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To Infinity and Beyond!… March 31, 2007

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Congratulations on making it to the end of Term 1 guys!

I wanted to take a moment to tell you all how excited and impressed i am by the work you are creating - your ideas are really great! Of course, you still have a lot of ground to cover in terms of developing a working ’script’ for your ensembles, but it’s been great to read, hear, and see some of the ideas you are developing. Being on the Positive Pony makes such a difference, and i can see you all working hard to develop strong working relationships in your groups.
While it can be really tough, it’s terrific to see the process of negotiation at work when you’re discussing ideas and wading through all the ideas until you pluck out something with potential. But, honestly some of the best work these last few weeks has come as a result of pushing you to play - quite simply, you’ve got to stop talking and start doing! Remember what this is called - IMPROVISATION! The process of exploring the dramatic potential of your ideas requires you to act them out - i really want to encourage you ALL to actively engage in this process in your groups.
All said, the paths you’re taking in terms of developing the world of your ensemble are really interesting and very original and i can’t wait to see where these ideas take you. In terms of time, keep in mind that it is not an inexhaustable resource. I can’t say this enough, but you must use your time outside class as productively as your time in class, and this means that you’re going to need to be doing things like starting to have rehearsals outside class time.
I’ve been most stoked about the way you’ve all jumped on board with your blogs - your honest, encouraging, critical and reflective posts show me just how much you’re engaging with the topic and the level of maturity with which you’re approaching this mammoth task. Remember - your blog does not take the place of the journal, you still need to be keeping your folio/scrapbook up to date with your research, workshop material covered, working scripts (whether these be visual like storyboard frames or dialogue), rather use the blog to reflect - Keep blogging away whenever you’ve got something to share with the world! Keep in mind this one thing, at the end of this task you’re going to need to be able to have a record of the development of your ensemble so you can critically reflect on the play-making process for your outcome!

I’m so lucky to have such a talented, enthusiastic and just darn nice bunch of bananas like you lot! You’re ace!

Keep kicking guys - see you Thursday of the second week of the holidays, i’ll be there from 10am!

Oh, and go and hire ‘Forest Gump’!

M

The Super Ensemble…?? March 28, 2007

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Now, whose idea was it to form the super ensemble?!?

That’s the last time I let you guys loose in D7 without me!

Keeping playing!

M

Laying the Foundations March 26, 2007

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The process of creating theatre is something else, isn’t it? Taking one simple idea and fleshing it out to create a dreamlike world in which some kind of social or political message that the artist is passionate about begins to emerge is wonderful to behold. That’s what’s happening with my guys at the moment - it’s wonderful to see their eyes light up at the possiblity of creating something original and really entertaining. Creating characters to fit into this world of the ensemble was our next port of call, and we began this the other day. Using some Stanislavskian approaches to stepping into some possible characters, the students created scenes around these people and scenes began to take shape. The characters were terrific and genuine, but it’s become clear though that unless there is solid research material on which to base these scenes, they risk becoming watered-down panto and this is not what we want to see happen. We got to keep researching and deepening our understanding of the social and political contexts of these styles and genres of music.
What i’d like to see happen more from this point on is the following two things (apart from the guys just really pumping out some great work!): 1. The students becomming less satisfied with near enough is good enough and repeating, refining, rehearsing, recycling, reusing, improving, improvising, adapting, changing and basically hammering out ideas until something really authentic pops out and 2. More PLAY. I want to give the students more and more time to explore ideas by pretending they’re back at kindy and acting out these characters in a whole range of scenarios. I really think we need to validate play and allow time and space to be kids again - out of this sometimes comes the freedom of ideas that is often quenched in a school environment. So, guys, when you read - try to remember what it was like to ‘play’ - Wasn’t it fun?

We really need to sink our teeth into the project now team - remember our goal of what we were going to have completed by the holidays? That’s this weeks work!

BRING IT!

M

Mr. Research March 20, 2007

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Since the last post, the students have been researching the stimulus material. What i’ve found is that this is possibly one of the most key phases in the development of the ensemble. Quite simply, if the students don’t have enough raw material to create work from, the product that they’ll end up creating will be second best. Remember guys, that when you’re researching - you’re finding out about things that interest you and answering questions that you’re left asking after finding something else out. Don’t stop when you’ve found one peice - keep digging. But dig in the right place - I might make a few enemies here, but the internet is not necessarily the best place to find answers! Yeah, sure there’ll be a few gems here and there - but interview your parents, their parents, and their parents (if you’re lucky enough to still have them round!), check out the music section of the magazine racks, old newspapers and yes, even…BOOKS! There’s this big place called a “library” where you can “borror” books on all “subject” and “topics”. Imagine that!? While you’re researching, try to get a copy of Steven King’s collection short stories ‘Nightmares and Dreamscapes’ - in it you’ll find a short story called ‘You Know They Got A Hell of a Band”. Trust me…worth a look!
Here’s a question - how are you going to dramatically represent the world of your ensemble? Soundscape, stylised movement, symbolic prop, representational set or use of space? Think about it…
Keep those blogs coming!

