Dance for Camera - Final Video & Review

Dance for Camera - Final Video & Review

Link to Final Video

Review & Development of Final Video

What changes did you make to improve it for your First Draft video?

I changed the structure of the video throughout the different drafts. The first video having no really any structure to the final video having a Rondo structure.

I also added more choreography, this was performed by Sophie and was a different style of movement. I wanted to move away from the video looking like to was in the style of Rosa so I created a different set of motif without using the chairs and showing more jumping, turns and a way of using the space more. When doing this i also changed the setting of which the choreography was filmed. It was filmed in the corridor of the Performing Arts block, not the Dance Studio. This was to show the viewers/audience a different setting and try to keep them interested in the video and also to show the movement without using the chairs.

What do you like about you Final Video?

I like the style of the editing of the Final Video, I think the black and white look very professional and helps links all the different video clips together. I also like the style of choreography, The style is a mix between jazz and contemporary. The style also fits in with the music very well, with some movement being quick and so being slow the music correlates with this. A climax was created in the video, This was when the music started to speed up and become heavier, the tempo of the choreography also sped up with it.  This created a different and constantly effect to the normal flow and speed of the dance making it more interesting and exciting for the viewer/audience. 

If you could re-do it and start again what would you do differently?

Next time I would like the different the setting in which the choreography was filmed. I think that if it was filmed somewhere other than the Performing Arts building at college it would be more interesting and exciting, and you would also not being able to tell it was a video created when at college or in education.

For example I would have liked to do it in a proper dance studio, this being with no other people in the background or shot when they were not meant to be or maybe an office where there is lots more chairs and types of chairs. 

Stimulus & Choreography Connections:

My stimulus is 'chairs', using chairs as part of the set and props and performing with them.

 I wanted  to show 2 different sections to my video, showing the motifs and choreography using  'chairs' and showing them without chairs.

The was to show that adding a prop and set creates a different visual look to the viewer and audience and make it more interesting.

Evidence showing my chosen structure, Rondo:

My structure developed throughout the rehearsal process of the Dance for Camera unit. 

In the first draft video it was just a single set of motifs performed in the same area and using the same set of movement. 

For the final draft the video showed a Rondo structure. This is an ABACADA, - a structure form has a recurring section or motif with different and contrasting section in between. 

The recurring section/motif is a few movement either of Cherkanah or Sophie or both performing stylist arm and legs movement on chairs.

The contrasting sections are may be set in the same room sometimes but hopefully are shot in a different angle contrasting from the recurring sections. 

Here are a few examples of this structure in my video;

Section A - Original styled motif, with chair(s)

Section B - with chair(s)

Section A - Original styled motif, with chair(s)

Section C - with chair(s)

Section A - Original styled motif

Section D - with chair(s)

Section A - Original styled motif, with chair(s)

Section E - without chair(s)

Section A - Original styled motif, with chair(s)

Section F - without chair(s)

Section A - Original styled motif, with chair(s)

Choreographic Devices
I used a range of choreographic devices in my final video.
For example; 
Repetition - I repeated the Section A motifs throughout the whole video. I did this because it was the main part of my selected structure.
Levels - I showed levels in my video, for example a higher level when 2 dancers were on the chairs, Mid levels when Sophie was dancing standing up at her height level and a lowers level when Sophie was doing movement of the floor.
Tempo - I showed a range of speeds, from slow to quick. A quick and fast tempo being when Sophie fell onto the floor at 01minute:20seconds.
Fragmentation -
Retrograde -  I edited some of the filmed clips to make the choreography become reversed, this is one of the advantage when creating a Dance for Camera piece you can make and add in extra choreographic devices. For example I reverse a phrase when Sophie was falling to the ground, I reverse so it looked like she was getting up.

Cats - Further Development

Further Development 

If Cats Worthing College was to go tour?

If I was to change the way the storyline was delivered If Cats was to go on tour It would be the views and opinions towards Grizabella. Id make sure the other characters either liked her or didn't and make  sure their views were clear. And if they didn't, why didn't they like her? This would be show more clearly to the audience. This would then help the of reactions from the other characters when Grizabella was chosen for the Heaviside Layer. 

I'd like to make more of an relationship between Jellylorum and Gus. In our show I feel like they only got to show a small part of their journey together in the Fashion industry . I feel like the audience would like to see more of them and their backgrounds.

For my own character "Old Deuteronomy" I'd like to put in some dialogue and more interaction with Grizabella. This would help to back up the idea behind why she got picked for the Heaviside Layer and why others didn't. It would show their relationship and their backgrounds too.

