Day Two of Professional Actor Training: Just Breathe

 

Kate



It's not very nice of me to do this, but I'm posting our new First Year students' ID card photos in honor of Day Two of classes. I mean, cheap camera, first day nerves, orientation dementia - probably not the most flattering pic of any of these folks.

But I want you to get a bird's eye view of what we mean when we call them "newbies." I mean, that's not very nice either - kind of condescending - but it's really hard not to compare this lovely crop of 17 bright eyed, bushy tailed professional actors-to-be to the first episode of a performance-oriented reality show say, or for the really old, "Fame."
 

Gilbert



All that said, we love them already, and they are starting to think about what it will be like when they love each other. Or at least have exchanged more than one five minute conversation.

Not that they aren't well on their way already. In fact, Acting 1 co-teacher Jane Bement Geesman has officially bestowed a title on the Class of 2012: "In a word, supportive."



Brad, or Bradley if you're nasty



When you look at these pictures, you will see:

a) what a good photographer I am, and;



b) the equivalent of a "before" picture in a weight loss ad - but it's not weight we're losing here.



Christina

It's more in the neighborhood of self-preconception, limitation, fear and...you know. All those things that make you a bad actor. :) Or say, not as good as you COULD be.


So for day one, what did they do? Self confessed, breath obsessed Acting 1 co-teacher Sarah Lucht got them to resemble both a Lamaze class and "I Dream of Jeannie."

Reports of sparkly, tingly, lightheadedness and heat came from our intrepid first years. So THAT's what breathing feels like!



Lexi



The good news: no one has ever passed out in Sarah's breathing exercises.

 

Why do they do this, the teachers asked themselves rhetorically before the class. 

 

(Hmmm, Sarah Lucht has something to say about it in this post. Would you like to leave a comment below about it? Perhaps?)

Well, ever get dinged for being "in your head"? Breathing may well be the solution. And even better, Jane and Sarah have an ambitious plan: to get First Year students to be able to think AND breathe. At the same time.


Lissie

And why exactly do we stop breathing? Seems odd, given that we need oxygen to survive. Come to find out, restricting your flow of oxygen is a good way (not only to sustain brain damage, but also) to cut yourself off from feelings one might not want to feel - say, anger, sadness, or discomfort.
  

Katie

The thing is, you NEED those feelings when you're acting. And if you can't get to them, your experience will be empty. And so will the audience's. Says Jane and Sarah, anyhow, and I'm inclined to agree with them.



Jeffrey, or Jeremy if you listen to Gilbert



Anywhoo...then we DANCED. And that dastardly Jane made even yours truly dance. In an unfair advantage, the students were all warmed up from Movement with Philp Cuomo. Where they also danced. And swayed. Some even demonstrated.

I, my friends, had none of this preparation, and simply had to whip off my heels and join in. I did, in fact, have an "anticipation of dread," as Jane called it, and then unexpected fun. Also, I thought about what a weird / cool job I have. I needed to breathe more, obviously.

The rest of class was devoted to introductions, wherein each person "presents" their partner to the class from name to goals to obstacles to deep thoughts. Or not so deep. You'd be surprised how much you can learn about a person from the way they introduce, or get introduced. These mini-performances were peppered with pop quizzes from Jane on people's names, which showed ... um .... that there are a lot of new faces to learn.

I'll let you devote yourself to name/face study.

Emery





Genevieve





Carl with a 'C'



Bjorn





Jessica







Rebecca



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve



Adam





Ursula



 

 

 

And for fun, I'd like to draw your attention to the latest snaps of our Second Years. They are not quite to the "after" stage yet, mind you. But it's fun to see what a year can do.





Emery