M

And now for my next trick… March 13, 2007

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Okay, great work today guys! What a challenge it was to remember the work of six days ago! Some really great potential work with song, but you’re going to have to get over the ‘but i can’t sing’ routine and explore this convention much, much more. We’ll have to have a jamboree or something! (what’s a jamboree again?) The even bigger challenge now is working out how this work might link in with the ensemble topic - remember, we’re looking at how music that carried social and political messages different to the norms of the time influenced popular culture, beleifs, values and changed society for good. Which artists, bands, styles have you started thinking of that have had this type of impact - it migh tnot have been political, but perhaps encouraged social freedoms and ideals. Kendall mentioned Bob Dylan yesterday - his anti-war protest songs and political undertones were potentially some of the most influential of the last century.

But, have you considered things such as The Wiggles (this ocuntry’s richest music export!) and the generation of children who have a brighter childhood becuase of them - imagine a world without the Wiggles! It might be a little left field, but this topic is so open!

Instead of waiting to be asked to respond to a question, why not just blog your thoughts on your work, where you can take it and how it relates to the topic. Add thoughts about other ideas you’ve got (don’t be shy to share!) and think about what you’d like to research more. What’s one thing you’d like to know more about or a question you want answered now that you’ve started to open up the topic a bit more?

M

Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I love ya, Tomorrow… March 13, 2007

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Evening Super Troops!

Don’t forget tomorrow we’ll put our peices together incorporating some music - so find a song/part of which has social/politcal links to the peice your group is workshopping and bring it in. We’ll also begin to brainstorm and research during this week to open this veritable Pandora’s box up a bit! Keep those Blogs coming! Ash posted a great one recently - check it out!

Out

M

Blog Blog Blog March 9, 2007

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The troops were introduced to the blog today - as my luck with technology would have it, it wasn’t my day for demonstrating my skill using both an electronic whiteboard and a class of laptops at the same time! One day i’ll wish apon a star, and wake up where…Drama and Technology actually work in harmony!!!

My hope for this project is that the guys (yes, you reading this!) actually take ownership of their blogs and see it as a means of expressing their ideas, criticism, encouragment, thoughts or whatever. I’d love to see them logging on whenever they have a brainwave or an idea for someone, or posting a comment to a mate in the class who they just want to encourage or dialogue with. They might even want to post a comment in response to their teacher’s posts…what a novel idea!

Guys, when you read this - add the others in the class to your page by clicking on ‘Blogroll’ and ‘Add Links’. There you’ll find a place where you need to add each persons site address and by clicking on the correct category on the right - ‘Blogroll’ - they’ll appear on your site and you can quickly and easily jump to their site.

While you’re here, check out some of the other blogs to see what other students are doing at different schools!

Happy Days!

M

Brick by Brick… March 8, 2007

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Yesterday, the student’s initial work responding to the stimulus was terrific. The troops were given the song stimulus and brainstormed a list of words. From the words, they framed some tableaux and linked these with stylised movement, adding narration and eventually song in what were very Brechtian peices of theatre. It’s important for us all to remember that the process of developing a peice as demanding as the ensemble task, will only happen brick by brick and that the process takes time. We are so used to the immediacy of television and various media that it can be quite alien the idea that a peice of theatre needs to grow like a seed taking root and that this process doesn’t just happen by itself. The process of developing the ensemble is exciting - we are artists and we have a blank canvas sitting before us. It won’t happen overnight…by it will happen! I was impressed by the students resolve at workshopping the various layers that were introduced into the peice and can’t wait to see more of the creative process as they develop their ensembles.

Looking forward to reading your posts! And, just quietly, be careful what you write - Ashley might come and rip your head off!

M

Blog On! March 7, 2007

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Hey troops!
Isn’t this trendy? Now, the deal is that from this point on you’re going to share the development of your ensemble with the world! (well, maybe just a little peice of the world!) Mainly, i’m asking you to post your weekly reflections on the development of your group’s ensemble on our Blog ‘Another Brick in the Wall’, but you can include any thoughts, ideas, suggestions, comments, observations or incoherent ramblings you wish in your posts. (Just remember that not only am i reading this, your peers from other schools may too!) Part of this totally wicked awesome experience is also that you can view, read and comment on Blogs from other students at other schools (some of which are covering the same topic - ‘Wow, Mac! What an awesome idea!) To kick off, your first post needs describe our topic, what we’ve covered so far, your response to the stimulus and your initial ideas (individually) and personal reflection on what lies ahead!
So, happy blogging!
Mac