If I had a bigger budget I like to make the set a lot bigger and more exciting. I'd do this by making the office bigger and adding a coat rail, more chairs for other characters to fit in the office, book shelves with catalogues and brochures. Id add mirrors and wall hanging of pictures and past designers around the sides of the set and make the dance areas and free space bigger.

Cats - Personal Strengths & Weakness

Personal Strengths & Weaknesses for Cats

Strengths
The main strength of my performance was staying in character throughout the whole show, even though I was on stage and not centre of attentions for most of it. I had to make sure I was fully focus on being in character and making sure it was obvious enough for the audience to notice. I made sure I was either looking through magazines, files and books while in the office, looking through emails and documents on the computer, interviewing new further employees and holding meetings. For example I held an interview sessions in the opening song, I did this so I had something to do, and mainly so that audience saw everyone else dancing and I was up on a higher level of staging set (set) and doing an important job. This helped to show the respect and status of my character too.

Vocals in 'Old Deuteronomy' and the way I came onto the stage and my stage presence. I needed to make sure that the arrival of my presence was big and specials. I tried to show this by changing my outfit for the song 'Old Deuteronomy', I changed my red blazer into a big black fluffy long coat, I did this because It again show respect and status wearing a posh coat and it being something completely to the other characters in the song were wearing. Also making it effective visual image for the audience. I also made sure my position and direction of movement when on stage, was centre of attention and on a higher level. For example, I started by walking down the audience seating rig stairs and then onto the stage and then stepped up to the staging block catwalk, and then continued slowly walking down the catwalk, greeting other characters along the way. When I finally got the end of the catwalk I turned around a delivered my few lines of the song, these lines were the ones I felt most confident with and believed it showed. I think this was because I had to confidently and respected, so it also reflected on the singing too.

The small amount of dance movements I had throughout the show I made show I  remembered the routines and motifs and performed them confidently and consdiently. For example in the 'Jellice Ball' I was near the front so had to make sure I was focused and correctly doing the movement and also being in time as other performers behind me would look in front of them for timing. I feel like I performed the routine very well. Even if I had stubbled across a movement or didn't have enough room or spacing to perform the move to the full energy, I adjusted it to fit.

Weaknesses

Vocals on the last song "Addressing of the Cats". My biggest challenge throughout the whole show was the song "Addressing of the Cats" and the vocals that went with it. I worried about this number through the whole rehearsal process and still now the show has finished I think it was not a very good song for my voice and I didn't perform as well as I had hoped. My first impressions of the song was very mixed as I thought it was a lovely sounding song and I enjoyed listening to it, but the highness of some on the notes were very challenging.
For example the lyrics; 

"You've seen us both at work and games, And learnt about our proper names, Our habits and our habitat"  
were the ones I became worried with. When rehearsing the song in sections I could actually perform these lines fine, but when it came to singing to all together I found it very difficult to find the correct place and time to breathe. As if i did not breathe at the correct time, I ran out of breath and physically couldn't sing them, this then leading to my confidence dropping and not continuing on with the rest of the song. 
The lines;
"You've heard of several kinds of cat
And my opinion now is that
You should need no interpreter
To understand our character
You've learned enough to take the view"
were absolutely fine and I felt i sang them well and with confidence. 

Mini Project - Cats

Mini Project - Cats

Video Link to Classroom Presentation (1)
Video Link to Classroom Presentation (2) - Old Deuteronomy

Video Link to Choreography Presentation -  Old Deuteronomy

Cats - What do you want to achieve?

What do you want to achieve from your characters in the shows?

Character

I want to achieve the characteristics of my character, Old Deuteronomy in the shows. My character is the leader and head of Deuteronomy Designs. 

To do this I would need to show; respect from other characters in the show, being high up in status, origination skills and decision making and finally show that my character has past career in the fashions industry and knows what she's on about.

Vocals & Movement
I would like to achieve confidence and belief when delivering and performing my solo lines. I also would like to make sure I perform the movement and dance to the best of my ability and don't get embarrassed  when doing this.

How did you show that to the audience?

Position on stage - Most of the performance I was placed in the 'Office' which was a set of staging blocks, this was a raised level and higher than most of the other set. This showed that i was superior and more worthy other character, Which was what i wanted to achieve and show the audience.  

Movement on stage - My movement had to be slow and confident, I did this to show more authority, along with looking down from the office at other characters throughout the show, holding my head high, placing my nose up and coming across as a little stricter and scarier than any other character. 

