Blog Post 12/20/18

Short reflection due: what were your personal strengths and weaknesses in this project (review the video to assess your performance). 200 words. Post on blog

272 words

Some of the main things that I need to work on is my line memorization, when I went on stage I skipped a giant section of my script which went on to mess everyone up. While I knew the line I hadn't prepared enough with my group to be able to go through everything smoothly. I also need to increase my volume, I think I was stuck in the idea that my character because she was a child and innocent that I in turn had to be quite. While I can still be quiet it is important that everyone can hear me when I am speaking so that they understand what I am saying. I think that I also need to work on my blocking mode, I need to create more movement within my side because I was very static and it wasn't a good use of space overall. SOme of my strengths throughout the piece was being able to after I messed up getting everyone back on and finding a spot that we could all benefit from starting up again. I also did a lot on the sound and lighting cues. I think that I had a huge strength in writing the script and coming up with the ideas overall, as well as helping to stage and get props. WHile I did know my lines it is also important that I practice them onstage to be ready for when the final happens. Also if I could look more towards the audience rather than down I think that I could use my facial expressions to get my point across more as well.

Blog Post 12/14/18

Blog post due -- what do you need to revise on your drafts to show more clarity, conviction, commitment, emotion, and overall strengthen your performance. Be specific on what you need to revise and why. 300 words

Word Count: 345

To revise our draft, I think that we will need to plan when we have our back to the audience and when we don't. Having our back to the audience is usually something that you try to avoid, but for the idea of not being remembered and having a name, it is important to the story. I will also note that we will need to have our voiceovers and music timed well so that there is a good feeling evoked when the scenes are conducted, The introductory song is important because it allows us to set the tone without even saying anything. I will need to address my mother in a very cautious specific way because we did change some of the aspects from the story and how that relationship changes compared to the one that I have with David and the emotion that I have when I am writing. something that I want to focus on is being fairly unemotional when I am writing and progressively more emotional as the scene goes on and I continue to lose different emotions. For clarity, I think that the projection of my voice and emphasis while my back is turned will be the most important thing because the audience will not be able to see my face so they will need to get my emotions through audio. 

As far as strengthening my performance I think that adding some more motion to my character will be good, changing up where I stand in my section of the stage will add levels and depth to my part, but also show the size and quality of where I am living. I think that I want to deliver some of my lines very quietly, and play on the more passive side of my character to show her innocence and the true destruction that has become of her life. I know that many times I project very loudly, but I think for this performance I will need to do the opposite and make it very contrasting with what I have done before. 

Blog Post 12/09/18

Blog post due on how to best perform your scene to highlight the specific literary elements and analysis you have identified -- 300 words

To best perform the scenes that we have laid out we need to make sure that the scene changes are clear and very clean so that you can tell where everything is happening. I think that we also need to include lots of different lighting cues to get across emotions when silence is used, these parts include when there is silence in the prison so that we can show the sober mood and the way that the scene is serious and the danger of the situation. Another thing that really needs to be taken into consideration would be that there needs to be almost constant background music and noise. This needs to be done so that the viewer doesn't lose focus on what's going on and has another element of stimuli to understand the situation adn be put in the hoes of the characters. this will add another element of realism. A third that that is really important will be body language. The scenes don't have out faces in it much and I think that is important fo rth story to show what Danticat had about remembrance and being remembered, how these women weren't so not having faces leaves that mystery and we need another element to show the audience out emotions since our faces can't be seen. Having good body language will make it really interesting so that what we are trying to get across will be very clear. The scene is important to show the point that dondicat makes about the cruelty and sadness that was going on in haiti and to explain to people how theses tories may have been muddled, without our faces, and how impactful they were at the same time. The most important thing to the scene will be the last line where all three of us speak together. This is the most important line of the story to get our point across and having this scene end this way leave the viewer with a great sense of understanding and respect for these people. this last line will accomplish what everyone wanted in the scene and get across our message of understanding each other and loving one another before it i too late.

Uta Hagens 9 Questions

1. Who am I? Who is your character?

Identify all the details: name/age, physical traits, relatives, education, personal opinions, likes, dislikes, hobbies, fears, ethics, and beliefs.

• My name is Josephine
• My mother is in prison
• My grandmothers has died
• I dont have nay family living with me
• I dont have much education
• I am very poor
• I am fairly young
• I don’t believe in the Modonna, or my mother flying
• I go down to the river with my mother often
• My mother was arrested for Vodoo
• I visit her often in prison
• I dont speak much when I visit her

2. What time is it?
The year, the season, the day, the minute. What is the significance of time?

• It is a few years past 1937, most likely around 1947 or so
• It is day time, when Josephine walks around and the majority of the scene takes place
• As time passes mother gets worse and JOsphine gets more attached to the Modonna and her mother
• 
  

3. Where am I?
Identify the country, the city/town, the neighborhood, the building, the room, the specific area of the room.

• I am in Haiti
• I am ina small village in HAiti that is unnamed
• I am in a small living space, about one room by myself
• I have come blankets for a bed and a chair for the Modonna and myself 
• I have one “table to sit at 
• I own one outfit
• 
  

4. What surrounds me? What is happening in the environment around you?
Weather, landscape, people, animate/inanimate objects.

• At home it is very barren and plain.
• TEh jail is grey and muddy
• The river is very beautiful and shrimp.
• IT is usually warm and sunny,
• Not much other water except the river that is by the boarder
• not many people are around
• Not really any animals or wildlife around
• MAybe some plant matter but that’s about it

5. What are the given circumstances?
Identify events in the past, present, future. What has happened, what is happening, what is going to happen?

• MY mother was arrested when I was younger
• I live along, with no family
• I take care of the Modonna, and I am pour
• I dont really believe in Vodoo
• I dont really understand my mother but I want to be closer to her
• I am going to visit my mother often
• I go down to the river every year when my mother was around
• 
  

6. What are my relationships?
This is more than your relationship to other people. Think about your relationship to objects, characters, and events.

• I have a bad relationship with my mother that I want to fix
• Other than that I am fairly alone 

7. What do I want? What do you want immediately? What does the character want overall?

• I want to help my mother 
• I want to be with my mother
• I want to have a better relationship with my mother
• And I want to understand her and Vodoo 

8. What is in my way? What are the obstacles to getting what you want?

• My mother is in prison for life
• I live so far away from her
• 
  

9. What do I do to get what I want? What actions do you take (both physically and verbally)? What tactics

• I walk long ways to go see her
• I visit the river
• I bring her the Modonna
• I try to have more conversations with my mother
• I try to understand Vodoo
•