Character Design - Melodrama

Today in drama class we were working on creating our own characters. We talked a little about the types of characters and their roles in the play/movie. We got given a few questions to answer then got to create our own character with their traits and what they like to do.

Q1 - Describe 5 types of melodrama characters.

A Hero: They are good, handsome, and manly. They act on there intuition and are in-tune with nature. While they believe in justice, they don't always follow the less important rules of society.

A Heroine: Who is also moral in that they are innocent. They are beautiful and courageous but likely need saving.

A Villian: They are evil. These characters are normally greedy, vengeful, and corrupt.

A Villains Accomplice: They are rather idiotic and serves as comical relief.

A Faithful Servant: They help the hero uncover hidden information on the villain. This character also serves comic relief but does not come off as idiotic.

Q2 - Create a full biography for a melodrama character you have invented.

Scarlet Evergreen -

Date of birth 2/5/1996
Born in Spain

Mother unknown
Father unknown
Brother unknown

Masks - Drama

Commedia Dell-Arte Masks - Commedia dell'arte masks are one of the most important parts of each character. Each mask design is paired with a specific character based on appearance and tradition. Commedia masks make a statement to the audience from the moment they are seen on stage.

Greek Masks - They are the Comedy and Tragedy masks that were worn in ancient Greece in the golden age, around 500 – 300 BC. They are paired together to show the two extremes of the human psyche. All of the actors were male, and they all played multiple roles, so a mask was used to show the change in character or mood.

Masquerade Masks - A masquerade ball is an event in which many people come in costume wearing a mask. Less formal "costume parties" may be a descendant of this tradition. A masquerade ball usually encompasses music and dancing.

Mask Performance - 

I think that the performance was great. I liked the way all of the masks turned out but I think that next performance I could do better acting for I don't think that I was at my best. One thing I need to remember for next time is to probably not leap as far as I can of the stage for I could tumble over.

Scarlet Evergreen - Drama

Scarlet Evergreen - 

Gender: Female 
Age: 22 yr old
Date of Birth: 2/4/1798

Family:
Mother: Unknown
Siblings: Unkown
Father: Unknown

Personality: 
She is a follower. She loves hanging out with her friend Pracilla.
She hasn't got the brightest mind but she can still fight with her fists. 

Likes:
Cola, Cooking, Fighting, Writing, Most healthy food.

Dislikes: Losing, Sitting still, Peas.

Occupation: Sidekick, Cook.

The Melodramatic Acting Style - Drama

The Melodramatic Acting Style 

• Remember in Victorian Melodrama, all emotion is externalized. There is no such thing as inner psychological depth! 
• Generally, this means “Over the Top” in every way. Here are some techniques which help create this effect. 
• Slower, clearer delivery of lines with huge projection. Remember Victorian Theatres were huge and there were no microphones. 
• Play everything to the audience, even if you are supposed to be talking to another character on stage! Indicate whom you are talking to by looking sideways at them and holding your hand out towards. 
• Address the audience directly whenever the script will allow you to do so. 

 

• The Pose: Invent poses of shock, horror, love, evil, intent, cruelty, desire, dilemma, forgiveness, begging forgiveness, etc. A pose should last at least three seconds and should be clearly visible from fifty meters. 
• The working yourself up to the pose: lasts two to three seconds
• Be very big and dramatic with your pose making sure to be over the top.

 

• The Gasp - very loud expressing a range of emotions. Often accompanied by a pose. 
• The Swoon - often preceded by lines such as "Alas! I can hardly bear it." The swoon should be graceful and provision should be made for someone to catch you.

 

• The long walk downstage/upstage/across the stage when hatching a plan or in a dilemma. 
• The Pacing- to and fro across the stage when hatching a plan or in a dilemma. Move before you speak so that the audience can track who is speaking. 
• The Tableau (freeze frame)- the still picture made up of a number of characters to freeze the moment, eg: The Happy Ending/ The Secret Lovers. Tableaux should be very explicit. 

 

• The Sigh/The Groan/The Tubercular Cough 
• First Entrances are important - may even bow, this is related to the cult of “The Actor” – the Star system. 

Melodrama - Drama

What is the green room?

A green room is a place in a theatre room off stage where the actors can chill and relax. They might eat food or start rehearsing there next lines but it is a place where the audience can't see them and can't go into. It is like their private domain.

    What is a proscenium arch theatre?

A proscenium is a metaphorical vertical plane of space in a theatre. It always has an arch on top of the stage giving it the name the proscenium arch theatre. The audience is normally right in front of the stage which is several feet above the ground.

    History of Melodrama - 

• Was developed in 1800
• First, melodrama was Rene de Pixerecourt
• Influenced by Romanticism
• Live music was incorporated in Melodrama to enhance emotion

Make your own costume -

Bonets - white,

Stage Properties - Drama

Yesterday we were learning about how we can use limited and random props to make a scene. We started by choosing one prop per person in our group and then developed a scene that could justify the use of each of the props that we had chosen. we had to learn about what prop is what and the difference between the props.

What is a stage prop?
A stage prop, formally known as theatrical property, is an object used on stage or screen by actors during a performance or screen production. In practical terms, a prop is something that is portable of movable on the stage of set, distinct from the actors, scenery, costumes, and electrical equipment. consumable food items appearing in the production are also considered a prop.

What is a prop weapon?
A prop weapon, such as a gun or sword, looks like it is real and working but is normally made from plastic/rubber or is the real thing just with a whole bunch of safety features to help keep everyone in the production safe from harm's way.

What is a stunt prop?
A stunt prop is like what it says, it is a prop that is made specifically made to break under a slight point o pressure or something that is easy to smash just to make things look weak and vulnerable compared to the person who thew/sat on the breakable object.

