14|1|15 - Directing Unit - "DNA - Week 11"

Meeting

For the first rehearsal back, we thought it would be ideal to run through the scenes as we will have had the holiday. We wanted to make sure the use of scripts was abolished and so the focus was on the physical element. 

Rehearsal

We spent the first 20 minutes doing a solid line run. This is where I was able to direct their tone, as it was clear they knew the lines but didn't fully understand why they were saying these lines. Inputting the context that influences their line or reminding them of their character and Stanislavsky's "what if?" they were able to find a tone that created the correct delivery to make the scene flow and make more sense. You could they started to grasp how to do this independently as they started thinking about their lines whilst the scene carried on. The energy within the piece was raised due to this and I hope this continues when they have the concept of their physical movements.

The second time we went through, I gave characters key movements to match specific tones of voice, for example, when Cathy starts to get angry and I want her to have a venomous tone, I have made her cross her arms. I have done this for various characters throughout the group scenes. Specific actions to remember to help them remember their characters traits and stay closely to 'becoming the character' something Stanislavsky aimed to do.

After doing this for both of the group scenes, I decided to give them my notes on costumes so they had an idea of what I wanted for their character and why. 

Technical Aspect (Costumes): 

Lea: 

-Hair tied into two plaits, less messy, "controlled"
-Knee length skirt, more 'nerdy'. This will help establish the difference between Cathy and Lea
-Blouse/shirt
-Cardigan
-Shoes in which the character think fit the best. 

Phil
-Shirt, rolled up sleeves, top button undone reflects relaxed nature
-Sweatervest, implies the more nerdy side of his character
-Jeans, simple wear
-Black shoes, simple

Jan
-Hippy top - the idea of questioning and thinking
-A jacket - Jan is outside a lot
-Baggy "mom" jeans - constrast with the rest of the group, her "no" remarks against Brian 

Mark 
-Your average teenager (jeans & shoes) 
-Hoodie - the connotations of hoodies imply youth and 'chav' - outside 

Rachel 
-Ripped jeans, rough leader of the pack. 
-Large hoodie - again the connotations of this will imply a gang effect 
-Hoodie taken off to reveal floral top, this is to mimic the change that is imposed on the group, as the tough leader we now see her as more feminine and keen for Phil's attention. 

Brian
-Scruffy clothes, jeans, t-shirt, hoodie. Messy mimicking his mental state.
-Scruff up and gel his hair to make it look messy and odd. 

Cathy 
-School girl appearance for the first group scene.
-Shirt, tie, short skirt, fishnet tights, cardigan (don't care attitude) 
-Second scene, the tie is removed along with the cardigan. the sleeves of the skirt are then rolled up. This is to mimic the transformation she goes through to becoming rough. 

Adam
-Polo top (not fancy) with a pair of ripped jeans. These will then be coated in mud. We have applied mud pre to the performance and then just before the performance we will apply mud and fake blood so its a constant of being in the woods. We will have blood in his hair that appears dried but he can still feel it. 

I want the costumes to feel realistic for an area that suffers with gang trouble, the stereotypical council house area. The idea of them being in school or just finishing school comes through Cathy being in school uniform, and the state of the school will also contribute to the ideas of the society they're from. There is meant to be a contrast between Lea and Phil with the rest of the group, this is because Lea and Phil have been brought in from a higher society to help. Due to this, the characters costumes may have an emphasized stereotype effect, but without a budget getting the exact costumes I want is unachievable.