Speechless

Our latest performance was a silent movie. I've never had to perform without words before so I learned a lot about movement and grande gestures. I learned how to use facial expressions to show my reactions and I also learned to face the audience more because it would be hard to understand the play if I didn't. I also learned to be more dramatic with my performance, for example when in shock I had to place my hands on my mouth and have my eys wide open to create emphasis. And With all these new skills I've learned I can apply them to all my other performances. Whether it's a monologue or performing with someonelse I feel it's important to be dramatic on stage because the audience needs to clearly understand what's going on on stage. The most effective performance I believe was when jake and John came towards me to fight for my attention. It evolved a lot of facial expressions, I had to be confused, laugh, be irritated and freaked out which was  fun to do and watch as well. What also worked out in the play were the ideas we put into it. For example the cut scenes and adding different actions In between the fights made the movie even more interesting to watch.

A silent movie needs much more creativity because of its lack of speech, so I believe that all the work we put into creating a comedic silent movie paid off. My own performance was a little bit dry at the begin, I didn't use many facial expression because I was not so used to just using my face rather than my voice. And I also got to caught in the other actors performance that I didn't pay attention to my own acting.But as we went into performing more I began to feel more comfortable using my face and the rest of my body to tell the story. I also think I improved my skills when working with the other actors because at the begin I felt like rushed to give an expression before the other actor gave his but now the timing is in sync. What I found difficult was having to  break up the fight I didn't know how to place my self, I didn't know if I should have stepped back for the audience to see the fight while I stopped them or wether I should have come inner week so it felt a little bit awkward for me. So I think that i need to work more on positioning myself on stage where I can still let the audience see me and not feel awkward. I also found it hard to make certain faces, for example the scene were I had to sneak of I didn't know which facial expression would be funny enough. But overrall i enjoyed this performance because it was new to me and even though so aspects of it were difficult it wasnt as hard as the monologue.

Wicked witch

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=9fe_aNlCzMc

Charlie Chaplin

Monologues

I believe so far the monologues are great, each one is interesting to watch. John's monologue was very simple and funny and I think he did a great job with projecting he's voice and pronouncing the words loud and clear for the audience. He also did a great job with he's staging, he went from one spot to the other with ease while at the same time delivering he's lines well. What I think he should,work on is knowing the audience or rather the other person/people he is talking. Because at some point I didn't know if it was directed to a class or an imaginary audience. So next time he should work on making it clear he who he is talking too.

Jake's performance was also very clear and fun to watch, I like the way he portrayed his character.i also like the fact that he put awkward pauses in between his lines it made it very clear that the character is a shy and socially awkward person. And handing the flower was also very well done. What he should work on is knowing when to look at the audience and when to look at the girl, because I believe the performance would be great if he faced the crowed a little bit more.

My monologue was hard to act at the beginning because the staging directions it was hard to figure out were to stand and how to run of stage but I think I've improved a little in that department. What I should work on is projecting my voice, I sometimes get loud enough but after a couple of lines I get a little quieter. What I'm good at I think, is taking my time deliver my lines. Overall, I think with a bit more work, I can get louder and

CONTEXT: In this very silly spoof of fairy-tales, a bitter Wicked Witch curses the soon-to-be Sleeping Beauty.

WICKED WITCH:
So, looks like everyone is having a marvelous time. Hello, good to see you. Nice to meet you. Hi there, I’m the Wicked Witch, here’s my card. Let’s do lunch sometime. Ah, and here’s the birthday girl, surrounded by all of these gifts and her good little fairy friends. And here’s King Jonathan and Queen Jessica. You certainly invited a great number of people. But somehow you seemed to have overlooked the one person who could have been your most delightful guest. But no, no, don’t apologize. My feelings are hurt, yes, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t brought along a special gift for the princess. A brand new, never-seen-before, Curse of the Wicked Witch! “For all the tears you’ve made me shed, you’ll prick your finger on something pointy and fall down dead. And if your friends are feeling blue, in just one day they’ll drop dead too!” HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! (Runs off cackling… continues cackling looking for the exit.) How do you get out of this place? Oh – HAHAHAHAHA! (Exits.)

Let me introduce myself...

My name is Amanda Akaliza, fun fact about my name is I don't share my last name with anyone else in my family, and no I was not adopted, I asked. It's part of my culture I'm originally from Rwanda but  I was born in Uganda. I grew up in a pretty big family 7 kids and both parents, but I mostly lived abroad with my mother. I was very lucky to live in different countries such as Belgium, Zimbabwe and the USA because learning from different cultures has shaped my personality today. I am very accepting to change and I love meeting new people. And with new lifestyles I've learned that people have  different opinions and views, so I've also learnt to be patient and accept other people's point of view. I think the best thing I've  learned from living a broad is how to listen, I learned over the years to listen to people and their problems, hopes and dreams and as crazy as it sounds I have always been interested in helping another person grow. This is why I've decided to take psychology in college next year to learn about the human mind and how else a person can help those who need the extra push.

    Growing up I've also been exposed to music, my father loves to sing, however my mother can't really hold a tune, but let's not tell her that. My parents started to notice how much I loved to sing from the time I was 4, I wasn't really that great when I was younger I have to admit but thanks to all the effort my parents put in finding vocal coaches and choir groups my voice has truly  improved. I've since then performed at school, in mini concerts back home and I am looking forward to any and all opportunities out there for me. My dream since the day I knew I could hold a tune was to become a well known vocal performer not only for the money, but I would like that part to, but for the messages I'd send to those who listen, and I mean really listen to what I have to say through my music.

Lastly, my goals in this class, I've never really performed through acting before, I've done a play or two but I had two lines max in both plays combined. So my goal is to perform better, I've noticed I'm very soft spoken so hopefully this acting class will change that. And my last goal is to express myself through acting without being shy.