"The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein
March 7th:
Today we met with Max and discussed our ideas for scenography. We created a story board as well as a mood board, and also looked at some of the ideas we pulled together on our Pinterest pages. The challenges I was asked to consider in class are to make sure I'm not just showing a film by projecting the illustrations. Max agreed that shadow puppetry would be best if I was determined to use the same illustrations, and encouraged me to find the magic in the projection through exploration, and then to do interesting things with that magic. Also, he asked how can the projection be incorporated into the set to fit in, rather than just be a screen with moving images that is separate to the live action going on downstage. I don't think it is as easy as putting the projection screen between other trees and branches, so I'm going to have to have a think on that.
Today we met with Max and discussed our ideas for scenography. We created a story board as well as a mood board, and also looked at some of the ideas we pulled together on our Pinterest pages. The challenges I was asked to consider in class are to make sure I'm not just showing a film by projecting the illustrations. Max agreed that shadow puppetry would be best if I was determined to use the same illustrations, and encouraged me to find the magic in the projection through exploration, and then to do interesting things with that magic. Also, he asked how can the projection be incorporated into the set to fit in, rather than just be a screen with moving images that is separate to the live action going on downstage. I don't think it is as easy as putting the projection screen between other trees and branches, so I'm going to have to have a think on that.
March 8th:
Today we met with Lee, who had some really great feedback for my adaptation at this point. Miranda and Linda were on hand to help me read through the script and was told it was beautifully written but I was thinking of the project too much as a writer and needed to get it on it's feet to devise it in a different format than through a script. Fair enough! Tomorrow I'll be rehearsing with my actors and find a comfortable way for us to tell the story without hearing what we are seeing on stage via the narration. Basically, right now I'm playing it safe and it's too literal. I need to be more imaginative and playful with the story, and see if it can be illustrated another way, through physical theatre, dance, maybe going back to my original idea about balloons and shadow puppets, and to see how my actors would respond to TREE and BOY interacting without any speaking or narration. I gathered some props after the meeting and am excited to see where we get tomorrow!
Today we met with Lee, who had some really great feedback for my adaptation at this point. Miranda and Linda were on hand to help me read through the script and was told it was beautifully written but I was thinking of the project too much as a writer and needed to get it on it's feet to devise it in a different format than through a script. Fair enough! Tomorrow I'll be rehearsing with my actors and find a comfortable way for us to tell the story without hearing what we are seeing on stage via the narration. Basically, right now I'm playing it safe and it's too literal. I need to be more imaginative and playful with the story, and see if it can be illustrated another way, through physical theatre, dance, maybe going back to my original idea about balloons and shadow puppets, and to see how my actors would respond to TREE and BOY interacting without any speaking or narration. I gathered some props after the meeting and am excited to see where we get tomorrow!
Searching for Music for Improv/Physical Theatre
One of the songs I'm hoping to have my actors play with tomorrow. It might be a little too happy and springtime sounding, perhaps because of the instruments, but it's a start. |
This one is a little closer to what I'm looking for, but I'm still having an issue with some of the instruments. I don't think they fit for the mood I'm going for. |
This is more like it! I really like this one, and am excited to see see what the actors do with it tomorrow. I do worry it doesn't really start and end as if it tells a story. It's more abrupt. |
This one... or another song from the soundtrack, is likely the winner! |
I want to hear this as an instrumental track and can't find one! |