Modern day

In our acting technique lesson we did an exercise where we took our characters into the modern day. As our play is set in the 18th century for us as actors and modern teenagers it could be hard for us to connect with our characters and to understand what they are going through. This exercise allowed us to put our characters into an enviroment that we are used to so that we can connect with our characters more easily.

Through this exercise I made some really interesting discoveries about my charatcer. When I thought about my character in a modern context I immediately saw him in the role of a politician for the conservative party, before having gone to oxford to do law and spent half his career working job the courts. I found this interesting as I imagined him as the type if politician how avoids all questions and had an old school arrogance to him. Before I had always seen my character as a calm and quite reasonable character however I realised that this was only a result of the context and that he still holds these sexiest and bigoted views but because of the context he isn't seen as a bad or hblikeably character. By putting him in the modern day I realised that these views are core to his personality and to his life and career and that they are prominent in his life making him a harsher character.

The exercise also helped me to think about the physicality of my character. I instinctively imagined my character in the modern day to be the stereotypical fat, repulsing, stuck up, middle class man. Although this was a very clear image I was unsure about how it translates to the context of the play. However what I could take from this was the fullness that came with the physicality of the modern version of my character and the power and slight arrogance that came with how he holds himself and his presence. 

Character exercise

In today’s session we did a character exercise that looked our characters physicality’s and how we can apply these to our performance. We did this by exploring our character as a caricature and exaggerating them to the extreme. This allowed us to really discover and learn about our characters, the way the walk and how they hold their bodies, doing this in an exaggerated manner really heightened their movement making it clear to us as actors. I found that this really allowed me to feel the weight being balanced in my legs and for me to be heavier as a man, doing this exaggerated highlighted just where and how the weight was balanced in my legs so that when I toned it down I could still be aware of how to move just in a more subtle way. It also made me think about where I lead with my body as my character and how I hold myself, I found that even though I was being lead by my hips/knees and my legs where very prominent in the movement, my upper body was still very stiff and upright. I think that this shows how his masculinity is rooted in his hips and legs but his status and power is shown through his upper body and his head held high shows how because of his status he looks down on the convicts.

I found that through this exercise I went to the stereotype of my character – the upper class, white, male of the time. Interestingly I had tried to stay clear of the stereotypes as I wanted to keep him original and his characterisation individual. I think that this shows that the stereotype might have some truth in it and where it developed from and that the pompousness and arrogance displayed in his movement could be a small part that I could layer into my characterisation. I think that because of their status it was common for the upper class characters to have the stereotypical harshness and confidence and that I could use this in a way to create my character while still making him an individual.

While we were creating these exaggerated characters we looked at developing some idiosyncrasies for our characters that could be taken into the performance. The first one that I developed was a twitch in the face that included a sniff. I found this one as in the new world I felt that my character would be interested in the new sights, sounds and smells and that this was one way to emphasis how different the world is to him. Also I found that this was a type of way of looking down at the convicts and implies that their dirt repulses him. Another one was the development of a props and I felt that my character would use a pipe, I found that this emphasises the thinker quality within my character. By using a pipe I found that it opened my character to explore the way that he thinks and the pleasure he takes in enjoying thinking. The last one that I found was how I held my hands. I felt that when I was walking and hand my hands either behind or in front of me there was a certain movement/rubbing in them to show how he considers and thinks a lot. Personally I found that it shows the more academic side to my character and his love of books and reading. I moved my hands as if there was something absent, such as a book, this allowed me to explore the inner love for reading and education is important to my character.

I found that doing this exercise was really useful as it allowed me to connect to the physicality of my character and to develop small personal movements that define him. I think that this is really useful as if I ever feel disconnected to my character on stage I can just revert to these small movements that I find define him and reconnect to him on a physical level which leads to a psychological and emotional level. I also think it allowed me to make lots of really strong, clear decisions to my character so that I was becoming more independent in my thinking about him and making him my own and bringing him off the page.

