Festival performance.


(c) I have provided a digital speadsheet of my 50+ hours below.


(d) I have explained in detail below, what I completed in the 50+ hour requirement.

I completed my 50 hour second independent component by participating in the Drama Team to compete in the Fullerton Theatre Festival. The practice began in late November, but I was only able to start getting ready and going to practice and rehearsals in December, which was the end mark of my first independent component - “The Lady of the House.” As one of Ipoly's actors in the the contempary humorous monologue selections, not only did I had a great opportunity to create and actually put my senior project topic to good use by actually using method acting to prepare for a role, but I also got to observe how other actors near me and fellow competitors were able to get ready for their own monologues. From using resources, I was able to gather information and standpoints on how I should deliver my performance of “Harvey” from “Claptrap”. I had to learn using every little source I had, be it my teacher, my stage manager, or my fellow actors – to produce a monologue capable to winning the Festival. In “Claptrap”, I was given the role of “Harvey”. Harvey is an upcoming actor who is very awkward (the irony is stunning), and is telling his roommate about his experience where he was shot by a stroke of good luck by selling an improvised storyboard for a fortune. Since the monologue was a solo act, I did not have a chance to study actor's reactions to me, so it really made it difficult to piece together how I should deliver this performance.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

INTERPRETIVE

My 50 hours of work began when I picked up the script entitled “Claptrap”. I spent a great deal of time studying and rehearsing the script. I had to get to know very well so I could stand a fighting chance in the tournament by understanding my role of “Harvey”. During the rehearsals, I spent most of the time using trial and error in order to perfect Harvey. I had come up with the impression that he was a cross of Cosmo Kramer from Seinfeld, and Miguel from El Dorado. I intended to deliver that performance as I saw fit. I managed to get friends to help me out such as Jacob Ruiz in reading other parts of the play with me (the parts where Harvey interacted with Sam), and Mr. Hogan (who coached me and told me exactly what I was lacking.) I spent multiple hours trying to deliver this performance better and better, and it took me even more hours to try and remember the lines to a point where I wouldn't stall in the middle of the performance. Most of my time spent rehearsing was during the final weeks where the Fullerton Theatre Festival neared closer and closer. In addition to all the hours spent – I also got many of my hours from the two days of Festival performances and studying how others did their performances for the tournament.

APPLIED

My independent component helped me to understand the essence of my topic better, in which granted me better understanding of how actors work. It showed an actor's spirit in the face of an intense performance that a lot depends on. A tournament was a good way to bring out the stress-level since there was something to prove, not only to yourself, but to the rest of the world. In addition, I was able to observe these people and my fellow actors to make sense of what they were doing could be applied to my performance as well. I spotted how well their performances went over with the scorekeepers and saw what their flaws were as well. My topic, “How does one best use prepare for a role?” was shown to be of the utmost importance when it came to all these performances. I saw what these high schoolers did on their spare time, in which not a second was wasted constantly in preparing and using their own role in modern day scenarios. They would also use games to prepare themselves even better, on terms of improvisation, character spirit, and sharpness. All throughout my 50 + hours of studying these characters and rehearsing for my own performance, I was brought into a world in which you could see feel the spirit of acting and theater no matter the scenario. This entire festival made my passion of acting truly sprout and come alive. Every character in these performances were mixed but all the same. Unsteady but also balanced. It was a perfect blend of skill, innovation, and thought to get to these points and win the tournament. This race to the top of acting was complimented by Fullerton's free performance of the play “ASSASSINS.” They showed us how do they, themselves, get prepared for a role. How quickly and how elegantly it took to do it. In short, I have noticed that stress contributes to how well you are prepared for it multiplys the intensity (and that is good for something like acting.) I also noticed how a sense of community also gets prepared, even when you are delivering a solo performance (like I did.) And even though no-one from Ipoly got to the final round, I can say that this truly was a testiment in finding out what my essential question really means, and goes toward “How does an Actor best prepare for a role?”

• 
  
  
  

  Fullerton Rehearsals	Hours, TW 3:15 – 5:15 Dec - March	24
  Home Rehearsals	Hours, FS 1 hour Feb - March	10
  The Pre-Show	Hours, W 4:00 - 9:00 3/6/13	5
  The Fullerton Festival	Hours, FS 3/8-9/13 9:00-8:00	22

  TOTAL HOURS: 51

Grading Criteria

• Log on a digital spreadsheet
• Evidence of 30 hours of work
• LIA submitted to blog

Blog #20

I couldn't get the Three Column Chart working so I'll input it manually:

