1. I felt as though my final monologue made the most of the present situation. I tried to make the context of a video message make sense as a plea to the characters parents. I tried to pull from a personal place, and felt like the emotions I expressed towards the subjects. The most challenging part I think was getting a take I was satisfied with. With live theatre, once you do it, its done, and you can't change it. With this, we had the option of doing multiple takes due to the format, and I think this made me a bit critical of each take.
2. I'm not entirely sure what my hardest part about this class was. I think understanding the "wants" in the beginning was tricky for me, but I like to think that I've gotten better at comprehending that thought process. I now at least understand its application in the acting process.
3. For the next students, the advice I would offer is to be patient through the first couple weeks before they start rehearsing and performing their midterm scenes. To a less patient student, those first couple classes can feel very slow and repetitive, but it is to understand how to move forward. Wait until things pick up before deciding to drop the class!
Jackson,
I am so glad that you didn't drop the class! Ha! Your work on your final piece has been so successful from start to finish. the work was grounded and connected and simple in the very best way.
The idea of "self taping" - ie recording yourself - absolutely does bring its own challenges. You are 100% correct; with live theatre you do it once and then it is over, for better or for worse. Here, you have the option of trying one more time to get the perfect take. But at least you did in fact get that perfect take.
I really appreciate the care and emotional maturity you brought to your work this semester. When the semester started, your sense of humor and your vast imagination were the first things I saw in you, which of course I really appreciated. But it was also great to see these other layers come out in your work.
I wish you the best going forward. I picture you in a cool but slightly janky apartment in the city, ready to take the next step with your career. I know you have the brains and the guts to keep going, but also the heart to make it all worth it.
Thank you for a great - if incredibly odd - semester.