Performance Evaluation - 30.04.15

Multimedia aspect of your blog.

What is multimedia?

noun, ( used with a singular verb)1.the combined use of several media, as sound and full-motion video incomputer application)

In my own words, multimedia is the use of technology such as computers, sound and visual images or video to convey information or entertainment.

What is live feed?

Live feed is when you connect a camera to a screen or projector and convey video to the said screen. Some groups used live feed to portray a Court Room case and it was very effective. 

What is Garage Band and how can it be incorporated?

Garageband is a music software made by Apple. GarageBand is a whole music creation studio  with a complete sound library that includes software instruments, presets for guitar and voice, and virtual session drummers. An intuitive interface makes it easy to learn, play, record, create and share your hits worldwide.

Exploring the Promenade aspect of Antigone.

The site we were allocated was in a corridor at the top of the stairs. This was perfect for the promenade aspect of our piece as we managed to be able to split the audience into two different groups 

We used multimedia to add a certain element of modernisation. Also it can add things to the story that we miss out in the group's scenes. 

Even though our site was very useful, the performance space was much smaller and more limited than other groups so we had to make do with what we had. 

Exploring chorus.

Working as an ensemble to maintain a disciplined chorus proved to be difficult as the problem with working as such a big group, is that if one person was unfocused, the whole thing wouldn't work. During the majority of the rehearsal, most of us were disciplined and focused. We were however very successful in our work and we produced a really good piece for the performance. 

We used a recording of our voices to blast through a window in room 413 where a company of actors were outside in the courtyard and were performing physical theatre to the recorded words. 

•   Learning lines - reflect on challenges and how you will go about learning. The importance of speaking exactly what is written.

Learning lines was both important and unimportant as my group decided on a modern version of our scene so I had to know the whereabouts of what's happening, however I had much more creative roam on what I wanted to say. So for me, speaking exactly what was written was not crucial for me as I only needed to know the framework of the lines.

Evaluation of the performance:

List all of the multimedia used in the performance:

• Live feed
• Pre-recorded video
• Pre-recorded sound
• Music
• Lighting
• Mobile phone torch

Multimedia affected the audience because I think it made the performance look sleek and modern. This also appeals to an audience of 2015 because our society is so encircled by technology so they would find it more comfortable than if we performed the play as it is written. I think the most effective piece of multimedia was the live feed used in the court room scene. This is because I feel like it added a very abstract vibe to the piece.

