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.