Character Background

Character Background:

You must name your character if your character does not have a name.

Describe a typical day in the life of your character:

Where does your character live?

What does your character do for a living?

Does your character go to school?

Is your character married? Describe the spouse and/or girl/boy friend.

Does your character have children? Describe the children. What kind of parent is your character?

What does your character like to do?

What does your character not like to do?

What is your character not good at?

What are some of the things your character excels at?

What are the hopes and dreams of your character?

Describe the central event your character underwent and figures in the scene you are doing.

Additional Assignment:

The pivotal moment of your character’s life.

NOVEMBER 29, 2010 - DECEMBER 3, 2010

WEEKLY SCHEDULE FOR BEGINNING ACTING

Monday, November 29th:

Warm-ups:

Vocal, Physical

Emotional and sensory recall

Work with individual scene TBA

Tuesday, November 30th:

Theatre games!

Work with individual scene TBA

Wednesday, December 1st:

Warm-ups: Vocal, Physical

Journal: Describe the key event in your character's life. This event should be something that the character refers to in the scene and/or has brought the character to this point in her/his life.

Work with individual scene TBA

Thursday, December 2nd:

Warm-ups: Vocal, Physical

Journal: Describe a day in the life of your character from the moment s/he wakes up to the moment s/he goes to sleep.

Work with individual scene TBA

Friday, December 3rd:

Warm-ups: Vocal, Physical

One scene will perform today in front of the class. The scene must be memorized and performed with props. The scene will be taped and the actors will watch the scene; then write a reflection on the scene which will be turned in for a grade.

NOVEMBER 15, 2010 - NOVEMBER 19, 2010

WEEKLY SCHEDULE FOR BEGINNING ACTING

Monday, November 15th:

Warm-ups: Vocal, Physical

Emotional and Sensory Recall Exercises

Work with a new scene in front of class

Tuesday, November 16th:

Improvs and Theater Games

Work on scenes

Wednesday, November 17th:

Warm-ups: Vocal, Physical

Emotional and Sensory Recall Exercises

Work privately with "Jumpers" while rest of class work on their scenes

Thursday, November 18th:

Work with "Jumpers" while rest of class work on their scenes

Friday, November 19th:

"Jumpers" will perform today in front of class.

The scene must be memorized with props and blocking.

The scene will be taped.

The actors will review the tape of their work in private and then write a one page reflection on the rehearsal and the performance. The reflection will be turned in for a grade.

November 8, 2010 - November 12, 2010

Weekly Agenda for Beginning Acting Class

Monday, November 8th:

Warm-ups

Vocal Exercises

Pass out syllabus

Pass out scenes and partners

Tuesday, November 9th:

Regular Day

Warm-ups

Vocal Exercises

Emotional and Sensory Recall

Work with one scene in front of class.

Wednesday, November 10th:

Warm-ups

Vocal Exercises

Emotional Recall

Sensory Recall

Work with second scene in front of class

Thursday, November 11th:

Veterans’ Day

No School

Friday, November 12th:

Warm-ups

Vocal Exercises

Emotional Recall

Sensory Recall

Work with actors individually on scenes

Everyone else rehearse

Those actors with whom I have rehearsed will perform their scenes next week on Friday, November 19th. The scenes WILL BE TAPED. These scenes must be memorized and will be performed in front of the class. The class will critique the scenes according to a rubric which we will go over. The actors will then review their performances on tape and write a one page reflection on the rehearsal process and the final performance. This must be one page and typed and will be due the day after the performance.

For extra credit, you may sign up to work on crew for BLACK ORPHEUS.

November 1st - November 5th Weekly Agenda for Beginning Acting

Monday, November 1st:

Warm-ups

Vocal Exercises

Finish up the Observation Game

Tuesday, November 2nd:

Warm-up

Vocal Exercises

Scenes and partners will be assigned today

Wednesday, November 3rd:

Warm-ups

Vocal Exercises

Work with one scene in front of class

Thursday, November 4th:

Warm-ups

Vocal Exercises

Work with another scene with in front of class

Friday, November 5th:

Warm-ups

Vocal Exercises

Theatre Games

OCTOBER 25th - OCTOBER 29th Weekly Agenda for Beginning Acting

Monday, October 25th:

Warm-ups!

Emotional Recall Exercises

Sensory Recall Exercises

Theatre Games

Finish up the Animal Studies

Tuesday, October 26th:

Shortened day!

The Entrance Game

Wednesday, October 27th:

Theatre Games!

Vocal warm-ups!

