"Deadmoor" Filming

This opportunity all started back in October when I was offered a chance to act in a film project on Dartmoor. The film was a classic Zombie film called "Deadmoor". The 2nd Year Creative Digital Media students had written the script, bought the props and sorted the locations, but needed actors to bring it to life.

So our 2nd Year students were given the chance to play the roles.

Aim: To work alongside the directors and fellow cast members to film the project on location.

Objectives:

- To be professional, well-prepared and organised through-out the process
- To help the directors to realise the script, working with their ideas to set the scenes
- To gain experience of the filming process
- To make friends and stay happy to make the shoot as enjoyable as possible!

2am and still smiling!

My first objective was a personal challenge I set myself. I have always prided myself on trying to be the best that I can be in any undertaking, and this project was no exception. I felt that my commitment to the project was of a very high quality. I was always enthusiastic to help out when needed. I always tried to stay focused when necessary, but still balanced this out with laughter to keep the mood and energy up. Part of this objective also looked at my personal organisation skills. I took the option to pack early to give me time to buy any items I might need over the 3 days. I kept in contact with the directors so that I would be prepared with everything they would have expected from me.

The second objective focuses on my input to the filming process. This links in with my overall commitment. From both my own personal reflection and from feedback received on the process, I am happy to say that I have achieved this objective. I was always open to discussing the ideas they had for the scenes, and I was willing to work with whatever they chose to do.

The next objective turned out to be very well realised. By working with 4 different directors, I could experience different ways of working that suit different types of scene. I worked indoors, outside, in a car and in a forest. I also worked with a camera on a boom, stationary cameras, point-of view camera shots and even a camera on a rolling track! I also learnt about the less glamorous side of filming. The endless retakes, the struggle to get the right light, the constant battle for continuity, batteries that run out at the worst possible time, but most of all that filming takes AGES! That is why my efforts to remain up-beat were so crucial. On reflection, I feel I got a very good picture of what filming is like. The directors all said that Deadmoor was a very good example of the ins and outs of life on the film set.

My final objective is always crucial in my eyes. By making the process enjoyable, I feel that you achieve so much more. If you want to enjoy it, you will reap the rewards. This sum up this placement beautifully. The hours were long, the weather was bitterly cold, but I loved every minute of it. I would happily do it again without a moments hesitation. The cast and crew were so friendly, which is always important when there is a danger of tension splitting the group.

Overall, I am confident in saying that it was a fantastic experience and we made great friends over the 3 days of filming. Even though we worked well past midnight on both nights, I still kept smiling and laughing. I felt this was essential to keeping the motivation going when times were getting tough and tempers were fraying.


Director's Feedback

“I felt that Louis approached this project with a very professional attitude. He showed a great level of commitment, turning up to every rehearsal, even on short notice and, even though we switched his character only a couple of weeks before filming started, he performed admirably in his role as Kevin”

Richard de Young, Director – “Deadmoor"

Sharpham Barton Family Camp - Workshops (5th-6th August 2010)

"Never work with children or animals."
— W.C. Fields

Never have truer words been spoken

This particular opportunity came about at pretty short notice. A text came through from Sandy to say that Amy Shepherd was looking for someone to help out running 2 days of drama workshops at a local holiday camp. As this was something I had never done before, I took the opportunity.

Before I arrived, I had an idea of what I wanted to achieve:

Aim: To assist Amy in running Drama workshops over the 2 day period

Objectives:

- Gain first-hand experience of working with young children
- Assist Amy in running and explaining the games
- To be prompt and attentive for all the sessions

When we arrived on the first day, the weather was pretty miserable. After wandering round, we eventually found the tent that we assumed was assigned to us. Slowly, people began turning up. It became clear to us that we had to work with the children to put together a short performance to show to the parents on the Saturday night.

The first 10 minutes very much set the tone for the next 2 days. I never thought that children could have such short attention spans, yet still be so overflowing with energy. Our biggest challenge was trying to keep the children focused on the project. While Amy took a commanding role, I always tried to help her out when explaining exercises or playing games.