Scenes from Antigone:	Multimedia used and locations	How did the multimedia in each scene enhance the performance?
1. Creon announces that Eteocles will be honoured and Polynices will be shamed and left un-buried.	Video to be shown on screen in reception.	This helps set the scene of the piece and build up a small background for Creon
2. Antigone goes to Ismene to persuade her to assist the burial of their brother. Ismene refuses.	By the tree - video shown of the thoughts of the characters.	Adds in nice modern twists. A more advanced version of thought tracking out loud. Also sticks to the religious theme.
3. Antigone goes to bury her brother.	Round of wooden stumps.	Sets a formal or kingly feel as the stumps seem to be surrounding something important.
4. Creon looks for the support of the chorus of Theban Elders in his decision to leave Polynices unburied.	Creon announces from fire escape door of 415 - chorus round the tree looking up. Audience looking up also.	Creon being in a high position shows hierarchy and how much power Creon has.
5. A Sentry reports the burial of Polynices. Creon insists that the Sentry finds out who or face death.	Filmed footage of event is shown on screen top of stairs. Sentry talking to Creon.	A looping CCTV film may portray Creon's thoughts going over and over the same thing.
6. Chorus sing about honouring gods.	From the yard up to windows of 413 Recorded chorus played.	The blasting audio makes it out that it is the Gods that is speaking to the people of Thebes.
7. Sentry returns with the Culprit: Antigone. Creon confronts her.	Burst into 413 - audience turn to see. Lighting used.	Lighting adds a certain mood of being sinister and evil.
8. Creon confronts Ismene. Ismene tries to confess but Antigone won't allow it. And in the end, the two sisters are imprisoned.	Still in 413 but Creon live speaks to a projected Ismene. Antigone is walked out the room and joins the real Ismene - escorted off. Lighting used	Live feed is used to portray that maybe even though Ismene is close, she can't quite reach out to Creon.
9. Haemon both pledges allegiance to his father, Creon, and asks that Antigone be spared. After the discussion deteriorate, Haemon storms out vowing never to speak to him again.	Traverse in 413 - iphone lights as the two talk. Throughout confrontation, lights go out, one by one.	The iPhone lights make the scene more ethereal and also make it more dark and sinister, layering on the evil and more grim side of the play.
0. Creon choses to spare Ismene, and to bury Antigone alive. As she is dragged out, the chorus express their Sorrow.	One light left on Creon's face. Sound of s body being dragged...etc.  Projection and video used	Again layering onto the dark side of the play, but keeping the play in context and modern.
11. Tiresias attempts to advise Creon that what he is doing is wrong and that the Gods are angry. The prophecy of a dead son is mentioned.	Tiresias never moves his mouth but what he says coupled with weird underscore is played through speakers of 415. Projected video played	Shows how real prophesies are and what they meant to the greeks. It also makes Creon much more distressed.
12. The chorus, terrified, begs him to take Tiresias' advice. Shaken, Creon agrees to release Antigone and bury Polynices.	As many chorus as possible fill cavities of 415 and urge Creon. Three doors and side grated window thing.	The chorus could be portrayed as if everyone could be different voices going through Creons head, disagreeing with each other which could drive Creon mad.
13. Chorus deliver a choral ode to the god Dionysus.
14. Messenger informs Eurydice of Haemon and Antigone's death.	Filmed footage on repeat of Haemon stabbing himself and Antigone hanging, swinging from a branch.	The looping footage gives a sort of grim and uncomfortable feel to the scene with the constant reminder of death and suicide
15. Carrying the body of his dead son Haemon, Creon is then met by a 2nd messenger informing him of Eurydice's death.	Audience back outside looking at tree. Creon walking through the courtyard, holding Creon, confronted by messenger at the tree. Chorus look down from 415.

Rehearsal Log - Character Development - 10.4.15

Rehearsal Log

Character Development:

I decided to make my character, the sentry, come across as simple, clueless and jittery. He is afraid of King Creon and is stepping carefully about what he says as Creon is very powerful. The physicality of my character is unconfident and small. I feel that because I am tall I can make myself look awkward by stooping over and keeping a low eye-line.

We are using the TV screen at the top of the stairs where we are performing in the corridor. We are having a video edited and filmed by myself which shows CCTV footage of Polynieces' body being buried.

We are using this multimedia to add to the experience that the audience will have. I think it will also add a modern touch to something so ancient. It will also help convey and explain what is going on in this play.

This will also help as many of our actors are very used to technology so we can effectively use it to a high level. Also, our audience may be adept to technology and this furthermore will impress them. 

This will help tell the story because we can show the parts of the play that we missed out in our scenes, in our portrayals of multimedia.

 

Historical Context - Rehearsal - 16.04.15

In today's lesson, we brought the multimedia aspect into our lesson. We recorded us speaking as a chorus and some choral breathing to be played back during the performance. This also adds to the multimedia aspect of our performance. We will have it blasted through speakers as we perform it on the football courts below the window where the audience will spectating from. We will perform the actions to the words while it plays through the speakers. This gives an effect that the speech is being proclaimed by the people of Thebes as they also act out what is being said.

However, recording the speech also supports the scene technically, because the audience will hear it much clearer if it’s broadcasted into the room. Our words might get lost if we speak live, because of wind and other outside noises, not to mention our distance from the viewers.

After this, we discussed how our scenes are relevant to a modern audience today. My group modernised our scene by incorporating a news report broadcast which isa very modern representation of Antigone. We also used a clip of some "CCTV" footage that I filmed and edited myself of the crime that Atigone committed. We played it on the TV screen at the top of the stairs where we perform. This is relevant to today's audience because the way most people find out information is by the news, therefore, I feel like this is very appropriate for today's audiences. The multimedia is relevant to the scene because a lot of the time, if a news broadcast is reporting a crime or a serious situation, they will sometimes use some footage from the scene.

Our filming was a huge success as we managed to get it done in one take. We did some planning beforehand where we talked about what we would need it to look it for it to be effective. It was also a simple piece of video to film as there was no script  nor was there much to rehearse. 