Observation Study

Choose someone whom you see rather frequently - every day, a couple of times a week, a month - someone whose personality you are familiar with; for example, you are familiar with the way s/he speaks, moves, etc. Become that person and create a one-to-three minute scene typical of what that person would do. You may speak as that character if you wish.

Thursday, October 28th:

Theatre Games!

Vocal warm-ups!

Begin working on the Observation study.

Friday, October 29th:

Theatre Games!

Vocal warm-ups!

Observation study!

October 11th - October 15th Weekly Agenda for Beginning Acting

Monday, October 11th:
Theatre Games!
Warm-ups!
Finish showing your three scenes based on a short phrase!

Tuesday, October 12th:
Theatre Games!
Warm-ups!
Assignment: Animal Studies. Observe an animal. Observe how it moves. Then create a person who moves and behaves like that animal. The class will try to determine on what animal your character is based. We will begin presenting tomorrow.

Wednesday, October 13th:
Theatre Games!
Warm-ups!
We will begin our Animal Studies!

Thursday, Octoner 14th:
Theatre Games!
Warm-ups!
Finish up our Animal Studies!

Friday, October 15th:
Theatre Games!
Warm-ups!
Assignment: Choose someone you see on a fairly constant basis. Observe that person. Observe what that person does on a fairly regular basis. Then create a two minute scene in which you become that person and engage in that activity or behavior that person typically does. This is to be done without judgment. Do not choose someone that everyone knows. The person you choose can be a neighbor, a relative, a person who works at the convenience store at the corner in your neighborhood. We will start presenting on Monday, October 18th.

October 4th - 8th Weekly Agenda for Beginning Acting Class

Monday, October 4th:
Continue performing the monologues and discussing the performances in class.

Tuesday, October 5th:
Continue performing the monologues and discussing the performances in class.

Wednesday, October 6th:
Continue performing the monologues and discussing the performances in class.

Thursday, October 7th:
After all the monologues have been performed, the students will be divided according to age, class, and experience. The older classes and those with more experience will go with Mr. Itkin.

First day of my class: theatre games.

Divide into groups of three and build three scenes on one of the following phrases:
“I’m sorry.”
“Thank you.”
“I don’t mind.”
Choose a different attitude for the three scenes.
Example: if you choose “Thank you”, then in the first scene you do, the “thank you” (which comes out of the situation of the scene) might be sarcastic. The second scene you write using the phrase “I’m sorry” might show genuine contrition. The third scene you write using the phrase “I’m sorry” might be silly.

Friday, October 8th:
Theatre games
Begin presenting the three scenes you wrote with your partners.

Beginning Acting Weekly Schedule
for September 27th - October 1st:

Monday, September 27th:
Continue monologues

Tuesday, September 28th:
Continue monologues

Wednesday, September 29th:
Continue monologues

Thursday, September 30th:
Continue monologues

Friday, October 1st:
Continue monologues

BEGINNING ACTING SCHEDULE
for the week of
SEPTEMBER 20th - 24th:

Monday, September 20th:
Pass out contract
Acting exercises and theatre games
Begin working on your monologues!

Tuesday, September 21st:
Shortened day today.
Work on your monologues

Wednesday, September 22nd:
Work on your monologues

Thursday, September 23rd:
Work on your monologues

Friday, September 24th:
Begin presenting your monologues.
Remember! They must be memorized.

MAY 17, 2010 - MAY 21, 2010

Monday, May 17th:
No fifth period today due to CST.

Tuesday, May 18th:
Please be sure to bring your photo to class today.
Sit and study your character; allow your character to speak to you. What does s/he say to you? What does the character want? What is the character's greatest fear? What is the character's greatest desire? Write this down.
Nicholai and Tanya: watch their scene and write their reflections
Work with VANITIES: Jeniffer and Ericka

Wednesday, May 19th:
No class today due to CST.

Thursday, May 20th:
Period 5: 1:31 - 2:19 p.m. (48 minutes)
Bring your photo to class today. Create your character's past. What is the character doing now? Create the character's current circumstances.
Today I will work with VANITIES
I will also work with Raven Chaney-May in her scene.

Friday, May 21st:
Please bring your photo to class today. Begin writing a monologue for your character.
Scenes today: VANITIES

Reflections on Your Acting Scene

1. Could I be heard?

2. Was I understandable? Did I enunciate clearly?

3. Did I, as an actor, look comfortable on stage?

4. Did I create a believable character who was recognizable as a human being?

5. Did I create a believable environment? Did I break the fourth wall at any time? Was there a sense of time of day, time of year? Was there a sense of cliamte - heat or cold, or rain? Did I give an indication to where I was physically - outdoors? At the beach, in a city, in the woods? Inside a room, and if in a room, what kind of room?