Costume

This is the costume that I will be wearing for my character. Personally being able to see my character in the traditional wear has opened my mind and imagination to him more because I am more able to connect him to the context. I think that it has allowed me to think about the physicality of my character as the costume will effect my posture and the way that I hold myself. I think that status comes with my costume and the upper, powerful class is symbolizes through it making me think about how I would move in my costume. I think that it would make me what to assert a sense of power within my voice and characterization so that I can match the power of my uniform.

I also think that the smaller details on my costume really highlight the status he has within the army and the colony that they are building. The little pieces of gold show a higher status rather than other officers that have less gold. I think that this shows the importance of my characters input into the colony and how this effects what my character thinks about the colony and how he would like to shape it.

CELEBRITIES WHO LIKE THE SOUND OF THEIR OWN VOICE

 

My personal character research was to find celebrities who like the sound of their own voice. It was interesting for me to get this task as I hadn't originally thought of my character as one who was self obsessed and so it showed him in a new light to me.

 

My immediate instict was Piers Mogan, so I started to research video's of him talking and I found that he was especially useful as he is often taking part in debates as my character is, making him relatable.

This video was especially helpful for me as it showed him in full debate and how he acts and still gets his voice heard. Certain characteristics have been really useful for me to watch and analyse as they could be modified to go into my character and to help me create the vocal and physical characterisation of Collins. One of the main qualities that I picked up on was how Piers would interupt when he thought others was wrong and had to have his voice heard to the point that he would continue to talk over the other people to make sure that his point got put across. I think that this is really interesting to see as it could show him wanting to intergect his power into the debate and to use that to give him an advantage. It also shows a stubbon, controling nature within him as a person and that he can't have others making him seem wrong.

However I don't think that my character is as arrogant and aggrsive as Piers is, consquently I feel that I could take certain aspects of him but dull them down and calm them slightly to make them more realsitic to my character.

 

 

Another celebrity that I looked up was Jeremy Clarkson (and yes he is coincidentally talking about Piers Morgan :P ). This was also really helpful for my character as, especially in this interview, as he is slightly calmer than Piers and shows him getting lost in the sound of his own voice but not in an arguamentative manner. Something that really helped me in this video was how he really embelished the story and exagerated certain moments to extend the story and to pro-long being able to be the center of attention. I found this useful as my character does like to go on a bit and I think that I could use this in my characterisation by extanding my sentances through my voice and drawing out the vowls to make words longer. I think that I could enjoy the sound of my voice like Clarkson does and take pleasure in the words that I am saying and the story that I'm telling instead of wanting it to be over with quickley.

 

LABAN EFFORTS

As shown in the diagram there are 8 different Laban forces that can be used to create develop and discover more about your characters through applying a force to your characters physicality and voice.

 

As I am playing a male character that is of high status and contextually being masculine was key to power I felt that physically I would be more solid and heavy with weight. When exploring the Laban efforts having a more solid movement about my character and more weight within his walk felt strong within my body. For my character it provided control within my self and this portrayed an air of self confidence resulting in power being emitted from him. I think that this feel of power is really important for my character as his scenes take part in a male dominated, testosterone area where each man is trying to get his voice hear and assert their power, consequently I think that my character having a strong sense of himself and his physicality gives him power over others in those opinionated scenes. It is also a way of not being considered weak in front of the other male characters.  

Contrastingly to this masculinity and strength in my character, he isn’t threatening or frightening – maybe because he doesn’t have to scare the convicts as he doesn’t spend a lot of time with them but he isn’t an overly sinister or forceful character. As a result of this I don’t feel that he is a punch or a press as he doesn’t have to push or force characters through threats. When exploring this character I felt that he was more controlled and calmer character and that he is more focused on the legal side and the logical solution so he is often collected in his thoughts and as person rather than having the tendency to loose the control. This could mean that he is more of a Dab or a Slash than a Punch.  