Name _Dean_Nolan_______________________ House _East__ Topic Acting __________________________________
THREE COLUMN LOGIC CHART
Essential Question: How does an actor best prepare for a role?
Best Answer: Using the style of Method Acting to develop a system of steady techniques required.
Statements	Reasons	Verification
1) How does an Actor best prepare for a role?	1) Given	1) -------------------
2) The definition of practice in this situation would be the reading of the script as well as studying it.	2) This is the basis of my essential question.	2) http://www.wikihow.com/Prepare-for-Script-Sides-for-an-Acting-Audition
3) There are various problems in seperating your role from your personal life.	3) It's important to specify how dangerous Method Acting can be in my presentation	3) http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20526304_6,00.html
4) It is important to keep the script close to you during practice, or auditions.	4) The script is an Actor's bread, in which the director can then become the butter.	4) http://schooltheatre.org/education/learning/jon-jory-acting/stages-rehearsal
5) It's a key factor to do various voice excercises before you begin acting.	5) This can prevent a loss of voice in which can be very problematic (especially to Voice Actors).	5) http://www.wikihow.com/Exercise-Your-Voice
6) Answer #1: Using the style of Method Acting to develop a system of steady techniques required.	6) To prepare for a role, one must spend much time using all their resources to best deliver their performance.	6) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Method_acting
7) It is important to make Acting seen AND felt.	7) An Actor must experience two sides of the same technique to deliver a balanced performance.	7) http://www.choosinglove.com/acting-authentically/
8) It is important to use your fellow Actors and Director to better your performance.	8) This is another key factor to making the audience believe your performance in the show.	8) http://method.vtheatre.net/title.html
9) A person can be overexerted by work.	9) Actors must know the risks of being an Actor in life.	9) http://www.actorsinfobooth.com/industry-news/hollywood/752-jenna-fischers-advice-to-actors
10) Answer #2: Using the training and discipline to your advantage in order to attain that steady balanced state of acting.	10) To be an Actor, you must be able to combat that constant fear of failure in every little part of rehearsals.	10) http://www.classactdallas.com/Library/AoA_5_Discipline.pdf
11) A person must be ready to improvise.	11) Actors must know what to do in the situation.	11) http://www.theactingcorps.com/Site/article-what_it_takes.htm
12) Answer #3: Using a community of actors and have a wide variety of inspiration.	12) Actors cannot survive without others. There is always someone that knows more, or can fill the parts you can't. Inspiration is very important.	12) http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2012/jan/02/top-artists-creative-inspiration

Blog #11

Blog 11: Mentorship 10 hours Check

Title:  Mentorship 10 hours check (*remember to title it Blog 11, then the name)
Label:  Mentorship
Due Date:  Friday 1/11/13 at 8AM.

Content:

Gregory Cohen Mentor, Hunington Beach Playhouse, 10 hours thus far
______________________________________

Mentorship Day #1 / Example

When I arrived at Hunington Beach Playhouse, I discover that it is indeed not a traditional playhouse, but a library called the Hunington Beach Library. However, there is a small space under it used for some local showings. Still cool, but I learn that is not the correct location 15 minutes to audition from the assistant of Gregory Cohen. I have no car with me, so my Mom has to drive all the way to pick me up and drop me off nextdoor, which apparently it was.

So I get to the new playhouse, and it's smaller then the other one. Grand.

However, everyone is there – happy and chipper for auditions.

I find Mr. Cohen's assistant, Kara, and she asks me to take mugshots of each person after the auditions to make sure that their faces match their personal headshots (professional pictures of themselves.)

Finally, I get to meet Gregory Cohen for the first time. He's happy to see me, good to see, good start.

He actually saw me in the play at the school (I used it for my first Independent Component), called Lady of the House, in which I was the star Antogonist.

As the auditions begin, we start with dance workouts. I think it was to point out the most upbeat people firsts. There were certainly upbeat people, and some even tried to outshine the others. Cohen pointed out at this time, to “Sell” us the material (saw this term used in WWE), meaning they have to make us believe their performance. The play that we are performing is a comedy about “Odd people in Rome”. Cohen's wife said Improv experience was grand. She pointed out that it is very helpful in the play/auditions. She also asked for personal ideas, possibly to stretch or see any imagination and innovation from the auditioners. I also noticed the amazing amount of comedy and fun this audition has. I was always under the impression that auditions are professional interrogations where everyone stares at your awkwardly and there is a dark scary man intimidating the heck out of you. I was only half-right. The audition, however, was welcoming and fun. I suppose this makes sense because it's a comedy broadway after all. Everyone had to dance and sing to piano from this guy called Mike. The auditioners had to write lyrics down from a broadway and sing it. The examples I saw were “My Fair Lady”, “Oklahoma”, “Camelot”, and “Kiss Me Kate”. I noticed the people they attracted. Very old people, very young people, and very middle aged people. If they didn't show off the range enough when they sand their examples, they had to sing “Aaaaaahh” or “Yahahahaaah”. Nearly all had the correct way to introduce themselves and exit – so my theory is that they all took acting classes or broadway classes before, thus meaning they are passionate. When the acting auditions begin, I don't spot Method Acting anywhere. Understandable, I mean realistic acting only comes in handy in movies and stuff like that. By the way, in the middle of all of this – someone recognizes my Zack Ryder shirt so that was very welcoming. Another interesting thing to point out is that they all seem to know each other, so Cohen uses this group of people often it seems. At the end, Cohen and the others determine the callbacks for Wednesday. Unfortunately, there was a guy with a disability and he couldn't find anyway to be in the broadway. Other than that, Cohen was very strictly making the decisions. Only the people who gave it their all made the cut it seemed like. Makes sense.

In conclusion, this one session taught me that auditions can be fun, social, and all-around awesome. I am also going for more hours tommorrow (Tuesday's auditions), so we'll see how much they'll diverge from today's auditioners. I am very happy to see how this is going, as it is very interesting to finally look at the other side of the auditions and spot their reasonings of the you, the auditioner, versus you seeing what they think of you based on your own logical interpretation.

Blog #19

1.  What ESLR have you excelled in most in your senior project? 

I believe I have excelled in "Effective User of Technology".



2.  Please explain why you think you have excelled in this ESLR.

I was able to make a pretty good presentation as well as several microsoft word documents. It was hard but I overcame it as an IPoly citizen.



3.  Provide evidence from your senior project to support your claim (evidence is a photo of something you are doing, photo of something you made, etc).


This is a link to the presentation I made: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1E4_EU8jhfXIkprdVAvPDYCMbDaZgwXXvGlHc4oxLmoM/edit#slide=id.p

It took more than an hour to do.