6. Did I relate to the other character on stage? Did I give a sense of my relationship with the other character? Did I like the other character? Are we friends? How close is the relationship? If we are enemies, then why don't I like the other character?

7. Were my objectives clear - both my immediate objectives and my super objectives?

8. Did I play all the beats clearly and completely?

9. What surprised me the most in seeing my work on tape?

10. What surprised me the most about how I sounded on tape?

11. What did I like the best about my work?

12. What could I do to improve?

April 26, 2010 - April 30th
Weekly Agenda for Beginning Acting

Monday, April 26th:
Warm-ups!
One Good/One Bad Theatre Scene based on your scene
Rehearse with a scene TBA

Tuesday, April 27th:
Theatre Games
Performance:
ROMIE and MICHELE
Katherine and Alexis

Wednesday, April 28th:
Warm-ups!
Theatre games
Rehearse with a scene TBA

Thursday, April 29th:
Warm-ups!
Entrance game
Rehearse with a scene TBA

Friday, April 30th:
Performances

APRIL 12, 2010 - APRIL 16, 2010
WEEKLY AGENDA FOR BEGINNING ACTING

Monday, April 12th:
Most students not here today due to field trips. Those whose scene partners are here may rehearse outside.
The rest will do theatre games.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Poetry Slam

Tuesday, April 13th:
Warm-ups: vocal, physical, and sense and emotion memory
Work with Tiffany and Tiffany
I will also try to work with another scene

Wednesday, April 14th:
I will not be here today so you can play theatre games.

Thursday, April 15th:
Warm-ups
Work with two scenes today
Scenes tba

Friday, April 16th:
Warm-ups:
Today Tiffany, Tiffany and Armado will present their scene.
After their performance, there will be a short critique/discussion session. The actors will then view the tape of their work and write a reflection on their work.
Please be aware that your journals: "Who-What-Where-When" journal, "A Day in the Life" and the character's biography are due on the day of performance. Failure to turn in the journals will lower your grade dramatically.

MARCH 22, 2010 - MARCH 26, 2010
WEEKLY AGENDA FOR BEGINNING ACTING

Monday, March 22nd:
Warm-ups:
Vocal, sense and emotion memory exercises
The following actors will watch the video of their scenes:
Taguhi and Marlene in PRIDE and PREJUDICE
Vada and Trina in MISREADINGS
Today Nickolai and his scene partner are up!

Tuesday, March 23rd:
Shortened day!
Improvs
Work with the following people:
Nickolai Dorian
Tiffany Jimenez
Kevin Robbins

Wednesday, March 24th:
Warm-ups:
Improvs
Work with the following people:
Nickolai Dorian
Tiffany Jimenez
Kevin Robbins

Thursday, March 25th:
Warm-ups:
Improvs
Work with the following people:
Nickolai Dorian
Tiffany Jimenez
Kevin Robbins

Friday, March 26th:
Warm-ups:
Improvs
The following people will do their scenes today:
Nickolai Dorian
Tiffany Jimenez
Kevin Robbins

MARCH 8, 2010 - MARCH 12, 2010
WEEKLY AGENDA FOR BEGINNING ACTING

Monday, March 8th:
Warm-ups
A Day in the Life Journals
The actors who presented their scenes on Friday, Karissia, Jasmine, Tiffany and Sofie will watch their scenes and write a reflection on their work.
Work with Trina and Vada

Tuesday, March 9th:
Shortened day
Theatre games!

Wednesday, March 10th:
Warm-ups
A Day in the Life Journals
Work with Kevin and Oliver

Thursday, March 11th
Warm-ups
A Life Journals
Work with Kevin and Olvier
Work with Taguhi and Marlene

Friday, March 12th:
Final scene presentations today:
Trina and Vada
Oliver and Kevin
Theatre Games

Monday, March 1st:
Theatre games

Work with:
Roommates:
Tiffany Sulcer
Sofie Hernandez

Tuesday, March 2nd:
Not a shortened day.
Warm-ups
Who, What, Where, When Journals

