Rehearsals
We started rehearsals in late September early October and had until the 3rd of December to have it performance. Compared to previous years and performances i found rehearsals this time around very laid back and somehow easier probably due to the fact that these performances were completely devised by our self’s and having a much smaller close knit group to act with. I took around 2 weeks to be able to learn my lines of by heart and I found it relatively easy to memorise them this time around. During some of our rehearsals I struggled with trying to impersonate a German accent and make it sound some what realistic and general rather than it sounding as if I was taking the mick out of the accent. Out of all the accents I can do, I really struggled with this one the most. However I find doing my posh British accent really easy and I enjoy doing it and the way that I sound.
TAKE PICTURES OF SCRIPT AND ADD HERE
Below are links to our rehersals and pre runs to the show before we had cut any scenes or finalised the scripts.
Schmorrible Schmistories Script.docx
Devising Scenes
We came up with many different types of scenes that we thought would fit the narrative of World War 2 in the them of horrible histories, ration chef, blackout scene, party scene, the hospital scene, guard scene, party scene, border control scene. We had decided against using a few of the scenes that we had devised due to logistical, or issues from a filming point of view.
Blackout scene
We created this scene with the idea of how black out raids effected all whether you were high born or in the depths of poverty, the idea was to put blackouts in a humorous light. The scene entailed a tv present in the style of a sports commentator, who would commentate as people would hurriedly try to make it to a community bomb shelter before the bombs hit the ground. Due to logistics and the fact that this scene would have proved a very difficult scene to act out, location, special effects, lighting issues it was found this scene would need to be cut.
Ultimately we decided not to use this scene in the finale edit of the script due to safety concerns as the scene it self was very hectic and had a lot happening at once. Although I think that this scene was a really interesting and fit the agenda, it posed many safety concerns and posed problematic due to the lack of an appropriate location to film the scene.
Ration Chef
I liked creating ration chef and thought that the concept of this piece was really interesting and shone a funny light on the rations in WW2 without being offensive in any way. The idea of ration fashion was to show the different creative meals that would have been made during the second world war, but in the style of a cook show like ready steady cook or master chef. By having it in the style of a cooking show it gave the opportunity to create a piece that is light hearted and comedic, this was cut from the film due to having to many scenes and ultimately Ration chef drew the short straw. However i think that using this scene when we do our second project of workshops in the schools I think that this piece will be a great hit with primary school children because it gives an opportunity for silliness and playful slapstick humour.
Script Editing/Creating
Party Scene
When we created the party scene it started off as us chucking ourselves into the scene and just improvising as we went. We used at least 2 lessons just being in the scene that we had set up whilst improvising, as we knew we would be creating a party scene. I used some of the research I had done surrounding Bradford during world war 2 to incorporate some real facts into the script being that ‘Hanson Lane’ was bombed and 11 people were sadly killed because of the bomb. I really enjoyed using this technique to create and devise this scene. Whilst creating backgrounds for each character in these scenes I decided to incorporate the different types of jobs that woman would have taken during the war due to men being away fighting in the war. These jobs included nurses, munition factory workers, farm hands and the mothers who stayed at home to look after there children.
Guard Scene
When we created the guard scene it was a collaborative work between us all, the idea was to play on the French border during the war and how stupid the German guards were and just let anyone through. How the french resistance continued to keep tricking them with the most silly excuses or lies as to why they needed to pass the border. I thought that this scene itself was very clever and the script made sense. I feel that this was also the easiest scene to write overall and was very easy to come up with the ideas for it.
Ration Fashion Scene
We created the idea if this scene whilst Joe the comedian came in and held a workshop with us, as a collective group and i really liked this idea. When we got the chance my self and another cast mate had a lot of creative freedom creating Ration Fashion with creative input from others. I really liked devising this scene and creating a witty, entertaining and exciting scene. I liked creating the characters of Diva Deborah and Sassy Silvia and how eccentric and flamboyant they both are. When we wrote the script for this we ensured to keep at least one real factual Fashion trend of the second world war being the gravy tights, before creating some wild out there Fashion trends surrounding the food for fashion idea.