This is the CCTV footage I created: 

We then shared the what progress we have made in our individual groups, these are some notes I made on each group: 

Antonia's group:

• Great comedic timing, Antonia and Tim are working well together, although they seem like they are trying TOO hard to be funny.
• Breaking the 4th wall to address the audience makes the audience more comfortable 
• Using mobile phones to make the fact that it is set in the modern day obvious

Logan's group:

• Nice choral movement 
• Movement links into the script and spoken words

Nancy's group:

Eric's characterisation and his use of pause and body language made a convincing portrayal of a leader.

I liked the inflection used by Sherene. It was strong which made me feel as though she was trying to convince herself that she had done no wrong

The modernization of language made Creon more casual. Almost like a prime minister so that's how this relates to a modern day audience.

Rory’s Group:

• Phone torches make Tara and Pheobe look more like mythical beings, like magic  spectating

• Rory was very convincing as his role of Haemon. He showed a sort of desperate love for Antigone. 

Harmony’s Group:

• Jake's characterisation was very convincing – he used voice and physicality to take a physical representation of a frail old man.

• Natasha and Harmony used the space well and kept the running theme of them being ethereal beings

What meets need to be developed and why? 

We are still in the process of developing our scenes so there is still a lot to do. For my own scene I need to make sure I'm off script as soon as possible. For the other groups, every scene jus needs to be cleaned up a little bit. 

How did the pieces become relevant for a contemporary audience? 

They became relevant when the different kinds of multimedia were incorporated. Some groups also managed to modernise their scene in terms of topic and textually. By this I mean some scenes were physically modernised by body language and movement whereas others were adapted verbally.

Exploring The Text

Antigone and Ismene 

• What did we focus on when exploring this scene?

While exploring this scene we looked at how Antigone both had reacted to the news sent by King Creon and how they would act towards that news.                                                                                                        

• How did you explore the characters practically?
   We looked at part of the script where Antigone shares with Ismene that she is going to bury Polyneices against the lore of Creon. Therefore we decided to think about how Ismene, who would not go against the King's word, would react and put that into a character's physicality and facial expression. On the other hand, Antigone is much more of the rebellious type, therefore I think she would have a stronger body stance and a more intense facial expression.
• What did you discover about the relationship between the sisters?
  I discovered that even though the two sisters have a lot of love for each other, they are two very different people. Also, even though they both believe in the same things, Antigone is much more willing to act towards her beliefs than Ismene as Ismene will abide to the rules like any other citizen of Thebes.
• How did this scene link to some of the information you discovered in the session about the historical context?

Antigone and Creon

• What did we focus on when exploring this scene?

We focused on how Creon and Antigone interacted, taking into consideration factors such as: hierarchy, sexism and the expected values of the time. The main focus was status however, and how to put status into our physicality and tone of voice.

• How did you explore the characters practically? 

Alex and I were partners for this exercise and I played Creon and she played Antigone. To me, the most powerful line of the scene was when Creon says "No woman will tell me what to do." I decided to put a sort of emphasis on the word "woman" as if I had a bad taste in my mouth. I think this really helps portray the patriarchal hierarchy of the time

• What did you discover about the relationship between the characters? 

I discovered that Creon and Antigone's relationship (even though they are family to each other) is very dependent on hierarchy and Creon depends on his power over women to win the ongoing argument between him and his niece. 

• How did this scene link to some of the information you discovered in the session about the historical context?

This scene links with historical context because during this time period, women were scene as inferior beings and were restricted on what they could and could not do. Women were especially oppressed in the theatre world as most of the time, women were not allowed to watch the theatre let alone take part in the plays put on.

Current Events

Q. What was happening when Antigone was created? 

Philosophy was quickly expanding and soon became much more popular at this time. The new ideologies and views clashed with religious beliefs (these can all be found in the play). Antigone's beliefs lead her to consequently disobey the Kings laws. Antigone plays the part of the traditional values of compassion and devotion.


Q. Was its creation influenced by any specific historical events? 

Antigone was written around 440 BC, and after, Sophocles was told to lead a military attack on Samos, who had been revolting against Athens for about a year. The cities and the allies of the opponents collided and a feud was born that led to the Peloponnesian War, which may have been the war that Sophocles writes about in Thebes, which is responsible for the death of Antigone's brothers.