Day 0 in Acting Class: Meeting with Lowry

So this is what I decide to do with these xuan-sites: I'll focus on one specific topic from time to time, and share what I have learned from such experiences with anyone interested.

It is basically a memo space. But others might find it interesting or helpful.

The reason I'm using English -- I want to keep the experience coherent in terms of language.

Introduction:

As someone might have heard from my personal page, I'm going to take a summer acting class at Brown geared towards undergrad students. As a grad student, I'm able to take this class without violating the rules of summer education because Prof. Lowry Marshall, the teacher of TAPS 0230, kindly offerred me a position in class as her administrative assiatant.

It is going to be a class on acting practice instead of theories, with only 10 students attending it. The components include:

1) Performing on the scene of a painting;

2) Performing three scenes (I don't have to do this part);

3) Performing a monolog (like what you will do in auditions).

The class will last for 2.5 hours per day, taking place 4 days per week, five weeks consecutively. So you can guess what my first impression of that class is: INTENSIVE and CHALLEGING. 

But I'm here to learn. 

Day 0: Meeting with Lowry

She told me she was 68. Honestly, I cannot tell. She shared 3 principles with me:

1) Keep your body shape.

2) Keep happy.

3) Keep your back straight.

Looking back on this little story, I am surprised that she didn't hide back her age as a secret. Seriously, there is nothing to be ashamed of. Especially for her, she can totally take pride in both her achievements and wisdom gained from age, as well as her miricle against aging.

After she introduced some class structure and a little bit about theater to me, we went to visit the Lee Strasberg Studio (LS is the most successful person in teaching acting and performing in U.S.). It was the first time that I got to see the backstage.

(Word time: prop(s) refers to a portable object other than furniture or costumes used on the set of a play or movie. I believe they call it 小道具, as opposed to the stage setting or scenery布景, which is called大道具 -- still not sure about the difference between stage setting and scenery).

Other important things include:

1. She suggested me to practice on becoming closer to native speakers. 

Flaws: 1) Don't omit articles. 2) Use plural forms when necessary. 3) Pay attention to the accent.

Ways to improve: Practice by repeating the words of a good speaker on TV.

She said she will: 1) Ask me to read a poem, and correct my pronuciation. 2) Check how I'm doing with that repetition practice.

I think I will: 1) Choose a TED speaker, or a TV speaker, and do my practice every morning. 2) Bring a poem book to her office next time when we get to have one-on-one discussion.

2. Bring a laptop to the class.

3. Keep in mind that it will be a very intensive class!!!