We got back into the ensemble creating groove today, and things seem to be finally starting to really come together. We began by trading ideas and going over what we individually researched. We started to arrange our ideas and with some major pointers from Mr.Mac got a bit of structure to our ideas, with a timeline. Then we got fish & chips.

When we got back we ate and got straight back into it, creating a tight little scene about the life and influence of Elvis Presley. We used just about every non-naturalistic technique prescribed and it still flowed and came together very organically and easily. I think the large amount of research and over-thinking we have done will come to benifit us if we continue creating and scripting scenes like we did today. But, as usual, our group still seems to have some trouble getting started working with an idea. But….I’m sure we’ll continue to get better at this and create something awesome next term. Deutsch!

Today we got our props. Our group has “puffs” - 3 pink and 1 blue cubes, good for sitting on and throwing. Also, they are heaps better than those briefcases. PAH! We brainstormed a few uses for them which I can’t remember, but they could be used as almost anything - buildings, chairs, headphones, a car, a record player - you name it, so I’m sure they could be incorporated in many many different ways.

Oh yeah, then we combined ensemble groups, ideas and props - creating one SUPER-ENSEMBLE.
We thought this would make the performance up to 30% better.

Hey there. We experimented with some of the characters we brainstormed the other day, coming up with short characterizations of a psychic, a screaming fan and a radio presenter. We then put together a short performance based around the screaming teenage fans (a la the Beatles). I think these ideas were all really helpful and could easily find their way into our ensemble, as they relate to the topic and prescribed structure pretty well. Especially the insane fans, demonstrating the cultural impact and importance of the Beatles and also linking in with conformity etc. So that’s gooood.

Haallo. Today was an absolute stinking hot day so we sat down quietly and did not move much. BUT we still did get some productive work done, that’s how dedicated this outfit is. We shared our research on music throughout the 20th century and then discussed possible roles/characters that could be included in our ensemble. These mainly consisted of stereotypes, for example screaming fans (a la le quartre fabuli), sub cultures (eg. punks, goths, metal-heads, emos, new wave etc) and Elvis impersonators. Being Epic Theatre stereotypes are important and all of these ideas link in with the central theme of individuality vs. conformity. For example, with sub cultures like goths/punks, even though they aren’t conforming to mainstream society, they are still conforming to the standards of the sub-culture. Lest they hear the dreaded call of “POSER”. AIIIEEE.

***RANDOM FRANK ZAPPA QUOTE***
Interviewer: “So Frank, you have long hair. Does that make you a woman?”
Frank Zappa: “You have a wooden leg. Does that make you a table?”
***END OF RANDOM FRANK ZAPPA QUOTE***

So now we have to do even more research in order to form a good foundation for our performance, so we can address the criteria properly. As we saw the other day - addressing the criteria is everything. Your performance can make no sense what-so-ever and include no conflict or resolution as long as you address the criteria. Naahh. Just kidding (That was a bit harsh, so sorry to that ensemble group we watched from 1999, you guys are alright). But yeah, research goooood.

***RANDOM FRANK ZAPPA QUOTE No.2: The RETURN of the SON of MONSTER MAGNET***
“The creation and destruction of harmonic and ’statistical’ tensions is essential to the maintenance of compositional drama. Any composition (or improvisation) which remains consonant and ‘regular’ throughout is, for me, equivalent to watching a movie with only ‘good guys’ in it, or eating cottage cheese.” - Frank Zappa (legend)
***END OF RANDOM FRANK ZAPPA QUOTE No.2***

Ahem. Anyway… err…over and out.

We started the lesson with some improvisational work, before jumping back into ENSEMBLE MODE. We experimented (”played”) with SOUNDSCAPES in DREAM-LIKE SETTINGS. Our group’s was the static between radio stations, and we made a pretty sweet sounding soundscape as well as set up a performance type thing where we acted together as a radio changing stations. I was the dial. I think this could maybe be the anchor in our performance that we come back to to continue the plot, so we could then go on from the radio to demonstrate examples of influencial music / artists throughout history (as per the prescribed structure).

Today we brainstormed ideas on the themes for our ensemble. We just wrote down / drew different ideas on a massive A1 piece of paper. We came up with some pretty sweet ideas, like the anchor for our piece being in a radio, like the static between stations (as in the dreamscape in the prescribed structure).

In the second period of the double we researched about music and music genres throughout history. We got some interesting info. I love wikipedia.
Over and out.

Apparently ramblings using quotes from ‘A Clockwork Orange’ are not on the topic. Go figure.

Anyway, today we again worked on performances started last lesson on the themes of Alienation, Manipulation, Education, Stereotypes and Thought Control. The performances started off as just tableauxs, but then we added other Epic Theatre techniques and they grew from there, eventually turning into a tight little scene with song, stylised movement, heightened use of language, narration and all the trimmings, all on a sesame seed bun.

Today we performed it and got feedback relating to characterisation during tableauxs which was helpful. Then I went home and I played my guitar and I fell asleep. No joke, I sleep-typed this with my toes.

Hi hi hi there, my little droogies. The Korova milkbar sold milk-plus. That’s milk-plus vellocet or drencrum, which is what we were drinking. This would sharpen you up and get you ready for a bit of the old ultra-violence.