If nothing else, I pride my self on my perseverance, which is a key skill in my passion of genealogy. I was given the choice of whether or not to return for the second day. If I am being honest, the first day may normally have been enough to put me off ever working with children. However, I decided to stick it out, partly to make the most of the placement, partly so as not to leave Amy at the mercy of the hyper-active children.


Reflection

For my first objective, I must honestly say that although I did gain experience at working with children, I feel that I am still not entirely comfortable in this area. Perhaps it is unfair and unrealistic to expect to suddenly become an expert at dealing with children. If it was something I was planning to ever use in a future profession, perhaps this could have been the start on the road to becoming more confident and proficient in dealing with children. As it stands, I am unlikely to need such a skill in my line of work. All things considered however, I think that I left on the second day more experienced than I started the first day, and thus I can consider my objective achieved.

My next objective was to work alongside Amy, supporting her in her role as the workshop leader. This was no easy task, but I always made sure not to undermine her authority or contradict her in her explanations. I was always ready to fulfil any tasks that she gave me, such as looking after a group of children during an activity or exercise. I feel that my experiences from our Community workshops earlier in the year helped me to understand the importance of explaining games clearly as well as maintaining some assemblance of control!

The final objective came into question after the first day. I had to really rally myself to go back the next day. Looking back, I feel that it would have been very unlikely for me not to have gone back, but at the time I felt very stressed and worn out by the energetic and (at times) wayward children. Despite this, I pulled through and turned up bright and early to support Amy once again in her efforts to control the children. Therefore, I fulfilled my final objective!

So did I feel I gained anything from the experience?

Yes. If nothing else, I am happy that I stuck it out, even if it wouldn't be something I would normally choose to do again. I also feel more solid in my desire to teach, but to teach older children. I never was all too good with little children, and I can safely say I still am not...


A link to the website detailing our workshops

http://www.sharphamfamilycamp.co.uk/activities.htm#712

Glastonbury 2010 - Hot, Loud, Expensive

I would never normally go to something like Glastonbury. Its not because I don't enjoy camping, or because I cant go without a shower for more than 5 minutes. I guess I just don't like enough modern music to warrant me going.

Still, people say its one thing you have to do once. So that's me sorted

Anyway, I must confess that I did enjoy myself. This was in no small part down the the fantastic team I worked with up there. Every working day was a pleasure, and every evening around the campfire was a joy!


Glastonbury - Aims and Objectives (a brief outline)

Aim: To work as part of a larger team to perform specially made plays to the public highlighting issues regarding bullying, as well as facilitating the games and exercises used in the workshops afterwards

Objectives:

• Create a positive working environment with my fellow performers
• Perform the plays with a positive and vibrant attitude
• Maintain a high level of personal discipline and good mental attitude to the work
• Stay cool and hydrated! (most important)

When I was given the opportunity to work at Glastonbury, I didn’t really know what to expect. I had never even considered it before, but I still took it in my stride. From the first day we were on site, I could tell that the team was going to be a good one. I worked hard to create the all-important working atmosphere by establishing a good connection with my peers. I pride myself on my upbeat nature, my determination and my commitment to any project I an involved it, and this was no exception. The first night around the campfire gave us the makings of a bond of friendship that would see us through the hectic week ahead.

My next objective was to work and perform to a high standard. This was a constant battle with the heat, which caused tempers to fray and energy levels to plummet. However, I used my naturally upbeat personality to always try and keep the motivation high. I always strived to be the best I could to create a good example for others to try and emulate. With the strength and quality of work from my peers, it made me even more motivated to produce my best. All of this constantly pushed me on, allowing me to achieve my objective in my view. The quality of the response from the audience gives me confidence to say that I achieved a high standard of work.

The third objective required that I focus on being the best I know I can be. As my next objective states, the group were constantly fighting the heat. It is easy for people to snap under the pressure of the hard work and long days. However, I know that I have the ability to remain disciplined under adverse conditions. Amongst my better qualities is my determination to produce my best under pressure. I am capable of producing high levels of self motivation and discipline in situations like at Glastonbury. I can confidently say that, with the feedback I received from our director Andy, I achieved this objective. The high level of work achieved over the week serves to back me up on my analysis.