Reactions on stage - I tried to make sure my reactions from other characters were clear and show who I liked and didn't or what i liked and didn't. I was to people respect me and know that me opinions were important. I interacted with Sophie a lot along side with Josh too, both their character being higher up in the company too.

Gesture - I used a lot of hand movements as certain gesture related to me, For example, constantly writing in books, brochures and signing documents, These movement all done in the office of course! 

Props - I had a lot of props in the performances, these helped to show more of my character and help the audience understand the storyline even more. For example; a laptop, a cup coffee, mags, papers, note books, pens and of course the envelope revelling who the will be the new face of the Heavisidelayer .

Eye contact - Eye contact was a key skill to have when playing my character, for example the eye contact made behind myself and Sophie when Grizabella was singing and communicating with other characters played by Cherkanah and Ellie, were looks that something need to happen to make the situation stop. The eye contact showed that myself and Sophie were not happy with what was going on.

Costume Unit - Cats Sketchbook

Dance for Camera - Points of Development

Points of Development

What I need to do next?

• Choreography

I need to continue with the choreography and move it away from Rosa, I will add in more choreography into the video. I will you use Sophie and Cherkanah to do this. I will do this in class today and filmed the choreography on my phone. I will have upload and edit the footage, hopefully I will then have finished my Dance for Camera video.

• Physical Settings

I will continue to make sure that the costume stay in the theme when creating more of my choreography today,  I have made sure Sophie is in the right costume to go with my theme and is similar to what she was wearing in the all my other footage for the video.
I will also need to make sure that the setting and background continues to fit in with the flow and theme of my video, Hopefully I will have a space in the dance studio to do this, if not somewhere with a plain background or wall.

The image below is show the peer feedback i got from discussing what i need to do next in class. This helped me to understand how clearing i discus things to class and also help me understand what also i might need to do next. 

Perfomance Workshop - Cats: My Production Role(s)

My Production Roles

Originally I was assigned the Social Media Production Role  with Ellie, so we decide that I was in charge of the FaceBook page.

I created the "Sealight Theatre Presents Cats the Musical" Facebook Page, I was updating and will be promoting even more as the weeks went on closer to Cats. I also created an 'Opening Night' Facebook event and there was been 194 invited!A Twitter page had also been made between Ellie and myself, and was updated and was being used to promote too. 

I also Designed and made the tickets for Cats and printed them out and gave them to Katie. 
In additon to these production roles I aslo helped Sophie with the programme, helping her and designing the layout and structure of the programme. 

Performance Workshop / Cats - Repose to Cats script & Idea of Fashion concept.

Repose to Cats script & Idea of Fashion concept

Original concept:

Costumes are a major part of the Cats concept. Body suits or leotards are the basis of most costumes, painted appropriately for each character.

Story of Cats:

It's the night of the Jellicle Ball. The cat clan has gathered for the annual event at which the revered elder Old Deuteronomy chooses the most deserving cat to ascend with him for a heavenly reward. The cats have gathered, and one by one, we learn about their personalities, exactly as T. S. Eliot portrayed them in his book of poems. Jennyanydots, Cassandra, Bombalurina, and Jellylorum are the first to strut their stuff. They welcome Rum Turn Tugger, a rock-star-idol type of cat, creating just the right mood for the arrival of Grizabella, the Glamour Cat. She is an aging beauty who has roamed some of the lowest alleys.

The younger felines mock and avoid her. Bustopher Jones, mature and well-rounded, catches everyone's eye with his natty clothes and well-groomed look. Mungojerrie and Rumple teazer, two mischievous, fun-loving cats, provide a light moment before Old Deuteronomy arrives and sets a more serious tone for the ball. Barred from the festivities, Grizabella reflects on her memory of happier times and the new life that could be ahead. Also on the sidelines, Gus the Theatre Cat finds fault with the lack of dedication he perceives in today's actors and reminisces about some of his finest roles. In Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat, we find great pride and commitment in doing the rela tively small job of keeping a single train on schedule. Macavity, the "fiend in feline shape, a monster of depravity," is talked about in hushed voices. "Was there ever a cat so clever as magical Mr. Mistoffelees?" Yes, and much to the delight of all he bursts upon the scene. Still it is Grizabella that demonstrates the greatest depth of character and need. She is chosen to accompany Old Deuteronomy on this year's accension "up, up, up, past the Russell Hotel. Up, up, up to the Heaviside layer."