I think that my character is a mixed of different Laban efforts as most people are, making him more natural and human as a character for the audience to believe in. For example I think that the strength could be shown in his physicality as a lot of masculinity can be communicated through movement and physical presents. Then I could contrast this with a calmer more controlled voice that is more like glide.

Actioning Script

Approaching the Script

What does my character say about him?

• “I’m a Kemble man myself” –pg5

What does my character say about other people?

• “You have been made Governor-in-Chief of a paradise of birds, Arthur” – pg2
• “John Arscott has already been sentenced to 150 lashes for assault.” –pg 3
• “I’m surprised he wasn’t hanged in England” – pg 4 – About James Freeman
• “he pleads that it was wrong to put the convicts and the marines on the same rations and that he could not work on so little food. He almost swayed us.” – pg 4 – about Handy Baker
• “Our Governor-in-Chief would say it is justice,” –pg4
• “Your wife excepted, Reverend.” –pg17
• “He was Swiss actually” –pg18 – about Rousseau
• “We know about you compassion, not to say, passion, for the women convicts, George.” –pg19
• “Actually, they seem happy enough as they are. They do not want to build canoes or houses, nor do they suffer from greed and ambition.” –pg19 – about the convicts
• “The devious ways he used to serve his Captain” –pg20 – about Sergeant Kite (in a play)
• “The Reverend, our moral guide, has no objections.” –pg24
• “She refused to defend herself at the trial. She didn’t say a word…she was condemned to be hanged.” –pg79 – about Liz
• “She was seen by a drunken soldier in the dark.” –pg79 – about Liz
• “She won’t speak, she won’t say where she was” –pg79- about Liz
• “She may have refused to speak because she no longer believes in the process of justice.” –pg80 – about Liz
• “Freemans evidence wasn’t very clear and as Liz Morden wouldn’t confirm what he said, it was dismissed.”- pg80

What do other people say about my character?

• “He finds time for Davey Collins” –pg8 – said by Ralph
• “That’s because Captain Collins is going to write about the customs of the Indians here” –pg8 – said by Harry

CHARACTER QUESIONS

Who am I?

Captain David Collins- Colonial Judge and advocate General.

I’m Captain David Collins, aged 50 and of high ranking within the camp. Unlike many others I feel that my personality enhances my job and personally I feel that it makes more suited and better at my performance rate. I’m clam, quite maybe to some, but collected most certainly, ruled by my head I try to understand all that I can and am constantly aware of consequences. Legal is my passion, not to use a rash word, but I see the importance and the need for such a social construction to keep all under Gods view and love. I’m soft hearted but alone, on this island, I find comfort within my books and feel transported, almost as if I can smell and taste home within that book. Solitude comes from shooting, able to take a moment away from work and just to focus on one thing as I time.

Where am I?

It’s nothing like England. My room; comfort is far from my mind, I can’t tell if it’s the conditions that surround me or the mere face that I am so far from home that all comfort is gone. I’ve tried to make a home; I’ve covered this god-forsaken place with my books, globes, and writing, anything that could send me back to where I wish I could be. After being out in that dirty, rat-ridden, dusty hovel, all I want is to be at home, in England where I can relax and not be concerned with Australia, just being happy in my own place. But the smell, the taste, the feel of this place just clings to me, I try to wash, to cover myself in other smells, anything to feel like home when I close my eyes and sleep, but its as if it follows me as soon as I forget where I am, a fresh whiff comes and I’m reminded of my reality.

What do I want?

Most of all I want home, I want my bed, my house, my life. I’m existing here in Australia but not living. I want to be comfortable in the world that I know and love not in this place that I can’t comprehend. If I have to stay in this place I want to be able to create a place where I can find some comfort, some tiny piece of home to feel safe again and not an outsider. However while I am here I want to do my job and to do it well and successfully. I want to do what’s right, I’m in a position of power and I want to be able to make changes that will benefit those and will actually change lives. I want to do what’s right, that’s all; I want to be able to say that I did the right thing in the eyes of the lord and the government.