The final objective played a large part in achieving my previous objectives. It is hard to describe the oppressive and at times unbearable heat. The effect it has on those who are unprepared is extraordinary. However, I was prepared to deal with this. By always staying hydrated with a bottle of water to hand, I not only remained focused and energetic, but also felt better in general due to my greatly increased water intake.

In conclusion, this was one of the most amazing experiences that I am likely to be offered. In the end, it was important to balance a good laugh with hard work, a balance I feel I achieved throughout. It was a privilege and an honour to work alongside Andy and the team. Perhaps the proof of my high standard of work can be proved by the email I received from Andy:

“As a valuable member of last years Actionwork team at the festival
I wanted to give you the chance of being part of the 2011 team as well”

This for me really proves that I made a successful impression to Andy. I feel that I have done myself proud and learned a lot. All-in-all, a resounding success!

As a side note, while the pictures may look like we just had fun all the time, you must remember that its a perk of being a performer - you always get to have fun!

Healthy Lifestyles Filming - Exeter

I was approched by Sandy with an opportunity to film a video for a project called "Healthy Lifestyles". It was run under the banner of Headbangers Theatre Company in partnership with the Peninsula Medical Group.

We would be filming the process of the week-long project over the course of 2 days using a real audience of children. The video created would then be used to show other schools how the project works in practical terms.

The aim of the whole project was to educate young children and their parents in healthy eating and the benefits of regular exercise. The project uses drama-based activities to encourage children to make better choices about how they eat and exercise. The project also uses Forum Theatre to see how much the children have picked up over the course of the project.

Aim: To rehearse and perform for the filming of the project on location in Exeter

Objectives

- Learn the script for the character and learn how he interacts with the other characters in the story
- Work with the camera crew and my fellow cast members to faciliate the filming process
- To be organised, professional and enthusuatic throughout
- To experience a new process and type of filming

This project has been running for a few years now, and I was asked to participate this year along with some of my peers from college. The project is aimed at primary school children, and the video we were filming was to be used by teachers in primary schools to teach the project to their own students.

The first objective covers the rehearsal we had the day before we went to Exeter. I went in to the rehearsal not really knowing what was going to happen, but I still approached it with an enthusiasm to learn. I quickly picked up on the story and the relationships between the various characters. Over the course of the day, I had established my character and got to grips with the script. Now all we needed was an audience to practice with. That opportunity would come the next day.

The sessions in Exeter required an early start, so and early night was in order so that I would be as fresh as possible the following day. When working on film, it can get quite tedious at times with the multiple retakes. This can lead to people getting fractious which can damage the quality of the recordings as well as cause disharmony within the group. I feel that by arriving awake and alert, you can keep the energy high, which would hopefully have a positive effect on the whole group ethic. I am pleased to say that I made good time both days, and arrived in good spirits eager to get started.

I always aim to be the best I can when I work on a professional project. I feel that it not only gives me a sense of pride and achievement, but it also helps to keep a strong work ethic within the group. It is easy when filming to allow your attention and your spirits to drop due to the slow pace. For me, it was a battle to keep focused at times, as the costumes we were wearing were hot and uncomfortable. It was also evident that the young students were not used to an experience like this. To resolve this, we made sure to have plenty of short breaks to keep the performers and the students happy. I always returned from the breaks happier and filled with a renewed determination to get the project done. For me, the breaks played a key role in helping me to achieve this objective.

My next objective required engagement with young children. I will confess that this has never been my strong point. However, it was clear that many of the children look up to us as role models, and will strive to emulate our behaviour. I feel that this is a very important thing to notice when dealing with children. It is always important to set an example. As such, I always tried to act mature and professional balanced with friendly and approachable. I would go out and play football with the children during the break, but would always come back and be focused and professional again. As a result, the children got to know me as my character all the time, so the engagement during filming was realistic in terms of believing in the traits of the character. I would say that this successfully fulfilled my objective.