Our concept: 

"Old Deuteronomy is the head of the fashion house “Deuteronomy Designs” with the help of her right hand women Skimbleshanks and Munkustrap. The elite team of models who are chosen to showcase her designs and the designs of her apprentices are called “Jellicle Cats”. Everyone knows who the Jellicle Cats are and everybody wants to be them or be with them. Each January Deuteronomy releases a bumper magazine called the “Heaviside Layer” setting out the styles and fashion that will be in for that year. Each December the Jellicle Cats come together and Deuteronomy chooses a young model to grace the cover, which can elevate their career to new levels they may have never reached before. However occasionally Deuteronomy can surprise the world and choose an ex “Jellicle Cat” and give them a comeback that will put them back into business for years. Each “Jellicle Cat” model showcases their talent. Look out for Bombalurina, Demeter, Rum Tum Tugger, Jellyorum and Tutti who are the public's favourites. Each designer also puts on a fashion show, such as Mr.Mistoffolees and Jennyannydots who will showcase their sometimes called “wacky” designs, all to try and impress Deuteronomy the most. Will Mungojerrie, and Rumpleteaser’s mischievous antics finally put them out of the competition? Will Grizabella ever be accepted into the “Jellicle Cats” again after her controversial downwards spiral? Will Gus ever get his big break after all these years? Who will it be? Who will it be?"

Original Character concept to Old Deuteronomy:

In Eliot's original poem, Old Deuteronomy is described as an ancient, wise cat who has "lived many lives in succession" and is respected by the other cats and humans (and perhaps even dogs) in his environment. His name derives from Deuteronomy, the fifth book of the Old Testament of the Bible, which shares the central element of law with the character (who is a magistrate).

Old Deuteronomy has three songs in Cats, including the final number, "The Ad-dressing of cats."

My concept to My Character Old Deuteronomy :

I have based my character Suzy Menkes, She is 71 and an international Fashion journalist and editor.

Suzy is best-known fashion journalist in the world.

Suzy has been the head fashion reporter and editor for the International Herald Tribune since 1988. 

In that time she has written over 1.7 million words in the paper.

Suzy Menkes is high up in the fashion industry, now writes exclusively for Vogue and has her own column and section in Vogue online.

The idea behind my character is that Suzy is like Old Deuteronomy. Well respected and high in status.  

I have choreographed a short dance using physical theatre as the main movement. The staging is set with a catwalk going down the middle, mirrors and dressing room either side and an office at the back. Munkustrap is the next down from Old Deuteronomy and in our concept of Cats he will be my assistant .  

I decided to set it as all the workers and employees, waiting for Old Deuteronomy to arrive and come down and meet her. I am creating a big entrance her as she very high in status, not many people get to see or meet her.

The movement is slow as it needs to fit in with the song and it also has a lot of physical theatre in it too.

If i was develop it further i will add in more dancers and get the set and props it place.




Choreography Process & Evidence

Script - Styles of Script Writing

Styles of Script Writing
Partner work with Cherkanah 

Script 1 - Television (Eastenders) 

The main features of a TV script include the program title, scene number along with location, lighting and time. 
This Eastenders script starts with a simple and short description of the action taking place and a brief look at how the characters involved are feeling. 
The character names are in bold and then start after is the dialogue.
In between the dialogue comes any stage directions. Stage directions are intended to show the actor what they are or being directed to do.
A TV script usually cuts from scene to scene. A show or a soap like Eastenders is pre-recorded and cutting to different scenes helps to show tension for audience.
The TV script also tells you whether the scene is being shot in exterior or interior. This mean whether is scene is being filmed inside (interior) or outside (exterior).

Script 2 - Film (Great Expectations) 

In comparison to the TV script above, the opening of this script is heavily detailed. Similarly, it outlines whether the scene is indoors (interior) or outdoors (exterior), the location and the time of day. 
You can tell it is more descriptive because it gives extra details, such as the temperature and how the scene 'fade[s] in'. 
The paragraph before 'The Convict' dialogue creates a strong visual image, which is probably most helpful to the set designer.

Script 3 - Theatre/Musical (Cats) 

A bold title in the script signifies a new song, so using the example below the 'Overture' and 'Prologue: Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats' are separate tracks. 
This will be handy to a sound technician and/or a live band. In the example below, solo characters lines are shown the same way as dialogue is in the scripts above - character name: lyrics. If more than one people sing the same line, it would either say 'ALL:' above the lyrics or a list of the different character names. 
The use of punctuation, i.e. the question marks, tell the actor how the lyric should be sung. 
This theatre/musical script does not having stage directions, lighting notes, exterior and interior notes, times or dates unlike the other scripts we have looked that.