What is a hero prop?
A hero prop is a prop that has a lot of detail so the camera/the audience can see all of the little details and things. The hero prop could have some writing or some movable part that they want the people watching to see.

Dance In Musicals - Drama

Today in drama we have been talking about musicals and how the people dance while they sing. We watched the musical Annie where it shows the dance when they sing about them having a 'hard not life'. We also watched a scene where they were dance fighting on the streets and it told the story about how there are different sides and they don't get along. It tells us a bit about each group but also how they would react to things happening to them. We talked about how the dance scenes told us the story or what caused these people to act the way they do. Here is an example of a story in a dance/singing scene from Bugsy Malone - Fat Sam's Grand Slam.

Silent Movie & Time - Drama

Today for drama we were talking about a silent movie. A silent movie is a movie that has everyone being silent and not talking. The silent movie can have many different Themes like fear, Happyness, Comedy, or even death. In my silent movie, we used cowboy hats, fake guns, fake flowers, and a few boxes as a bar stand for it was a scene about the wild west. I was a Sherif, Ella was the bartender, Damion was a drunk gold miner, Tamsyn was the piano lady and finally, Lucy was the outlaw. I think that we did pretty good. We did two rounds, one with running through perfectly and the other with someone shouting out freeze or stop controlling what we were doing.

EXAMPLE OF A SILENT MOVIE

 

Singing In Theater - Drama

Today for drama I was reading Singing In Theater by Ruth Bjorklund. I learned that most people who go for the roles in plays go through dance classes, acting classes, and singing classes which is why they are the ones who are most likely to win the part. Nearly everyone begins his/her theater singing career in the chorus. When the show closes each night, before you completely collapse, you must accept your reward applause. The most important thing on stage is energy so if you don't have the energy you won't get that part you want to so it is best if you try with all you have got when you audition.

Bio Poem - Drama

For drama today we had been given a template of a bio poem and told to write
one about yourself.

I’m Emily

Imma a quirky, kind, funny, creative person.

Sister to one annoying, creepy, woman who never let anyone’s judgment
get in the way of her learning and drawing. Daughter of Anita, a nice,
amazing mother who always helps any way she can. Daughter of Scott
a strange, angry person who kept going until the job was done or
the lesson had been taught.

A family who would never let anyone hurt each other. A family who
would never do anything to hurt one another. A family who made
anyone and everyone feel like they were at home.
This is the thing that keeps me sane.

Bullies never fail to show for they always find those who have even
the smallest things wrong. They make u feel sad. They make you
feel angry. They make you feel like life's not worth the trouble
caused by them.

I am a person who fears clowns walking the streets, spiders crawling
up my back, and my biggest fear is of losing those who did so much
as to care about me.

I have always wanted to jump off the sky tower, climb up the tallest
mountains, but most of all always wanted to become a writer.

Born in Christchurch and raised in Hornby.


Life is a conundrum of esoterica 

Changes and Challenges - Drama Puppet shows

This week for drama we have been creating puppet shows with our healthy eating puppets. My puppet was named Popo the potato. I drew him on a paper bag so I could control it better. I was doing the show with Mikayla and Jaz as they both told me the script. I was the one that had to talk but didn't know what to say so we had to write it down for me to say it.

Changes and Challenges - Healthiest in the class

For drama, we had to come up with the three fittest people that we know according to us. They could be our friend, someone in your family or a supporter that you think is very fit. My three people are Mikayla, Belle, and Jaz because they all have their unique ways of doing things but always manage to be the first ones done. Mikayla does basketball and trains a lot as well as her running a lot which helps her become the fastest in the class. Belle runs around a lot, running away from justice when she gets caught. Belle can fit into very small places like a very big bed with a small gap underneath. Jaz also plays basketball and is very good with her fists.

A physically healthy person I admire is Mikayla.

[friend]

What she does is go for runs and stay healthy while keeping their shape.

Her skills are basketball and shooting.

She practices a lot round the day in school and out.

A physically healthy person I admire is Belle.

[friend]

What she does is run for her life and she is great with fights.

Her skills are hiding in small places and punching thoughts who hurt her friends and her.

She does this a lot at home and school with her amazing speed and small figure

A physically healthy person I admire is Jaz.

[friend]

What she does is help others if they are getting hurt. She is brave and strong as well as a good friend.

Her skills are basketball and punching.

She helps all day long and trains a lot during the week.

 

Drama - Healthy Eating

For the last 2 weeks in drama, we have been working on healthy eating and creating, healthy puppets to put on a puppet show. While learning about healthy eating and the things that bad food does to our bodies we had written down what healthy food does to help our four walls. When we had learned all that we needed to know we drew some healthy eating, paper, puppets to make a video that convinces people to eat healthy not only for their shape but for their minds as well.

Physical - Having a healthy body isn’t only working out and going for runs. It is also about the food you eat and the things you do to keep your body in the best shape possible. You will need to have healthy meals each day so you can have the energy that you need to keep going. You would have enough sugar to keep your energy but more so healthy food to keep your body happy.

Mental - Eating good, healthy food helps you keep good body weight and a healthy heart which is very important for if you don have a healthy heart you could get heart disease. It also helps reduce your risk of developing some chronic diseases. Your food choices may also affect your mood and mental health. Some research shows that eating healthy can change your mood and improve your way of life. Food allergies or unwillingness can have a great effect on your mood.

Spiritual - Eating healthy meals every day would help your spiritual health because you could feel good being in your own body and not be afraid to wear the things you like. You might not want to wear a dress but when you start eating healthy you w

Socal - Eating food can be a bonding experience for you and your friends/family.