The last objective highlighted many points to note about filming. The process is generally long and tedious in order to achieve a good quality end product. The filming I am used to with my friends showed that the process of setting up and changing between scenes is time consuming as well, but the bulk of the time is spent trying to get everything perfect. The main problem we encountered was the sound quality. The sensitivity of the microphone meant that we often picked up sounds like trucks and airplanes passing overhead. This did disrupt the flow of the acting substantially, which has the undesirable effect of losing the flow and believability of the film at times. However, this highlights a useful skill to learn for future filming. The ability to stop a scene and restart it with the same expression and energy is important for the continuity of filming. Overall, I feel I have learnt a lot about filming and what the problems are. Hopefully, this will stand me in good stead for the future.

Overall, this project was definitely a good experience to have. It also showed up my perseverance on a project when the constant slow process begins to play on your mind. I am pleased with both my input and with what I have learnt on this placement, and I can confidently say that I would be better prepared for any future filming projects.

Glastonbury 2010

With less that a month to go, rehearsals are coming in thick and fast for Glastonbury 2010!

I will post soon some of my aims and objectives, as well as all the things I expect and am looking forward to over the course of this process. From what I heard, it will be a fantastic process to be a part of, and I hope that I can use my skills effectively to create a dynamic and interesting project to take to Glastonbury

Teaching @ Torquay Girls Grammar School

As strage as it might seem, but this placement was a chance for me to go back to where I did my A-Leve in Drama. At the time, the boy's school didnt offer an A-Level course in Drama, so I took my lessons over at the girls school. This may sound like a brilliant situation, but 2 years in a class being the only boy does open the floor for a little bit of playful bullying after a while...

Still, my old teacher Partick Lyden was an inspiration for me during my time at school. He was always so supportive and so enthusiastic - everything I aspired to be in my own potential teaching career. So it seemed like the best place to start my WBL adventure!

Aim: To work alongside Patrick Lyden to work on the devising process for a piece of theatre with A-Level students

Objectives:

- Work with Patrick to get an idea of what he wanted to achieve with the students

- Introduce myself and build a rapport with the students

- Work with the students to devise and learn a routine (including script and blocking of scenes)

- To be prompt for all sessions

For my first objective, I had a chat with Patrick about his vision for the piece. I found out that the students were putting on a run of “The Trial”, a play I had done myself in my first year of A-Level. We agreed that this put me in a good position to work on the piece. I was given the freedom to give my own input on top of his. I felt that this allowed me the opportunity to give my ideas without too much pressure from him to do exactly what he wanted. Other than that, he told me that it was much the same as when we did the play, so that meant I could get straight to work.

In the first session, I sat in with the students while Patrick was busy with other work. Some of the students remembered me from my time at the school which was nice. I feel this allowed me to break the ice a lot easier. This set a much better and more productive working atmosphere from the start. Although I only managed to attend 2 sessions due to conflicting work at college, I feel that I could have created a good work ethic with the group. However, I felt that I never got the time to establish myself as a constant presence.

With the 2 sessions I had, I was given a good amount of time to work on scenes with the group. However, due to time constraints I never had the time to go into aspects such as learning the script and having full run-throughs of the play. For the purposes of evaluation, I will focus on what I did achieve in my 2 sessions. I felt I made a positive start to my work with the group. They were quite receptive to my input and were willing to incorporate my ideas into the work they had already started on. I feel that if I had had more sessions, I would have fulfilled this objective to its full potential. As it stands, I still feel I made a positive start and consider it and objective achieved.

The final objective became somewhat redundant as it became obvious that I would not have the time to attend any further sessions. This was a great disappointment to me as I was very much looking forward to working with the group for a longer period of time. However, my main project at college was more important at that time, so it took preference.

All in all, this was a placement that never got the chance to live up to its full potential. However, I still feel that it was useful for maintaining a link with the school and with Mr Lyden. As a result, he was most keen to have us back to perform the play we wrote for our college project. I hope that we will meet again in the future, perhaps finding more time to carry on where I left off!

Update

Well, it has certainly been a very tiring few weeks of late!

This evening has been the first time in the last week that I have had time to sit down and update my blog.

