His two main points to emphasize this semester:
> Strong Character Development
> Getting the focus off of ourselves.
That's the name of the game, I guess... All about the focus being on the other people.
- We were introduced (again) to our texts, and told that we must start reading as soon as we can on the Anna Devere Book. I've read it, it was actually quite a fast read, which was great. He said we would be referring to both texts a lot more than last semester.
- By Thursday we'll begin juggling! We're to have 3 balls by then, of the hacky-sack nature. We're "not to learn how to juggle," in a sense, which doesn't make sense... but that's Lank. He has other things we will be doing with it. We're supposed to outline our frustrations and such with that, while thinking about the other things he'll tell us about. : ( I can forsee many problems with that area. I get frustrated and give up very easily.
- By Next Tuesday we are to have memorized a short scene for a male and female cold. It has to be down absolutely. I plan on having it down pat by Friday. But we'll see. Shafted / Not Shafted can wait, I guess. I have to make a commitment to myself to give myself the greatest opportunity to succeed this semester.
- We were also given characters (those who were in there last semester were given two to choose from), that we will be performing for our final, very much like last semester, except we don't have to form them from random Mall Walkers. haha.
THEN! We played Bullshit. The object of the game was to win. Winning included (in this game), noticing bluffing. We then played high or low. An easy game, but easy to be fooled. I thought it was dumb, because we're all actors and we hide things very very well. I'll flesh that out more later.
Lank set up two chairs and had one person stay and sit, and the other encounter the person sitting and tell them about a problem or situation they're having...
The order:
1. Taylor and Chris: Chris tells Taylor that she's pregnant and wonders if she should have the abortion or not.
2. Jared and Nick: Jared has been given a DUI after two nights in jail and wonders if he should tell his parents...
4. Kelsey and Taylor: Kelsey slept with Taylor's boyfriend and tells her about it.
5. Donald and Sam: Sam recieves a letter from his astranged biological father asking to see him before he dies...
6. Laura and Matt: Matt's best friend has died and the funeral conflicts with opening night... And even FURTHER! Jared Brown will be replacing him if he leaves to go to the funeral... (Thanks Matt).
Lank then went all Aristotelian on us and explained that character isn't defined by the outward appearance or change of a person, but by the inward reactions and beliefs of the human. We have to trust our inner beliefs, they keep us strong. If we don't have them, we have to find them (my case). When a character truly believes in something, and is confronted with a situation that they're not comfortable with based on their beliefs, that causes conflict... One character beleives one thing, the other believes something else. *Lank does the conflicting finger thing*
"Words were made to lie... Bodies don't lie..."
Then he talked about an acting exercise (realllly simple one) at his professor's apartment many years ago. There was a table set up with more cups and saucers and mugs than those in attendance, and tea to fill them with. "Help yourself to some tea," and they chose their container they wanted. Guess what was left? Not the fine china, but the mugs. We chose based upon the outside, when in reality, the inside was exactly the same.
Kinda neat.
The class went well, and I'm very excited as to where it may go. It's kind of funky being with this new group, in the same atmosphere, but I'll get used to it. I miss having everyone there. This is a great group of people though. It should be wonderful.
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