#given circumstances

[strygve-a]

hi  annie  always  wanted  kids,  she  loved  them,  she  was  always  good  with  them,  she’s  naturally  maternal  and  protective  and  caring  and  the  fact  that  the  chance  to  be  a  mother  was  stolen  from  her  is  pretty  fucking  awful.

[adernausglas]

I'm doing so good actually

[francesgow]

One Fine Morning - Story Development

One Fine Morning – Story Development

Last Friday, I attended a fascinating workshop facilitated by Caitriona Fitzsimons, the creative practitioner behind One Fine Morning. The workshop was designed to explore creativity through techniques traditionally used to teach drama that have been adapted for writing. The technique used is called ‘given circumstances’, which is particularly useful for character-driven stories, as it has been…

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[monologuedb]

Your Acting Homework

I promise I don’t spell my name the way I do to be pretentious. It’s spelled “Kellie” on my birth certificate. It’s not a big deal, but I am confused how someone can misspell a name in the Internet age. My name is ALL OVER the page where you found my e-mail address... it’s on, like, every page of the script you’re e-mailing me about. But OK.

Hi Kelly, I'm curious about the season, day of the week, and state your monologue "And Turning, Stay" takes place at. I'm doing research for my drama class and can't seem to find those things. May you tell me please?

Le sigh. 

“And Turning, Stay” is the name of a play, not a monologue. Fortunately, that play has only one monologue of any significance, so I’m going to assume you’re asking about Amy’s monologue. Which is one of my most popular monologues, even though I wrote it when I was sixteen and it is frankly, not great. It’s fine that people like it, but I’ve done much better writing since then. If you like Amy’s monologue, you’ll probably love Dogface’s monologue from Scene 5 of Dogface. (Second one on the page if you click the link.) But again, I digress.

My response: 

You can't tell those things because they're not in the script, because there's no reason for them to be in the script, because they do not matter. If you just need an answer for your teacher, tell her spring, Friday, and Illinois. Or make something up, that's fine with me, too.

Character analysis is important. Script analysis is important. Given circumstances are important. I would never say that it’s not. And I guess teachers give these kinds of homework assignments because sometimes it does matter what day of the week it is, or what color the walls of the room are, or maybe it helps for an actor to contemplate what kind of flower the character would be if (s)he were fauna. 

But, here’s the thing: if the day of the week was significant, it would be in the text. If the season was significant, it would be in the text. If the state was significant, it would be in the text. If it’s not in the text, then it’s UP TO YOU - you the director if we’re talking about the play, or you the actor if you’re doing the monologue. Trust me, if it mattered, I would say it.

[whatisourperformance]

Character Development- Given Circumstances

In order to use aspects of dramatic performance throughout the developmental process, I decided to use a Stanislavsky technique called ‘given circumstances’. Dramatic performance is closest to ‘acting’ on Kirby’s not-acting-acting spectrum, and more naturalistic as a character is fully developed and has a background, and clear emotions are used to help the audience connect with the character.

 In my performance of the play ‘The Sound of Heavy Rain’ by Penelope Skinner, I have been cast as one of three narrators. Rather than using ‘received acting’, and simply reading my lines on stage with simply a role in the performance and little or no characterisation, I have chosen to use complex acting, and devise my own character for this narration role.

 The given circumstances help to give me a basis in which to develop my character further, which are as follows:

Name: Ty Droskins (a fairly unisex name)

Appearance and Identity: Androgynous, but more feminine looking than masculine

Occupation: A businesswoman, and she is Dabrowski’s assistant. She hates how idle he is and wishes she was higher up in the industry so she could do his job instead (and probably do it a whole lot better)

Relationship Status: Single, but longs to feel love again. 

Past: Has a secret love affair with Graham 5 years ago, but left him when she caught him trying on her dresses and skirts. 

Present: She is still struggling to cope with their split, and finds release from wearing clothes somewhat like he used to wear. 

Future: She wishes to find love, however she is unsure of her own identity and sexuality, although she plays this off in her working environment and around others.

[gegensmith]

That is a teacher.

[kairii-xx]

Never does my emotional ineptitude become so apparent as when a friend requires post break up comfort

[a-little-bit-of-tradition]

This is some insane fireworks display I'll give you that