After a very sucessful run on Amy's FMP, on top of learning a monologue, rehearsing for "Whose Line" and Laura's FMP, completing coursework, devising for Glastonbury AND coming in for normal lessons, I am just glad to have a day tomorrow where I can relax (and try and catch up on some sleep!)

Placement News - TGGS

Good news everyone! (well, mainly just for me, but...)

I have approached my old Drama teacher, and he is very keen for me to come back and help him direct his next set of plays!

Its a big responsability, but I miss the old place, and I cant wait to get back there. They are turning out some excellent stuff this year, so I dont want to let them down!

WBL Proposal

My Work Based Learning Proposal in full


• An outline of your intentions for your Work Based Learning:

I am looking to experience a taste of theatre work, both on-stage and backstage. I am also interested in finding out about using my theatrical skills on different mediums such as radio. I have always had a strong interest in teaching, so I would like to look into gaining some experience in both teaching skills as well as directing pieces of theatre. During the course of my work-based learning, I also hope to explore the possibilities of using drama beyond the stage through site-specific work.

• Full details of each organisation or practitioner you hope to work with (with Aims & Objectives)

1. Sound Art Radio – Dartington – Theatre for Radio (Soap Operas)

Aims & Objectives

• To gain experience of the process of performing radio theatre
• To develop my voice acting skills
• Work as part of a larger team to create a radio show


2. Keith Michael – Site-specific theatre in Totnes – Planning theatre for the old Dairy Crest Site in Totnes

Aims & Objectives

• To work alongside Keith in his work in Totnes, looking at both the performance and logistical aspects
• To get first-hand experience at working with site specific theatre

3. Babbacombe Theatre – Onstage and backstage (FOH and Technical etc)

Aims & Objectives

• Gain experience of the theatre process as a whole by working in various roles
• Develop my skills as working as part of a team, or as part of many teams

4. Med Theatre – Local Community Site-specific Theatre Company – Moretonhampstead

Aims & Objectives

• To look into the process and feasibility of various types of site specific theatre, and explore the possibilities it creates
• Take part in both creating and performing theatre
• Use as a networking opportunity

5. Teaching/Directing at TGGS with Patrick Lyden (Spring Term 2010)

Aims & Objectives

• To experience teaching from a teachers point of view, and gain a better understanding of what goes into successful teaching
• To work alongside Patrick as he works with his 6th form groups on their performances
• To gain valuable experience in directing theatre



• What your roles and responsibilities are likely to be

I hope to gain a role where I can use my creativity to help whatever project I am part of, as well as gaining a chance to get some hands-on experience in various areas of the trade. I would like to leave my placements with both experience and a better understanding of the potential for a long-term career interest.

• Why this Work Based Learning will enhance your career

As I am uncertain as to my future career, exploring as many options as I can now will help me to build a picture of what is available and being done in the wider world with drama. I can use my experiences to focus my skills into a particular area of the market, as well as giving me a chance to make contacts with useful people who may be able to help me in the future.


• How you will evaluate the Work Based Learning

I plan to keep a log of my experiences with various companies detailing what I did, how I found it, what problems I overcame, what I learnt etc. By evaluating as I go along, I hope that each placement will benefit from the outcome of previous evaluations. I will also try to find time to talk to people at my placements to get useful feedback for my evaluation process.

• A contingency plan should your placement not come to fruition

Should I not be able to access the work I would have liked, I will instead explore local theatre companies such as Toads in order to get more experience on stage to improve my skills and have more to show to potential employers.

Past before Present

Makes sense, huh?

After my recent holiday to Riva del Garda in Italy, a lead from a distant cousin we met has got me back into researching my family tree, and I am pleased to say that I have found more than I could have in my wildest dreams!

The nice picture above should serve to brighten the post. It is my Italian family (all those I have photos for at least!)

As a possible alternative career, I see genealogy as a worthy venture (and as such, might count as a personal WBL, though not in a Dramatic sense...)

Welcome to my humble Blog

Hello and welcome to my blog!

As my first post, I have nothing of any notable interest to say. This kinda takes the edge off the daunting prospect of opening a blog...

Anyway, with our draft proposals in tomorrow, it will be a good chance to see what everyone else is up to!