Work with:
Clearing in the Woods:
Jasmine Gibson
Karissia Russell

Wednesday, March 3rd:
Warm-ups:
Who, What, Where, When Journals

Work with:
Misreadings:
Trina Keely
Vada Servin

Thursday, March 4th:
Warm-ups
Journals: A Day in the Life

Work with Nickolai and his scene partner

Friday, March 5th:
Warm-ups:
Journals: A Day in the Life
Scenes to be performed today:

Friends or Enemies
Tiffany Jimenez
Raven Chaney-May

Clearing in the Woods:
Jasmine Gibson
Karissia Russell

Redo:

Roommates:
Tiffany Sulcer
Sofie Hernandez

BEGINNING ACTING

ACTING SCENES:

THE ROOMMATE
Tiffany Sulcer and Sophie Hernandez

ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN
Savvy Duplissea and Lai- Ua Tanedo

ROMY AND MICHELLE
Alex Segundo and Katherine Cordoza

CLEARING IN THE WOODS
Karissia James and Jamine Gibson

TROUBLE
Raven Leon and Haley Gonzalez

FRIENDS OR ENEMIES
Tiffany Jimenez and Raven Chaney May

BEST FRIENDS AGAIN
Jessisca Monterrosa
Genesis Gomez

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
Marlene Oseguera
Taquhi Tavitian

MISREADINGS
Trina Keely
Vada Servin

No Scenes:
Armando Medina
Jordan Mantor
Charlie Mesa
Kevin Robbins
Tiffany Jimenez
Nickolai Dorian
Oliver Alvarez

BEGINNING ACTING
WEEKLY AGENDA
FOR
FEBRUARY 16TH - FEBRUARY 19TH

Tuesday, February 16th:
Warm-ups:
Vocal, Physical and sense and emotion memory
Find a scene partner and a scene

Wednesday, February 17th:
Warm-ups
Journal: Who, What, Where, When
Begin rehearsing with your scene partner
Today one scene will rehearse with me.

Thursday, February 18th:
Warm-ups:
Journal: Who, What, Where, When
Continue rehearsing with your scene partner
Today one scene will rehearse.

Friday, February 19th:
Rehearse with your scene partner

FINAL FOR BEGINNING ACTING CLASS
FEBRUARY 1ST - 5TH:

THE FOLLOWING ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE FIRST PERFORMANCE ARE DUE BY WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3RD:


"THE WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN" JOURNALS in which you detail every who, what, where, when that is mentioned in your scene.
"A Day in the Life" which is a typical day in the life of your character.
"A Life" which is the biography of your character
The reflection on your taped performance of your first scene

Your final will be your second scene. It must be memorized with props and blocking.

WEEKLY AGENDA FOR
BEGINNING ACTING
JANUARY 11th - January 15th

Monday, January 11th:
The following people need to rehearse with me this week. Three scenes will perform their scenes on Friday, January 15th, and the rest of the scenes will perform next Thursday and Friday, January 21st and January 22nd.

The following people must rehearse with me this week:

Jeneffer Acuna
Celene Anguiano
Katherine Cardoza
Raven Chaney-May
Meg Giron
Ericka Habana
Sophie Hernandez
Karissia James
Tiffany Jimenez
Armando Medina
Tanya Moniaga
Jessica Monterroso
David Moreno
Kevin Robbins
Vivian Ruffin
Alexis Segundo
Vada Servin
Tiffany Sulcer

Today I will randomly select three scenes to rehearse today. You must have it memorized and blocked with props.

Tuesday, January 12th:
Today three more scenes will be randomly selected to rehearse today.

Wednesday, January 13th:
Today three more scenes will be randomly selected to rehearse today.

Thursday, January 14th:
Today three more scenes will be randomly selected to rehearse today.

Friday, January 15th:
Today FAMILY SCENES with Deborah Rocha and Trina Keeley;
“The Roommate” with Genesis Gomez and Haley Gonzalez; and “The Job” with Jasmine Gibson and Tiffany Sulcer will perform today.
The scenes will be videotaped. After your performance you will turn in your autobiography; your “Day in the Life” and your “Who, What, Where, When” journals.
You will watch the videotape of your performance and write a reflective journal. The journal should answer theses questions:

Could I be heard?
Could I be understood?
Were my lines memorized?
Did I use real props?
Did I use my blocking?
Was I focused?
Was I in character?
Did I break character or break the fourth wall?
Did I create a believable environment?
Did I move comfortably as the character in the environment?
Did I relate to the other character in the scene?
Did I listen to the other character?
Did I have a believable relationship to the other character?
Did I create a believable character?
What did I do well in the scene?
What could I do to improve?

Please write in complete sentences and in paragraph form.