I really enjoyed being able to Devise this piece compared to in the past when devising a much shorter piece I really struggled to create a piece that I enjoyed performing and was proud of. Through out the process of creating this performance I found it greatly helpful when Joe the comedian came in and did a workshop with us and helped us to create some puns and jokes for our script, it opened my eyes about how to be funny but be able to keep it respectful and un offensive.
To devise the scenes I used all of the research that I have looked into be that I came across the information via searching the internet, reading books or in person when we went to Eden Camp. I also used my previous knowledge and skills on the subject of devising to assist me to in created well though out interesting scenes whilst collaborating with the production team. We chose different ‘horrible’ angles to devise scenes about that we could create humorous view points about the war and created scenes around these angles. For example the party scene in particular I opted to use a real fact about Bradford during the second world war concerning the bombing that tragically happened on Hansen Lane, using this fact helped to improvise a lot of the party scene making the conversation feel smoother. If we could do this again I would put more time into writing more in depths scenes, and reasoning behind each action of the different characters.
Job Roles-
Rehearsal Manager
To plan for this role I made a rehearsal schedule that I intended to stick to to ensure that we had enough time to rehearse each seen so that each piece was able to run smoothly with little to none issues. During my Job Role as Rehearsal Manager I did things such as blocking out where each actor needed to be for example during ration fashion we made the decision to walk out from behind the curtains to give the effect of a real catwalk show happening. My self and the other co-presenter first walked down the catwalk before introducing the show to the ‘audience’ and the preceded to welcome in each model down the catwalk. I worked on ensuring that each actor had enough time to move throughout scenes (actor call times).
Co Director/ Actors Director
As co-director I mainly directed the actors rather than the cameras and crew etc. I directed the actors to have certain body language and facial expressions that were fit for filming, realistic facial expressions and body language to show real emotion and not be overly exaggerated like theatre acting. There is a significant difference between screen acting and stage acting. I tried to keep up the morale of the cast throughout filming and ensure that everyone’s needs were met.
Script Writer and Developer
Whilst creating the scripts for our show I had a great input myself and other cast members created numerous different scripts nameingly ration fashion, the black out scene ( this was cut from the final script), the party scene and the border control scene. I really enjoyed being part of the creative process of writing the scenes and then being able to further develop these scenes and block and finally perform them.
Actor
Ethel
To create the character of Ethel I used Stanislavski’s method of Given Circumstances and The Magic If, by doing this it helped me to create a in depth background to the character allowing me to give a better and more realistic performance. Helping to convince the audience that Ethel is a real person and not just a made up character. Ethel is a lady who came from an upper class background but is currently middle class due to her father going bankrupt during the first world war. Regardless of Ethels background she has been caught up in the troubles of the war just like everybody else although she has an advantage and friends in the right places allowing her to leave the capital of England, London and into the safety of the country side. She finds her self working in a munitions factory doing her part for the war effort.
Sassy Silvia
To create the character I also used Given Circumstances and The Magic If. I feel that with Silvia it was easy to create a character as I just needed to present as very bubbly and easy to watch due to the style of this scene being a presenter direct to the audience/ camera. I needed Silvia to be a really bubbly, easy to love, funny and charismatic character, I think I achieved this by presenting as happy and over the top as i could without it being pantomime style and it showed through my performance.
Border Control Guard
I tried to use given circumstances to create this character and give him a more authentic and believable background but I think that this was the hardest character for me to create and get into as I felt embarrassed and wasn’t comfortable with the accent. I struggled to create a in depth background for this character and i think therefor this was my weakest character throughout the film.
Advert Voiceover
I really enjoyed doing the voice over adverts as this gave me expressive freedom to create a character through my voice, I have used sound booths a few times during the past so I was familiar with the settings and enjoyed playing round with the tone of my voice as too create the best character for the advert.